Back to Gale-Force Power

By Jon Caramanica
Monday, March 9, 2009
NYT-The Arts, C1

Caramanica critiques Clarkson’s new album, “All I Ever Wanted,” and compares it to her previous albums. His lede starts with a rhetorical question: “Are we asking too much of Kelly Clarkson?” He then continues to say that it was unclear what kind of fame the 2002 American Idol winner was going to have. Along with the lede, he mentions Clarkson’s personality on the show of American Idol and how it changed as she became more famous. In the show, Clarkson was “down to earth and a bit awkward, expertly running through a raft of blues-infected classic soul, with a couple of detours to Celine Dion,” but when she came out with her first and second album, the songs were all about disappointment: “Since You‘ve Been Gone,” “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” “Because of You,” and others.

Caramanica then goes into his “but” statement: “But Ms. Clarkson, allergic to tabloids and image consultants, often appeared adrift in the pop landscape. Her songs had become famous, but she herself less so.”

He also makes a funny remark to make his point: “So if her first album was the Obligation, her second the Breakthrough and her third the Reaction, then “All I Ever Wanted” plays out as Ms. Clarkson‘s Concession.”

Caramanica also criticizes her voice by saying it is “broad, nimble and gale-force strong.” I agree, but I actually like it. Kelly Clarkson is an amazing performer and I can relate to her songs. Only Kelly can pull the voice off, and it goes along with her songs, so why not shout the words out.

Caramanica ends his review by saying the Swedes’ songs don’t ask for as much voice as Clarkson’s songs do: “Theses songs don‘t ask as much of Ms. Clarkson‘s voice as the Swedes do, but they acknowledge that, after all these years, Ms. Clarkson‘s identity is finally firm: spurned, hurt and torn.”