Meaning of Life (album)

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Meaning of Life
Kelly Clarkson - Meaning of Life (Official Album Cover).png
Studio album by
Kelly Clarkson
ReleasedOctober 27, 2017 (2017-10-27)
Recorded2017
Studio
Genre
Length44:08
Label Atlantic
Producer
Kelly Clarkson chronology
Piece by Piece Remixed
(2016)		Meaning of Life
(2017)		 When Christmas Comes Around...
(2021)
Singles from Meaning of Life
  1. "Love So Soft"
    Released: September 7, 2017
  2. "I Don't Think About You"
    Released: February 9, 2018
  3. "Heat"
    Released: July 27, 2018

Meaning of Life is the eighth studio album by American pop singer Kelly Clarkson. It was released on October 27, 2017, by Atlantic Records. Executive produced by Clarkson and Craig Kallman, the album is her debut release for the label after completing her recording contract and leaving previous label, RCA Records, which she had signed after winning the first season of American Idol . Weary of the structure of the previous record deal where she was strictly limited to releasing pop music, Clarkson wanted to pursue a different genre—soul and R&B music, which she had previously wanted to make and had only finally found the opportunity to do so after being signed by Kallman to the label.

Contents

Meaning of Life is Clarkson's second foray into soul and R&B music, after her debut single "Miss Independent", departing from the predominant pop and pop rock sound established from her previous studio releases and returning to her multi-genre performances on American Idol. Inspired by the music of the 1990s and prominent singers Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, En Vogue and Bonnie Raitt, Clarkson wanted the album to evoke a music similar to the early works of those artists—with the overall goal of emoting a "soulful" spirit. To achieve this, Clarkson commissioned several collaborators—from previous associates Jesse Shatkin, Greg Kurstin, Mozella and Jason Halbert, to new project partners The Monarch, Mick Schultz, Harlœ and James Morrison. The album's tracks share a cohesive theme of interpersonal connections in life, centered on the subjects of love and living the moment.

Meaning of Life received a generally positive response from music critics, who commended Clarkson's newfound confidence and the cohesiveness of the album. Commercially, the record became her eighth consecutive studio album to debut in the top three of the Billboard 200 chart. Three singles were released to promote the album: "Love So Soft", "I Don't Think About You", and "Heat", the first and last of which topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Meaning of Life received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Love So Soft" at the 60th and 61st ceremony. Its supporting concert tour of the same name visited various arenas throughout the United States between January and March 2019.

Background

After releasing her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece (2015), along with its companion remix album in 2016, Kelly Clarkson had completed the terms of her recording contract with RCA Records and 19 Recordings which she had signed as a prize after winning the inaugural season of American Idol in 2002. [1] [2] [3] As opposed to the previous contract structure where 19 held the phonographic rights to the master recordings, [A] RCA executives Peter Edge and Tom Corson revealed their intentions to sign Clarkson directly to the label without 19's involvement. Their renewal offer would include a three-album deal with a US$1 million advance per album, [1] in contrast to the six-album limit [B] from the previous contract with a US$500,000 incentive per record. [8] Corson also admitted that her relationship with Sony Music executive Clive Davis might prove to be a nuance to the offer. [2]

Despite remarking that her relationship with Edge and Corson on the label had proved to be successful, [9] Clarkson had second thoughts about renewing the contract, which she recalled as an "arranged marriage". [10] As a result, her management met with Warner Music Nashville executive John Esposito, who brokered a meeting with Atlantic Records executives Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald, who in turn offered her a long-term worldwide deal with a larger creative freedom. [11] [12] On June 24, 2016, Warner Music Group announced that Clarkson had signed a long-term worldwide recording contract with Atlantic and would immediately work on a soul and R&B album set to be released the following year. [10] The move to Atlantic also reunited her with Pete Ganbarg, who had previously did A&R work for her fourth studio album All I Ever Wanted (2009). Later that year, Kallman and Ganbarg, who was producing A&R work on a mixtape inspired by the Broadway musical Hamilton , invited Clarkson to record the musical number "It's Quiet Uptown" for the mixtape, making it her debut appearance on an Atlantic record. [13]

Recording and production

Craig Kallman, Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records, personally handled the A&R work on the album and also served as its executive producer, making him the first CEO to executive produce a Kelly Clarkson album since Clive Davis. Craig Kallman Atlantic Records 2.jpg
Craig Kallman, Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records, personally handled the A&R work on the album and also served as its executive producer, making him the first CEO to executive produce a Kelly Clarkson album since Clive Davis.

