Not Weak at all

From the time she won the 1st edition of American Idol, I've always been a Kelly Clarkson fan.

In fact, her music has been part of my adult life. When I moved to HKG, she "accompanied" me since I'd play her "Breakaway" CD each time I'd feel antsy or melancholic. For years, her CD was on repeat at home - almost everyday! Especially "Since U Been Gone."

It's been almost 20 years since she won that singing contest, and Kelly is still considered as THE most successful product of these reality shows. 

There are many reasons for her success. First, obviously, is that voice! Powerful, evocative and distinct. Second, she's dynamic, not sticking to just one kind of genre. Third, she reinvents herself. While a singer first and foremost, she's also a host and a judge. Fourth, she's an inspiration. 

Recently, I've been binge-watching the "Kellyoke" portion of her talk show, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Her renditions of popular songs from the past is just stellar.

Just like her rendition of the classic SWV ditty, "Weak."

While I'm a massive fan of SWV and there's no one who can sing this song as well as they can, Kelly's version is at par and not weak at all!

Kelly kills it!

You want versatility? Kelly Clarkson is giving it to you. In a major way!



I've been a fan of hers since she won the 1st season of American Idol. And this Billboard opening medley reminds everyone why she's a winner!

Go kill it, Kelly!

An emotional Piece

While watching a series of blind audition videos for "The Voice - US," I noticed one song that was often used for auditions. Entitled "Piece by Piece," it's a song about a child being abandoned by her father.

It's definitely an emotionally charged song. From the lyrics, to the melody, to the way it was sung - it's a beautifully heart-wrenching song.

Curious as to who the original singer was, I was pleasantly surprised that it was from one of my favorite American Idol alums - Kelly Clarkson!

It was a song that she wrote, and it was about her relationship with her estranged father and her current husband. She performed it during the last season of A.I., and her performance was as emotional the song itself. (Keith Urban was an emotional mess!)



After listening to this song that she wrote and interpreted, it's no wonder she was the first American Idol!

Top Three Songs

I've been listening to these 3 songs over and over and over and over and over and over and over again the past few weeks. In fact, I alternate them as my lullaby to help facilitate my transition to la-la land. I've grown so addicted to these songs that:

1. I have them in my ibook and it's the 3 top played songs in my playlist.
2. I drop by HMV at Causeway Bay THEN at Tsim Sha Tsui so I can listen to them before I go home.
3. I turn the CD player on when I get back to the room and play these songs.

They're quite an eclectic mix of songs, which makes me wonder why i'm obsessing about them. If it were all pop or all jazz, then I can easily say: "I'm just into a jazz thang..." But no! They're quite diverse: One is a pop/rock ditty, one is very seductively electronica, and the last one is boom-boom cheerleader stuff.

The end product of listening to them is that I now memorize the songs by heart. Want proof? Let me write the lyrics for you:



CHOCOLATE by Kylie Minogue

Fragile, seems I opened up to quick and all my dreams were woken up
I slowly lost my fight
with every single man a river cried

I had no sensation, completely numb I felt no satisfaction
I thought no one could ever get me high again
I swear I was not looking

I've waited so long, I thought the real thing was a fake, I thought it was a tool to break me down
you prove me wrong again

If love were liquid it would drown me in a placeless place refine me,
in a heart shape come around me and then melt me slowly down
if love were human it would know me in a lost space come and show me,
hold me and control me and then melt me slowly down, like chocolate

Tastes so good my hearts been mended, who'd have thought it would?
an empty bed and still I won the catch, a man who I love and who loves me back

I've waited so long for love to heal me, so I'd feel it, thought it wasn't real and then you came
you prove me wrong again

If love were liquid it would drown me in a placeless place refine me,
in a heart shape come around me and then melt me slowly down
if love were human it would know me in a lost space come and show me,
hold me and control me and then melt me slowly down, like chocolate

Come here, zoom in, catch the smile
there's no doubt it's for you and I'm addicted tonight

Just one look boy to mellow it out
just one heart here to save me now
your candy kisses are sweet I know
hold me tight baby, don't let go

*Images of strippers gyrating around silver poles come to mind each time I hear this song.



HOLLABACK GIRL by Gwen Stefani

Uh huh, this my shit
All the girls stomp your feet like this

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

I heard that you were talking shit
And you didn't think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That's right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

So that's right dude, meet me at the bleachers
No principals, no student-teachers
All the boys want to be the winner, but there can only be one
So I'm gonna fight, gonna give it my all
Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you
That's right, I'm the last one standing, another one bites the dust

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
[4x]

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

*I love the MTV version where they edit out the "shit" word. It's totally cute!



SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE by Kelly Clarkson

Here's the thing we started off friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

You dedicated you took the time
Wasn't long till I called you mine
Yeah Yeah
Since you've been gone

And all you'd ever hear me say
Is how I pictured me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since you've been gone

How can I put it? you put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

How come I never hear you say
I just wanna be with you
I guess you never felt that way

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
I get what I want
Since you've been gone

You had your chance you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth I just can't take it
Again and again and again and again

Since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get
I get what I want
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get (I get)
You should know (you should know)
That I get
I get what I want
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone

*It's such a cool, bad-ass bitch break-up song.

Now excuse me while I sing these songs all over again...