Invincible (Kelly Clarkson song)

"Invincible"
Promotional single by Kelly Clarkson from the album Piece by Piece
Released February 23, 2015
Format Digital download
Recorded 2014
Genre
Length 3:58
Label RCA
Writer
Producer
  • Shatkin
  • Steve Mostyn (add.)
  • Oak (add.)

"Invincible" is a song by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson from her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece (2015). It was written by Sia, Jesse Shatkin, Steve Mostyn, and Warren Felder. Produced by Shatkin, the track is an orchestral synthpop anthem about empowerment. "Invincible" features uncredited vocals from Sia, as well as string arrangements by Oliver Kraus. "Invincible" was released by RCA Records as the first promotional single from Piece by Piece on February 23, 2015.

Background and recording

I've never gotten to sing her songs before. She writes such range-y songs. We work with the same producers. So we kind of have the same mutual friends.

—Clarkson on collaborating with Sia with her producers Greg Kurstin and Jesse Shatkin.[1]
“
”

During her Stronger Tour in 2012, Clarkson performed a cover version Sia's single "Breathe Me" (2004).[2] Upon learning of the performance, Sia offered her salutations and revealed that she had been trying to write a song for Clarkson and will continue to submit material.[2] In 2014, Sia revealed that she wrote a song entitled "Invincible" with Jesse Shatkin.[3] And while demonstrating her work with producer Greg Kurstin on NPR, she ended up writing a part of what would be included in the song, which she remarked that no one had cut yet.[3] She, together with Shatkin, who had also previously collaborated with Clarkson as Kurstin's engineer, finished the song towards the end of Clarkson's recording sessions for her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece.[4] Shatkin presented the song to Clarkson, saying "I know you're done recording your album, but we've just wrote this amazing song and we think you could do great on it."[4] Upon hearing their demo, Clarkson decided to record the song, she replied "I think I could too — I want it!".[1]

Composition

"Invincible" was written by Sia, Shatkin, Steve Mostyn, and Warren Felder.[5] It was one of the two songs Sia had written for Clarkson, the other being "Let Your Tears Fall".[4] The last song recorded for Piece by Piece,[1] it is a midtempo orchestral synthpop anthem produced by Kurstin together with Shatkin.[6] The song features background vocals by Sia.[1] Lyrically, it sings of empowerment, telling a story of a little girl becoming a woman with unlimited strength, coming into her own and discovering a sense of self-worth.[7][6] Billboard associate editor Jason Lipshutz remarked that Clarkson has struck this pose many times, further describing the record as less of a fist-pumping anthem than "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (2012) or "Breakaway" (2004).[6] "Invincible" also features an strings arranged and conducted by Oliver Kraus, which music critics also construed that it ratcheted up the intensity of the chorus as well as Clarkson's vocals.[6][8]

Release and reception

Clarkson shared the lyrics of the chorus of "Invincible" on her website before Piece by Piece was released. [9] "Invincible" was first released by RCA Records on February 23, 2014 as the first promotional single from Piece by Piece.[10] Clarkson had also announced plans to release it as the album's second single after "Heartbeat Song".[4]

Critical response

Nolan Feeney of Time praised the record, saying that of all the artists Sia has collaborated with, few are more suited to the spotlight-averse songwriter's brand of "victim to victory" anthems than Clarkson.[11] In her review for HitFix, Courtney E. Smith described the song as having the looks to combine that Clarkson backbone everyone so loved from tracks like "Since U Been Gone" (2004) and the aural architecture of David Guetta and Sia's "Titanium" (2011).[7] Reviewing for Entertainment Weekly, Taylor Weatherby complimented the track, writing that "Invincible" is more focused on reminding fans of the powerhouse vocalist Clarkson is, and that she that her "Stronger" spirit hasn't changed.[12] In his review for Spin, James Grebey described the song as combining Clarkson's commanding vocals and Sia's songwriting prowess to great effect,[13] and like "Heartbeat Song" before it, the track is an earnest and empowering tour de force with a truly anthemic chorus.[13] Reviewing for Idolator, Bradley Stern doubled that remark, saying that the song is as one might expect a pairing between the quirky singer-songwriter and the masterclass belter to be — emotionally earnest and vocally explosive.[14]

Chart performance

Upon its release as a promotional single, "Invincible" debuted on the Billboard Pop Digital Songs chart at number 50 On the chart week ending March 14, 2015.[15]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[15] 50

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Garibaldi, Christina (February 23, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson's Latest Girl Power Anthem Will Have You Feeling 'Invincible'". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 O'Mance, Brad (September 28, 2012). "Sia and Kelly Clarkson have been chatting away about a possible collaboration". Popjustice. Popjustice Ltd. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sanders, Sam (July 8, 2014). "A Reluctant Star, Sia Deals With Fame On Her Own Terms". NPR. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Nathoo, Melissa (February 23, 2015). Kelly Clarkson on working with Sia and John Legend (Video Interview). ITN (Video) (YouTube). Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Invincible" (metadata). Kelly Clarkson. 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive license to RCA Records. 2015. GBCTA1500002.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Lipshutz, Jason (February 23, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson is 'Invincible' on Sia-Penned 'Piece By Piece' Track: Listen". Billboard (New York: Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Smith, Courtney E. (February 23, 2015). "Sia wrote this new song for Kelly Clarkson: Hear 'Invincible'". HitFix. HitFix, Inc. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ Bacardi, Francesca (February 24, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson Releases "Invincible" and "Piece by Piece" From Upcoming Album—Listen Now!". E! Online. NBCUniversal. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ http://piecebypiece.kellyclarkson.com/invincible/
  10. ↑ Daw, Robbie (February 24, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson’s "Piece By Piece": Listen To Her Upcoming Album's Title Track". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ Feeney, Nolan (February 23, 2015). "Hear Kelly Clarkson's Sia-Penned Empowerment Anthem 'Invincible'". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ Weatherby, Taylor (February 23, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson debuts her Sia-written single 'Invincible'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Grebey, James (February 23, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson and Sia Are 'Invincible' on New 'Piece By Piece' Cut". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  14. ↑ Stern, Bradley (February 23, 2015). "Kelly Clarkson Teams Up With Sia For "Invincible": Listen To The 'Piece By Piece' Song". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Kelly Clarkson Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Pop Digital Songs for Kelly Clarkson. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 5, 2015.

External links