Three of Clarkson's producers from Piece by Piece were confirmed to return for Meaning of Life: Greg Kurstin, Jason Halbert, and Jesse Shatkin, whereas first-time collaborators include The Monarch, Nick Ruth, and Mick Schultz. [17] Deviating from the predominant pop rock sound of her previous releases, Clarkson wanted to approach a different genre—soul and R&B music. [18] She revealed that she had previously wanted to record this type of songs but had never found an opportunity to do so, but has found out that Kallman was "dying to make this record" with her and has counted on his full support. [18] She said the new material was reminiscent of the songs she had performed during her tenure on American Idol, and remarked that the album was a "new and fresh thing" for her and made her feel like a "brand new artist again". [18] Recording sessions began after Clarkson's pregnancy in 2016 and continued until 2017. [18]

To avoid making material similar to that of Stronger (2011), Clarkson met with various songwriters and showcased several soulful tracks to them to demonstrate the album's direction. [19] [20] She remarked that her meeting with various writing camps, discussing what kind of songs she wanted from them and rejecting songs that didn't fit the direction of the album was a "different process" for her. [19] [20] Clarkson said that she "wrote a bit", finding inspiration for a song's lyrics in the novel Big Little Lies , [18] but her family life had hindered opportunities for her to contribute more to the writing. [20] Several songwriters such as Ali Tamposi, Mozella, Harlœ, Sebastian Kole, Diztortion, Warren "Oak" Felder have all confirmed to have submitted material to Clarkson in Nashville. [21]

Clarkson and Kallman ultimately executive produced the entire album, with the latter handling the A&R himself. [14] It marked the first time in ten years Clarkson was credited as an executive producer. [D] She described him as "instrumental" in steering the record, but also allowed her to explore the soulful side of her voice that she once displayed on American Idol and in live concerts. [14] She remarked that he helped her understand what an executive producer credit on an album really meant, saying that he would often push the producers who are used to working with other executives in making radio-friendly hits, but that it sometimes tears the spirit and soul out of it. [14] Both invited several performers to play on the album—Kallman personally invited the soul band Earth, Wind & Fire to perform at the recording sessions for the album's two tracks, [11] while Clarkson requested her touring backup singers—Jessi Collins, Nicole Hurst, and Bridget Sarai, to be given a more prominent feature by accompanying her lead vocals, deviating from the usual practice of recording her own background vocals in her previous albums. [11] [23]

Composition

Theme and influences

The logo of Meaning of Life -- Clarkson wanted the album's logo to be illustrated as a circle to emphasize on life's connection and avoided anything to be displayed at its center to indicate no one in life is being directly favored. Kelly Clarkson - Meaning of Life logo.svg
The logo of Meaning of Life — Clarkson wanted the album's logo to be illustrated as a circle to emphasize on life's connection and avoided anything to be displayed at its center to indicate no one in life is being directly favored.

"I think life is about loving yourself enough so that you can love others. We need to connect, we need to have conversations. Like, why not ask someone 'Hey, I didn't grow up like you did, let's talk about it!' Sharing those moments is what makes us human. If you're always limiting yourself to your own front porch, you'll never truly get to see the rest of the world around you."

—Clarkson on connection being the central theme of the album. [26]

Meaning of Life has a cohesive theme—connection. [26] Lyrical contents of each of the album's tracks center on "love and living, rooted in the past and living in the moment". [27] When asked about what is the "meaning of life" to her, Clarkson remarked that "life is about connection." [26] Clarkson also illustrated the album's logo as a circle to emphasize on life's connection and to indicate that no one is in the middle of it. [24] She added, "This album is not great because of Kelly Clarkson," Kelly admits. "It's great because of all the musicians, all of the singers that are highlighted, all of the engineers, the producers. There are a lot of people that make up an album, and we really wanted to highlight those people." [25] Musically, Clarkson was mainly inspired by the music of the 1990s, along with the early works of vocalists Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, En Vogue and Bonnie Raitt, whose soulful catalogs have inspired a young Clarkson to sing in high school and later embark on a music career. [28] Franklin became the starting point for inspiration, with Clarkson asking, "What if Aretha was born now and made a record today?" as a guiding principle. [11] In turn, Kallman made sure that the record wouldn't sound old, saying that "it's just not nostalgic and a retro experience" but described it as a "modern experience infused with the best of those records we call standards". [11] Critics described Meaning of Life as a mixture of soulful R&B pop; [29] While some designated it as a "soulful pop"/"pop-soul" album, [30] [31] [32] others illustrated it as a soul and R&B record. [27] [33] Raissa Bruner of Time saw its tracks as "soulful anthems mixed with rollicking empowerment pop", [34] while Josh Bell of the Washington Blade characterized it as "more soulful and R&B-influenced than Clarkson's prior work, although it's still very much a pop album." [35]

