Snap Judgment: Kelly Clarkson's 'My Life Would Suck Without You'

File this one under "predictable": Kelly Clarkson has returned from her Persephone-like journey across the pop-goth River Styx on the excellent but commercially disappointing album "My December" with a shiny, streamlined new cut meant to break the speed limit up the charts. Hear it for yourself on her YouTube page. 

There's no reason this song won't be huge. "My Life Would Suck Without You," co-written and produced by absolute hit makers Dr. Luke and Max Martin, zooms forward from its guitar-plucky intro toward a cymbal-crashing climax without ever slowing down. There's no time to question the empty calories delivered within those compressed, subtly Auto-Tuned vocals, which ride some sneakily accelerating high-fructose beats.

You will be singing this song by your third listen, and that third listen will be unavoidable, because without a bridge or even one blue note, it's perfectly suited to the formats that support 21st century pop -- especially YouTube parodies and singing toothbrushes.

But is Kelly in there, amid the syn-drums and keyboard bleeps? To paraphrase Bill Clinton, that depends on the meaning of "in."

She didn't write the lyrics, but they're so applicable to her recent history that one can't help but think she must have dictated them to her corporate mentors. Or else they're just being really, really mean.

When Clarkson belts, "You've got a piece of me," it's impossible to avoid thoughts of her relationship with Clive Davis, the legendary music-biz Svengali who publicly condemned her for trying to take creative control on "My December," only to welcome her back once she apologized and dumped her management, her band and her muse.

Tapping into the theme of unavoidable love that's inspired artists as diverse as Willie Dixon, Smokey Robinson and Brooks & Dunn, "My Life" is different than your typical blues, presenting resignation as a positive emotion. Clarkson's delivery is where her soul lives. She sings through gritted teeth, and her tone is sharper than it was on her greatest hit so far, "Since U Been Gone," which starts with similar guitar tones but in a darker key. That song blended morning-after sultriness with the kick of a cold shower; this one offers the vocal equivalent of a clenched fist.

I'm hoping that the anger in Clarkson's voice is her signal that though she'll play the Photoshopped star for dollars, she's hanging on to her soul for future use.

Some pundits have compared "My Life" to yet another Luke-Martin product, Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." But it's nothing like that song, which is fake vampy instead of fake cathartic. Instead, let's recall another recent entry in the category of happy songs about bad situations -- Miley Cyrus' underrated "7 Things," which captures the giddiness as well as the pain of going for the wrong guy.

Unlike the oddly pent-up "My Life," "7 Things" actually offers release at its end point. Plus, the Cyrus video is adorably cute, with all those stuffed-animal-clutching, scenery-ripping teen girls. Clarkson might get to trash some furniture in the video for "My Life," but you know they're also going to make her suck a lollipop.

Unlike Cyrus, Clarkson is already too battered by adulthood to find joy in her own entrapment, romantic or otherwise. Here's what I hope: that this song does well, because she deserves it for being a trouper, but that she follows it up with a bruising, truthful ballad along the lines of "Because of You," and that it causes a wave of raised cellphones and girl-fan tears, putting her back on her feet for good.

-- Ann Powers

Photo credit: RCA Records

Comments

[JC]

I agree with most of what is said, but this is the type of music she is used to singing. If you look back to her american idol days, she sang songs that left her with a smile after they were done. Those songs weren't mad or "emo," yet she still had a good time singing them. I can't wait for the rest of the album, and I don't think it will be as depressing as My December.

[Helen]

I'd like to point out the Kelly didn't dump her band. They're the same as before.

I don't love the song as much as I thought I would from the clip, but it's early days yet. I do like it though. I think it will do pretty well for her and will propel sales of the cd, but that most, if not all, of the other songs on the cd will be better (or certainly, I will prefer them).

She mentioned 70s rock style songs, in-your-face pop songs, an almost British-punk song and some ballads as being on the album so I'm looking forward to that. I think that most of those will show us more of Kelly herself than the single does.

[flicketyflack]

"She didn't write the lyrics, but they're so applicable to her recent history that one can't help but think she must have dictated them to her corporate mentors. Or else they're just being really, really mean."

