The Trouble with Love Is

"The Trouble with Love Is"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
from the album Thankful
Released	November 12, 2003 (2003-11-12)[1]
Format	Airplay, CD
Genre	R&B,[2] soul[3]
Length	3:42
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Kelly Clarkson, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
Producer(s)	Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
Kelly Clarkson U.S./Australia singles chronology
"Low" (2003) "The Trouble With Love Is" (2003) "Breakaway" (2004)
Kelly Clarkson UK singles chronology "Low" (2003) "The Trouble With Love Is" (2003) "Since U Been Gone" (2005)

"The Trouble with Love Is" is a song by American pop rock singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson, for her debut album Thankful (2003). The song was co-written by Clarkson, Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken and co-produced by Rogers and Sturken. It was released as the fourth and final single from the album, on November 12, 2003. The rhythm and blues and R&B ballad finds Clarkson explaining how love can be joyful and sorrowful at the same time. It received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised it for being "soulful" and "romantic" and praising Clarkson's vocals, comparing her to Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

Commercially, while failing to match "Miss Independent" on the charts, completely stiffed in the United States, the song performed considerably better internationally, reaching number eleven and a gold status in Australia, while also reaching significant positions on other Billboard Magazine component charts. The song also served to promote the Christmas romantic comedy Love, Actually, being featured in its soundtrack and receiving a video with scenes from the film. Clarkson also performed the song in some of her concerts, most notably the "Independent Tour" and "Breakaway World Tour".

Background and release

In an interview for SoundSpike, Kelly Clarkson revealed that she "started writing when [I] was really, really young. Then it just started turning into music. I don't even know when." Clarkson also said that, "I wrote four of the tracks on the album: 'Miss Independent,' 'The Trouble with Love Is,' I wrote all of 'You Thought Wrong,' the one I did with [fellow American Idol contestant] Tamyra Gray, and I did 'Thankful.' I'm very much into writing. I didn't get to write more because we had to get the CD out."^[4] In the interview, Clarkson also revealed that her mom's favorite song is "The Trouble With Love Is".^[4]

Following the underperformance of rock-tinged single "Low" and the success of "A Moment Like This", her label felt she needed to return to ballads,^[5] releasing "The Trouble with Love Is" as the album's final single on November 12, 2003 in the United States.^[1] In the United Kingdom, the song was released as a double A-side single with "Low".^[6] It was released worldwide later on January 12, 2004.^[7] The song was also featured on the soundtrack of "Love Actually".^[8]

Composition and lyrics

"The Trouble with Love Is" was written by Kelly Clarkson, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, with production being handled by Rogers and Sturken.^[9] The song was recorded at four different studios: The Hit Factory, New York City; The Record Plant, Los Angeles; The Enterprise, Burbank, California and The Loft Recording Studio, Bronxville, New York.^[9] "The Trouble with Love Is" is an R&B^[2] and soul song, with elements of gospel throughout the chorus.^[3] Lyrically, it talks about the ups and downs of romance, with Clarkson singing, "Love may be a many splendored thing ... [But] it can tear you up inside/ Make your heart believe a lie."^[10]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Allmusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine highlighted the song, as one of the best tracks on "Thankful".^[11] Heather Phares also of Allmusic gave a very positive review for the song, writing that it "manages to be romantic, sassy, and empowering all at once, with her vocals reflecting their urban ballad surroundings."^[8] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian praised Clarkson, writing that "Like her fellow Texan Beyoncé, she has a background in the church, and it shows in the phrasing of the torchy song."^[12]

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the song a "durable soul number reminiscent of Mariah Carey's 'Vision of Love'.^[13] Website Sputnikmusic called it a "swooning, soulful, radiant song, with gospel-esque background vocals in the chorus that stands out amongst most pop music that plagues the music scene today with mediocrity."^[3] Mike Wass of Idolator called it "a bluesy ballad that is an early preview of the diva’s eventual flirtation with roots and blues."^[14]

Commercial performance

While failing to match "Miss Independent" in the United States, "The Trouble with Love Is" performed considerably better internationally.^[14] In Australia, the song debuted at number twelve on February 22, 2004, while the next week it reached a peak of number eleven on the ARIA Charts week of February 29, 2004, remaining at the peak position for a further week, matching the same peak position of the previous single, "Low".^[15] Ultimately, the song was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling over 35,000 copies. In Netherlands, the song was highest than her previous single, "Miss Independent", debuting at number 81, on December 27, 2003, and peaking at number 26, on January 24, 2004.^[16]

In Switzerland, the song became Clarkson's lowest charting-single of her career, only peaking at number 62.^[15] In the United States, "Low" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, but made its appearance on three Billboard component charts. On the "Top 40 Mainstream" chart, the song peaked at number 22, on the "Adult Top 40", it peaked at number 31 and on the "Top 40 Tracks", the song peaked at number 36.^[17] In Canada, the song performed significantly at number 25.^[17]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Bryan Barber and premiered on November 7, 2003, on "TRL".^[18] The video features Clarkson performing the track on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles, with kids watching Love Actually on a rooftop adjacent to the one Clarkson's on. Along with the high-altitude shots, Barber also created several vignettes showing kids dealing with troubled relationships, which will be interspersed with the performance footage. The scenes take place in the rooms of the building Kelly is performing on and include a girl fighting for attention from her video-game addict boyfriend and another girl climbing on the fire escape after arguing with her mother.^[18]

Live performances

Clarkson promoted the song with a lot of live performances, including "The Ellen Show",^[19] Pop Idol,^[20] Today^[21] "Live On Air", AOL Music, Smile, Popworld and many more. Clarkson performed the track on her "Independent Tour" (2004), "Hazel Eyes Tour" and last on the "Breakaway World Tour" (2005-2006). In 2012, on her "Stronger Tour", Clarkson performed the song on a medley with "Walk Away", "How I Feel" and "I Want You".

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "The Trouble with Love Is".

UK CD single; "Low"/"The Trouble with Love Is"

1. "Low" (Video Mix) - 3:29
2. "The Trouble with Love Is" - 3:42
3. "Respect" - 2:15
4. "Low" (music video) - 3:28

UK promo CD single

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" - 3:42

Australian CD single

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" - 3:42
2. "The Trouble with Love Is" (MaUVe Classic Vocal Mix) - 8:27
3. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Bimbo Jones Dub) - 6:06

European CD single

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" - 3:42
2. "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" - 2:26
3. "A Moment Like This" - 3:49

US promo 12" single

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Bermudez & Bertoldo Remix: Club Mix) - 6:03
2. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Bermudez & Bertoldo Remix: Radio Edit) - 3:54
3. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Bermudez & Bertoldo Remix: Instrumental) - 6:03
4. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Bermudez & Bertoldo Radio: Acapella) - 3:54

US promo CD single

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Radio Mix) - 3:42
2. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Call Out Hook) - 0:10

Official versions

• Main Edit
• Acapella
• Bermudez & Bertoldo Delinquent Cupid Club Mix
• Bermudez & Bertoldo Delinquent Cupid Radio Mix
• Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix
• Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix Edit
• Bimbo Jones Vocal Dub
• MaUVe Classic Vocal Mix
• MaUVe Classic Vocal Mix Edit
• Thunderpuss Club Remix
• Thunderpuss Radio Remix

Charts

• In the UK, "The Trouble with Love Is" was released as a double a side single with "Low", with both songs sharing the peak of number 35 on the UK charts.

Certifications

Release history

References