Meaning of Life is promulgated by Atlantic as the album she was destined to make with the label, a "sensual" pop record and her first documented soul and R&B album; [10] [36] while Clarkson personally described it as the album she had wanted to make since junior high but also a "grown-ass woman's record", [28] [37] explaining that the lyrical content found on the album may not be suitable for her younger self to make. [11] She remarked, "This is a record you make when you've lived (sic)." [37] Unlike her previous releases where she had co-written much of the material, she felt compelled to only pen a few, saying that taking an active role in writing the songs would have taken an expense on her family life. [37] Clarkson then commissioned material that showcases her current state of mind—such as dealing with the rewards and complications that come with connecting with someone emotionally, mentally, physically in a marriage; as well as a mature woman feeling completely comfortable in her own skin after years of withering sexist criticism about her appearance. [11] To discuss these concepts, she invited several collaborators, including Harlœ, whose conversations with Clarkson were used to create some of the album's lyrical content. [37]

Song analysis

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Meaning of Life"
Co-penned by English singer James Morrison for the Piece by Piece album, the titular track 'Meaning of Life" served as a guiding point for other collaborators in creating the soulful sound of the album. [38]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The album opens with "A Minute (Intro)" as the introductory track. [31] Written and produced by The Monarch with writing input from Jim McCormick and Katie Pearlman, the song is a minute-long anthem for self-care, and was primarily made for Clarkson, whose hectic family and work life have made it hard for her to take a break for a minute for herself. [31] Shatkin, Mozella and Priscilla Renea co-wrote and co-produced the second track "Love So Soft", which is dubbed as a tribute to classic R&B while still sounding contemporary. [39] The Monarch and Mick Schultz produced the third song "Heat", and co-wrote it with Harlœ and Michael Pollack. [40] Clarkson described the song as discussing on giving 100% commitment to one another and as reminiscent of her relationship with her husband. [40] The fourth song and the titular track, "Meaning of Life", was written by British singer James Morrison with Ilsey Juber and Shatkin, who handled its production. [38] Morrison and Shatkin originally presented the song to Clarkson for Piece by Piece, but she felt its theme was unsuitable for the album at the time. [38] She later took a hold on the song and used it as a base point for the other producers in making material for the follow-up album. [38] The fifth, "Move You", was written by Nick Ruth, Amy Kuney, and Molly Kate Kestner. Produced by Ruth, Kuney built the song's framework to bridge the gap between religious and secular music. [41] Clarkson co-wrote the sixth track "Whole Lotta Woman" with Jussifer, Novawav duo Denisia Andrews & Brittany Coney, Fade Majah, and Shatkin. [11] Produced by the latter four, the song is an empowerment anthem for women using metaphors from American Southern culture, primarily with Texan women, whom Clarkson is considered one of. [40] Select members of Earth, Wind & Fire, led by Verdine White, prominently played throughout the number. [40]

Schultz and Harlœ co-wrote and produced the seventh track "Medicine" as a tribute to the '90s with inspiration from Carey's song "Emotions" (1991). [40] The follow-up track "Cruel" was written by The Monarch, Harlœ and Pat Linehan, and was produced by Jason Halbert, which sings of commanding respect from a partner. [42] The Monarch and Shatkin produced the ninth song "Didn't I", which was written by the Davidsons, Audra Mae, and Pearlman. [42] In the song, she bellows at a man for forsaking her after committing herself to him. [42] Based on her experience in witnessing failed relationships of some of her loved ones and asking about a retrospective about it, Clarkson co-wrote the succeeding track "Would You Call that Love" with Greg Kurstin, who produced it. [40] The eleventh song "I Don't Think About You" was written by Harlœ, Michael Pollack, and The Monarch, who handled its production. [40] Requested by Clarkson to write a ballad that showcases her vocals, Harlœ based the song from her past relationship. [40] Ruth, Kuney, and Kestner wrote the twelfth track "Slow Dance", a sultry number which is about a woman demanding a man to take things slowly, instead of falling victim to his advances. [42] Clarkson, Shatkin, and Mozella co-wrote both the album's final two tracks—the penultimate, "Don't You Pretend", is about demanding a man to be honest about his true feelings; [42] and the concluding number "Go High", an anthem which was inspired by former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama's speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. [31] [40]

