Sober (Kelly Clarkson song)
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| “Sober” | ||
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| Single by Kelly Clarkson from the album My December |
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| B-side | Dirty Little Secret | |
| Released | July 10, 2007[1] | |
| Format | Digital single | |
| Recorded | 2007 | |
| Genre | Pop rock | |
| Length | 4:52 (album version) 3:48 (radio edit) |
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| Label | RCA | |
| Writer(s) | Kelly Clarkson, Aben Eubanks, Calamity McEntire, Jimmy Messer | |
| Producer | David Kahne | |
| Kelly Clarkson U.S. singles chronology | ||
| "Because of You (Reba McEntire version)" (2007) |
"Sober" (2007) |
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For information on the Tool song, see Sober (Tool song)
"Sober" is a song composed by American pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson, Aben Eubanks, Calamity McEntire, and Jimmy Messer. It was released as the U.S. second single from her third studio album, My December (2007) in the United States. It failed to chart the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first single not to do so since "The Trouble With Love Is" (2003).
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[edit] Background
The song was inspired by Clarkson's friend Calamity McEntire, who told her to "pick her weeds and keep the flowers". According to Clarkson the song is about survival and knowing what to do when something goes wrong. "It's not easy getting over whatever your addiction may be," she says. "The whole point of that song is, the temptation is there, but I'm not going to give in to it."[2] Clarkson added that "Sober" is her favorite song on My December. "Musically, it's almost hypnotic. You just get lost in it, it's just so beautiful. This song is about surviving something you think you can get past or over. I'm not an alcoholic; that's not what it's about. It's just a metaphor. Everyone has something they are addicted to that they can do without in their life, so it could be about whatever your addiction is."[3]
Aben Eubanks wrote the original demo for "Sober" and said that the finished version was very much the same as his demo.[4] There are two versions of the song, the radio edit and album version, with the only difference being five lines and time duration. The recording features a variety of arrangement and production elements, from a timpani playing against a strumming acoustic guitar line to a mid-section with more frenetic drumming set against strings to a final U2-like wind down from the climax featuring a cello line that takes the song to a quiet conclusion. The trance feel of much of the arrangement and vocal recalls both U2 and Sarah McLachlan; Clarkson's vocals jump octaves and keys and back several times in the style of some of her earlier work, and the lyric "three months" is repeated thirteen times in the song.
Also, the song appeared in "Bizarro", the season seven premiere of the TV series Smallville, which was aired on CW Television Network on Septermber 27, 2007.
[edit] Single release
Clarkson confirmed "Sober" as the second single from My December on her journal in the Official Kelly Clarkson Fan Club. The song was released to airwaves on June 6, 2007. Industry experts state that "Sober" is a crucial single for Clarkson, as the lead single for My December, "Never Again", charted well due to strong digital downloads but encountered radio airplay resistance in a number of U.S. markets, especially when compared to the radio success of all five of her singles from her previous album Breakaway.[5][6] "Never Again" has been descending in radio airplay after failing to break the top 20 on the Pop format, and therefore is one reason why "Sober" is being released so soon after "Never Again" (just over five weeks later, and three weeks before the release of the album). Whether radio accepts "Sober" may be key in determining the sales potential of My December.[7]
However, in an interview with Nashville radio station 107.5 The River, Clarkson said that she released "Sober" so early because she wanted to show the diversity of music in My December.
In July 2007, "Sober" was a highlight of Clarkson's five-song set at Live Earth at Giants Stadium, with the audience audibly applauding her vocal line during the song's climax near the end. It has also been considered as a fan favorite of the new album.
"Sober" does have a featured spot in Clarkson's My December Tour, being played at the start of the encores and receiving a strong audience response.
No music video was made for the song.
[edit] Track listing
- "Sober"
- "Dirty Little Secret"1
1 This song is a bonus track from iTunes and is available on only some copies of this single.
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 10[8] |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 93[9] |
[edit] Reception
Chuck Taylor of Billboard Magazine regarded the disappointing performance of "Never Again". However, he praised "Sober" as a single that would "reintoxicate [Clarkson's] deserved stance as a staple act".[10]
"'Sober' is a better bet to propel the pop queen back to the top with affecting downtempo velocity, a doleful message of overcoming temptation and a vocal inflamed with convincing pensive emotion."
[edit] References
- ^ "Catch Kelly's Ace New Single, Sober, Out Sept 24!". KellyPictures.net. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
- ^ "Kelly Clarkson's Biography". KellyClarksonWeb.com. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
- ^ "Kelly Clarkson First Listen". Music.AOL.com. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
- ^ "Livechat with Jason, Aben, and Cory (July 17, 2007)". KCKellyVille.com. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
- ^ Kelly Clarkson and Those Rumors About Her Upcoming Album
- ^ Idols on the airplay charts - Idol Chatter - USATODAY.com
- ^ Roger Friedman, "FOX 411: Kelly Clarkson: 'My December' Trouble", FOX News, June 5, 2007.
- ^ "Sober" Debut in the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
- ^ "Sober" Debut in the U.S. Billboard Pop 100. Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
- ^ Sober
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