Release and promotion

Clarkson performing at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto Kelly Clarkson - Invictus Games 2017 Closing Ceremony 1.jpg
Clarkson performing at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto

Meaning of Life was released by Atlantic and its parent label Warner Music Group on October 27, 2017. [17] Originally scheduled to be released in June 2017, the release date was pushed back to the year's fall season. [43] Chris Ruff, Atlantic's senior marketing manager, remarked that the album's roll-out strategy would first be driven towards selling physical copies, which would be followed by a promotional campaign with streaming platforms in the following year. [44] The album's lead single "Love So Soft" was released digitally alongside "Move You" on September 7, 2017. [45] [46] "Love So Soft" peaked within the top fifty of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs ranking. [47] [48] A week before the album's release, its titular song "Meaning of Life" was issued as a promotional single on October 19, 2017. [38] "I Don't Think About You" was released as the follow-up single on February 9, 2018, followed by "Heat" as the third single on July 27, 2018. [49] [50] Clarkson announced plans to do a worldwide tour to support the album following the conclusion of the fourteenth season of The Voice , where she was then currently participating as a coach. [51] On September 14, 2018, she announced the Meaning of Life Tour, which visited selected U.S. cities from January to March 2019. [52]

To promote the album, Clarkson embarked on several intimate concerts in North America. On September 6, 2017, Kallman, Greenwald and Warner Music CEO of Recorded Music Max Lousada jointly presented Clarkson's performance of the album's six selections at the Rainbow Room in New York City. [53] She also filmed a "Nashville Sessions" series at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, with selected performances being eventually released online. [54] On September 28, 2017, she taped an iHeartRadio Secret Session in Toronto, which was broadcast as a radio special the following month. [55] On its release date, Clarkson performed several songs from the album at an album release party hosted by iHeartRadio in Los Angeles. [56] The event was also aired live in simulcast on various iHeartRadio radio stations. [56] In November 2017, she performed on two album release events in New York City—one was hosted by astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson at YouTube Space and the other at the Gramercy Theatre hosted and tape-broadcast by Sirius XM. [57] [58] American chain store Cracker Barrel also sponsored a "Rocking and Stockings" content series to promote the album during the 2017 holiday season, featuring selected performances by Clarkson. [36]

Clarkson performed numerous selections from Meaning of Life in various televised events. She premiered "Love So Soft" on The Today Show a day after its release date and has performed it on programs such as America's Got Talent , The Ellen DeGeneres Show , The Graham Norton Show , The Late Late Show with James Corden , The Voice of Germany , the 2017 We Day, the 2017 Invictus Games, and the 2017 American Music Awards. [59] She also performed the titular track on Strictly Come Dancing ; [44] "I Don't Think About You" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show; [60] "Move You", "I Don't Think About You", and "Didn't I" on The Today Show; [61] [62] "Heat" on The Today Show and the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 US Open; [63] [64] "Whole Lotta Woman" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , The Late Late Show with James Corden (during Carpool Karaoke), and the 2018 Billboard Music Awards; [65] "I Don't Think About You" and "Didn't I" on Late Night with Seth Meyers ; [66] [67] and, "Medicine" and "I Don't Think About You" on The Voice. [68] [69]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.7/10 [70]
Metacritic 73/100 [71]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [27]
Daily Express Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [30]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [72]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [73]
Idolator Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [42]
Newsday Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [32]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [74]
Renowned for Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [75]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [76]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [77]

Meaning of Life received a generally positive response from music critics. Consensus from reviews compiled by Gold Derby reveal that the "intimate, R&B-drenched album is full of confidence," describing its emphasis on soul as "euphorically liberated". [78] On the review aggregator site Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on eight reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [71] AllMusic's senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album a four-star rating, calling it one of her most satisfying albums and commending Clarkson for sounding "assured here in a way that differs from her earliest records". [27] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly gave it a "B+" rating. Deeming the album as feeling cohesive and self-assured, she considered that it doesn't seem especially interested in reaching the heights of Clarkson's early hit records but "swings low and sweet — a refreshingly real dispatch from an artist expressing exactly what she feels in this moment." [72] Writing for Time, Bruner wrote that the album "finds her as fans prefer: a confident artist with a sense of humor and sass to spare." [34] Shaun Kitchener of the Daily Express rated the album five stars, writing that Clarkson was "in her absolute element" on it, and the album was a "peppier, more playful alternative to Adele's 25 ". [30]

Glenn Gamboa of Newsday gave Meaning of Life a four-star rating. Praising it as the best album of Clarkson's career, he wrote that it presented a "chance to declare her ambitions and deliver on them" for her "most cohesive album yet". [32] The Boston Globe correspondent Isaac Feldberg commented that Clarkson "has perhaps never sounded as confident or comfortable as she does" on the album, and that she "channels her delight at [her] newfound freedom into songs that, while signaling a new stage in her career, appear to flow directly from both her heart and soul." [79] Mike Nied of Idolator shared a similar sentiment, saying that "returning to her roots had truly opened a wealth of opportunities" for Clarkson. [42] Craig Jenkins of Vulture described the album as "a simmering pot of warm grooves and powerful vocals, a career pivot to the music that Clarkson ought to have been allowed to make right out of the gate." [80] Reviewing for The Observer , Michael Cragg rated the album four stars, comparing its sound to Meghan Trainor and Mariah Carey and crediting its "big, syrupy" ballads for "accentuating Clarkson's undeniably powerful voice, creating a comfort zone that feels genuine." [74]

Some of the critics were also ambivalent on the album: The Guardian 's Hannah Davis gave the record a three-star rating, writing that the album had "lots of filler" and notably evoked the records of Christina Aguilera and Trainor, but its "strong, '90s diva-ish mood suits Clarkson's belting vocal style, as she ushers in a more soulful phase with class." [73] Reviewing the album for Spin , Katherine St. Asaph noted that much of it feels "dated, studiously attempting to recreate an era Clarkson's long since transcended", and despite praising her vocal showcase, she was puzzled that after "to hear an album that sounds so much like contractual winner's filler" almost 15 years after winning the competition. [3]

Accolades and honors

Meaning of Life has received nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 61st Grammy Awards and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Love So Soft" at the 60th ceremony. [81] [82] Both nominations earned Clarkson the distinction of being the most-nominated artist in both categories' history, sharing the Best Pop Vocal Album record with Justin Timberlake. [81] [82] In the midst of promoting the album, Clarkson was also honored at various award-giving programs, including the Powerhouse Award at the 2017 Billboard Women in Music event, [83] Icon Award at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards, [84] and a Hall of Fame induction at the 2017 Nickelodeon HALO Awards. [85]

Year-end lists

Meaning of Life was included on several publications' year-end lists:

Commercial performance

Meaning of Life debuted on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States at number two with 79,000 album-equivalent units, which account 68,000 copies in traditional album sales. [96] [97] The album's chart debut on the Billboard 200 earned Clarkson her eighth consecutive top three studio album as well her third record to debut at the second spot. [98] Meaning of Life also debuted at the top of the Billboard Digital Albums chart and became her first entry on the Billboard Vinyl Albums chart. [99] [100] Overseas, the album entered the top ten of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart and the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. [101] [102] It also attained a top twenty debut on the Official UK Albums Chart, the Irish IRMA Artist Albums Chart, and the Swiss Hitparade chart; [103] [104] [105] and a top forty entry on the national charts of Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. [106] [107] [108] The album received a RIAA Gold certification in 2021, selling 500,000 equivalent units in the US. [109]

Track listing

Meaning of Life – Standard edition [110]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."A Minute (Intro)"
 The Monarch 1:08
2."Love So Soft"
2:52
3."Heat"
  • The Monarch
  • Schultz
  • Shatkin [a]
  • Karpov [a]
3:10
4."Meaning of Life"
Shatkin3:51
5."Move You"
Ruth3:22
6."Whole Lotta Woman"
2:53
7."Medicine"
  • Schultz
  • Karpov
  • Schultz
  • Karpov [a]
3:09
8."Cruel"
  • A. Davidson
  • S. Davidson
  • Karpov
  • Pat Linehan
 Jason Halbert 3:05
9."Didn't I"
  • The Monarch
  • Shatkin
3:38
10."Would You Call That Love"
Kurstin2:58
11."I Don't Think About You"
  • A. Davidson
  • S. Davidson
  • Pollack
  • Karpov
  • The Monarch
  • Pollack [b]
3:44
12."Slow Dance"
  • Ruth
  • Kuney
  • Kestner
Ruth3:40
13."Don't You Pretend"
  • Clarkson
  • Shatkin
  • McDonald
Shatkin3:13
14."Go High"
  • Clarkson
  • Shatkin
  • McDonald
Shatkin3:25
Total length:44:08
Meaning of Life – Japanese edition [110]
No.TitleRemix producerLength
15."Love So Soft" (Cash Cash Remix) Cash Cash 4:16
16."Love So Soft" (Ryan Riback Remix) Ryan Riback 3:07
Total length:51:31

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [111]

Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered at

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [109] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release formats for Meaning of Life
RegionDateFormatsLabelCatalog numberRef.
VariousOctober 27, 2017
 Atlantic 563941-2 [110]
JapanWPCR-17920
VariousMay 4, 2018Limited edition LP567235-2 [132]

Notes

  1. ↑ On the recording contract Clarkson signed in 2002, 19 Recordings reserves the phonographic rights to the master recordings of Clarkson's winning contract. While Simon Cowell's S Records (a unit of BMG trading as Ronagold Limited) secured the rights to appoint another record label within the BMG family to receive an exclusive license for the masters. For Clarkson's case, S (Ronagold) designated RCA Records as the licensee and the latter subsequently became her primary label for the duration of the deal. [4] [5] [6]
  2. ↑ Clarkson's Christmas album Wrapped in Red (2013) is not included in the 19 and RCA agreement pursuant to the six-studio album limit, as RCA retains sole phonographic rights to the album's masters and only considers it as a holiday album. [7]
  3. ↑ Clive Davis, then CEO of RCA Music Group, is the executive producer of Clarkson's first two studio albums Thankful (2003) and Breakaway (2004). [15] [16]
  4. ↑ Clarkson was credited as an executive producer for her third album My December (2007). [22]

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Kelly Brianne, known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA Records. Her debut single, "A Moment Like This", topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the country's best-selling single of 2002. It was included on her debut studio album, Thankful (2003), which entered the Billboard 200 at number one, and also yielded the top-10 single "Miss Independent". Trying to reinvent her image, Clarkson parted ways with Idol management and shifted genres to pop rock for her second studio album, Breakaway (2004), one of the best-selling albums by a female artist. Supported by four US top-ten singles–the title track, "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", and "Because of You" – Breakaway sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won two Grammy Awards.

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"Breakaway" is a power ballad song recorded by American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song, written by Matthew Gerrard, Bridget Benenate, and Avril Lavigne, was originally intended for Lavigne's debut studio album, Let Go (2002). After being deemed unsuitable for the album, it was passed to Clarkson to be recorded as a soundtrack for the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Clarkson, who was finishing her second studio album at that time, recorded "Breakaway" to tide her fans over until the first single from her new album was released. However, the song's success prompted its inclusion on Clarkson's second album, while the record label decided to name the album after the song. "Breakaway" was first released as the first single from The Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack on July 19, 2004. In May 2006, "Breakaway" was reissued as the fifth and final single from the album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Independent (Kelly Clarkson song)</span> 2003 single by Kelly Clarkson

"Miss Independent" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her debut studio album, Thankful (2003). Written by Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Rhett Lawrence, and Matt Morris, with Lawrence serving as producer, it was released as the album's lead single by RCA Records on April 10, 2003, preceding its release by five days. The track was initially intended for Aguilera's fourth album, Stripped (2002), but was left half-finished. Lawrence later continued writing the song with Clarkson, who eventually recorded it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Life Would Suck Without You</span> 2009 single by Kelly Clarkson

"My Life Would Suck Without You" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted (2009). Clarkson co-wrote the track with Claude Kelly and its producers Max Martin and Dr. Luke, but refused to include her name in the credits, not wanting to be associated with the lattermost. "My Life Would Suck Without You" was released as the lead single from the album and premiered on January 13, 2009, in the United States on New York City's Z100 radio station and was made available to download three days later. The song has met with positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song's pop composition, which incorporates rock and dance elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Do Not Hook Up</span> 2009 single by Kelly Clarkson

"I Do Not Hook Up" is a song recorded by American singer Kelly Clarkson for her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted (2009), released as the second single from the album. It was written by Kara DioGuardi, Greg Wells and Katy Perry. Perry had originally written the song for One of the Boys, but following her removal from Def Jam, she gave the song and "Long Shot" to Clarkson. RCA Records serviced the song to mainstream radio in the United States on April 14, 2009. The song is a dance-rock and power pop song that is structured upon a muscular arrangement with lyrics about empowerment and healthy relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Already Gone (Kelly Clarkson song)</span> 2009 single by Kelly Clarkson

"Already Gone" is a song performed by American pop singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson from her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted. It is co-written by Clarkson and Ryan Tedder, who also produced it. The song was released as the album's third single in August 2009. Lyrically, "Already Gone" is about the breakup of a relationship; the music consists of an arrangement using a piano, drums, and string instruments.

<i>Stronger</i> (Kelly Clarkson album) 2011 studio album by Kelly Clarkson

Stronger is the fifth studio album by American singer Kelly Clarkson, released on October 21, 2011, by RCA Records. The thirteen-song track-list features Clarkson collaborating with various new producers as well as with Howard Benson, whom she collaborated with on her previous album, All I Ever Wanted (2009). Wanting to stray away sonically from her previous albums, Clarkson's main objective was to record her vocal performances as it is heard in her live sets, and used as little auto-tune processing as possible. The album also marked the first release by Clarkson that did not cause a conflict with RCA; her previous records, most notably My December (2007), were released amidst conflict and controversy.

<i>Wrapped in Red</i> 2013 studio album by Kelly Clarkson

Wrapped in Red is the sixth studio album by American singer Kelly Clarkson, released on October 25, 2013, by RCA Records. The album is a follow-up to her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits – Chapter One, and its companion extended play, The Smoakstack Sessions Vol. 2. Produced by Greg Kurstin, it was her first Christmas album and her only record to be solely released by RCA. Wrapped in Red consists of sixteen tracks, featuring five original songs co-penned with Kurstin and eleven cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, two of which are duets featuring singers Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood.

<i>Piece by Piece</i> (Kelly Clarkson album) 2015 studio album by Kelly Clarkson

Piece by Piece is the seventh studio album by American pop singer Kelly Clarkson. It was released on February 27, 2015, by RCA Records. It was her final album under her recording contract with the label, to which she signed after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002. She then made the switch to Atlantic in 2016. The album saw Clarkson reuniting with frequent collaborators Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin, Jason Halbert, Eric Olson, and Chris DeStefano. She also gathered material from songwriters such as Sia, Matthew Koma, MoZella, Bonnie McKee, David Jost, Semi Precious Weapons lead singer Justin Tranter, and former Cobra Starship member Ryland Blackinton, among others. Inspired by the orchestral production on Wrapped in Red, Clarkson wanted all the songs on Piece by Piece to resonate like its own film soundtrack, taking a cue from the soundtracks of the feature motion pictures Cruel Intentions (1999) and Love Actually (2003) and commissioning orchestral arrangements by Joseph Trapanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invincible (Kelly Clarkson song)</span> 2015 single by Kelly Clarkson

"Invincible" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece (2015). It was written by Sia, Jesse Shatkin, Steve Mostyn, and Warren "Oak" Felder. Produced by Shatkin, the track is an anthem about self-empowerment. "Invincible" features uncredited vocals from Sia, as well as string arrangements by Oliver Kraus. It was first released as the first promotional single from Piece by Piece on February 23, 2015, but then issued as the album's second single to Hot Adult Contemporary radio stations on May 18, 2015 through RCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love So Soft</span> 2017 song by Kelly Clarkson

"Love So Soft" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson, from her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life (2017). Accompanied by another track "Move You", it was released on September 7, 2017, by Atlantic Records as the lead single from the album. It was produced by Jesse Shatkin, who co-wrote the song with Maureen "Mozella" McDonald and Priscilla Renea. A brassy soul-trap R&B anthem, it was promulgated by Atlantic as her introductory record in the soul music genre. Lyrically, it is about wanting to get closer to someone, after challenging him to give respect and protection before giving him a love that is described as "so soft" in return.

"Meaning of Life" is a song by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson and the titular track from her eighth studio album of the same name. It was written by English singer James Morrison with Ilsey Juber and Jesse Shatkin, who handled its production. A soul pop and R&B song about learning the existential "meaning of life", the singer confesses the loneliness she's been feeling in the past but her newfound love is what brings her to life, showing her the light. Originally intended to be recorded for her 2015 studio album Piece by Piece, Clarkson put the song on hold and used it as a guiding track for other collaborators in developing a soulful sound for the succeeding album.

"Whole Lotta Woman" is a song performed by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her eighth studio album Meaning of Life (2017). It is co-written by Clarkson and its producers—Jussifer, NOVA Wav duo Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney, Fade Majah, and Jesse Shatkin. A soul anthem about female empowerment, the singer declares herself as a "whole lotta woman" and challenges men to "accept it or walk away". Songwriters put a "fun twist" in the lyrics to allude to the size of Clarkson's waistline, her attitude, her self-worth, and her mouth. Members of the American soul band Earth, Wind & Fire, led by bass player Verdine White, are featured in the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Think About You</span> 2018 single by Kelly Clarkson

"I Don't Think About You" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson, from her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life (2017). It was written and produced by the production duo The Monarch, with co-writing by American singer Harlœ and pianist Michael Pollack. The song was issued by Atlantic Records as the album's second single on February 9, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heat (Kelly Clarkson song)</span> 2018 single by Kelly Clarkson

"Heat" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson, from her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life (2017). Originally written and produced by the production duo The Monarch, the final version of the track is co-written and co-produced by Mick Schultz with additional writing by Michael Pollack and production by American singer Harlœ and vocal production by Jesse Shatkin. Atlantic Records released the song as the album's third single on July 27, 2018, with a remix version by British DJ Luke Solomon. It reached number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in March 2019. The song was featured in the Netflix show Soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Dare You (Kelly Clarkson song)</span> 2020 single by Kelly Clarkson

"I Dare You" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson. Produced and written by Jesse Shatkin, with additional writing by Natalie Hemby, Laura Veltz, Ben West, and Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, it was released as a stand-alone single by Atlantic Records on April 16, 2020. Unlike her previous records, its single release includes multiple versions of the song recorded in several languages as a duet featuring various recording artists—such as French singer Zaz, Canadian-Moroccan singer Faouzia for the Moroccan Arabic version, Spanish singer Blas Cantó, German musical duo Glasperlenspiel, Israeli singer Maya Bouskilla for the Hebrew version, and the American Deaf West Theatre for the American Sign Language version. The Hebrew version reached number one in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Mistletoe (song)</span> 2020 single by Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge

"Under the Mistletoe" is a duet by American singers Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge. It was written by Clarkson and Aben Eubanks, who co-produced it with Jesse Shatkin. "Under the Mistletoe" was first issued by Atlantic Records on October 28, 2020. The song is also included on Clarkson's second Christmas album When Christmas Comes Around... (2021).

<i>When Christmas Comes Around...</i> 2021 studio album by Kelly Clarkson

When Christmas Comes Around... is the ninth studio album by American singer Kelly Clarkson, released on October 15, 2021, through Atlantic Records. Produced by Jesse Shatkin, Jason Halbert, Joseph Trapanese and Aben Eubanks, it was her second Christmas album after Wrapped in Red (2013) and a follow-up to her eighth studio album Meaning of Life (2017). Featuring cover versions of Christmas songs, as well as original co-penned tracks and duets with Chris Stapleton, Ariana Grande and Brett Eldredge, its release was preceded by the singles "Christmas Isn't Canceled " and "Santa, Can't You Hear Me". It also includes previously released singles "Christmas Eve", "All I Want for Christmas Is You", and "Under the Mistletoe" as bonus tracks. The album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

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  106. ↑ "Austria TOP 40 – Alben – 10.11.2017". Ö3 Austria . GfK Entertainment. November 10, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  107. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 100 Album-Charts – 3 November 2017". Offizielle Deutsche Charts . GfK Entertainment. November 3, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  108. ↑ "Dutch Album Top 100 – 4/11/2017". MegaCharts. November 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  109. 1 2 "American album certifications – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  110. 1 2 3 Various citations concerning the October 27, 2017, release of Meaning of Life:
  111. ↑ Meaning of Life (booklet). Kelly Clarkson. Atlantic Records. 2017. 563941-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  112. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  113. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  114. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  115. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  116. ↑ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  117. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  118. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  119. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  120. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 44, 2017". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  121. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2017-11-06" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  122. ↑ "Charts.nz – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  123. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  124. ↑ "South Korea Circle Album Chart". On the page, select "2017.10.29~2015.11.04" to obtain the corresponding chart. Circle Chart Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  125. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  126. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  127. ↑ "Kelly Clarkson | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  128. ↑ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  129. ↑ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  130. ↑ "Top Album Sales – 2018". Billboard. Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Group. 9 December 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2019.(subscription required)
  131. ↑ "Top Current Albums – 2018". Billboard. Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Group. 2 January 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2019.(subscription required)
  132. ↑ Various citations concerning the May 4, 2018, release of Meaning of Life:

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