I'm going with really, really mean. How else do you explain these lines from the second verse: "Maybe I was wrong for trying to pick a fight" and "Either way I found out I'm nothing without you"?

My December wasn't worth all the fighting. It wasn't that uncommercial but it also wasn't that good. It got more attention than the music warranted because of the battle between Kelly and Clive.

[loki]

This is why the music industry is a joke! Leave the creativity to the artist not some idiot trying to make you someone your not! You sheep will listen to anything someone pumps promotion money into. Kelly didn't write the music they bought the songs how fake can it get? It's like an artist painting a picture then sells it to some company to exploit it as somone eles work. No soul no creativity no heart all fake! When you listen to these pop stars remember the little girl in China that was to ugly to represent her country during the Olympics and had some other girl lip sync the song she sang. American Idol????

[Jennifer]

I love the song, it may not be written by her, but her voice has the emotional impact as if it was.

I believe the whole album will be fantastic and that the single is what most singles are, a way to capture a larger more mainstream crowd so it will sale quickly.

I believe Kelly Clarkson has a wide range of genre she could easily fit into, she's just trying everything on for size. And either she will continue to show of her vocal talents through all kinds of sounds or she will find one she adores more and stick with it. Either way, I'm a fan and will always be a fan. Her voice is amazing and very few can compare.

[xxbeautifiedxx]

I agree and I do hope that she does release or have something along the line of "Because of You". Honestly, this does sound like "Since U Been Gone" part 2, which will probably be a commercial success, but I loved her Breakaway LP not for "Since U Been Gone" but for "Because of You" and "Breakaway". Above all, Kelly is great no matter what.

[Mike]

Artistically, this song is disappointing. With My December she took a step forward in maturing her sound, with this song, she is taking a step back to what she used to do. This song makes one despise Clive Davis' tyrranical attitude toward his artists. Just because you signed them to your label doesn't mean you should dictate how they sounds. However, listening-wise this song is fantastic. It is incredibly catchy and just pure fun to listen to. I think I will enjoy this album because it is sure to be full of fun songs, but for Kelly's next album, I will be looking more for something that is more Kelly than commercial, something more along the lines of My December. I think what we should be looking for from Kelly is an album that captures the artistry of My December with the fun of what this album is looking to be. However, it is possible that this album will be something like that, which would be a pleasant surprise. Well done, Kelly

[Clark Shipley]

I like it, but I wish I loved it. I do miss Kelly, but this song is too poppy. She is a pop singer, I realize, but this doesn't have the rock edge that she once had. It really seems like she's given in to the producers to get her music out there. That's probably what has to be done though and like I said, I miss Kelly!

[Ashley]

I loveee Kelly's new single! It's really amazing. "My December" is still my favorite CD. It's so relatable, and I absolutely love it! I can't wait for her new CD, because new CD = NEW TOUR! woohoo!

Rock on, KC(:

[marcus martin]

okay i will admit that i didnt really care for the single at first....i heard a clip and it sounded like crap but after i heard the full length song it grew on me....i just dont like the techno pop stuff its just not real music to me....and i LOVE my december...its darker but her voice is amazing and carrys that cd.....i think it deserves a lot more credit than it got. but im still super excited about "all i ever wanted"

[Nicole]

The song is alright. It's not as good as her old stuff. You're right it is kinda to popie. Although not as poppy as her debut 'Thankful' but not as rocky as Breakaway.

But one thing that i can say is that i absolutely hate the cover art... urgh!!!!

[Jeremy]

First I want to say I love kelly clarkson .... she is amazing. My December is by far my favourite song with real meaning and real music.

My life would suck without you is a good song ... but it feels abit over produced which is unneccessary as kelly has one of the best voices on the market.

Im looking forward to the albulm and the songs she wrote with Ryan Tedder they will be awesome.... oh and Clive Davis is a fat pig!!

[ian]

Kelly is a wise artist. She knows when to play ball game and she knows when to tap into her artistic soul. She has it so I'm not worried. True, she may just be honoring her word to bow down to the label's wishes if they agree to release MD. Even then, you can hear conviction with the way she sings this song. Again, I'm not worried. This is just one pop song in her vast catalog of songs. Heck, even Radiohead has radio-tailored songs! I know it is a matter of time before we see again the true Kelly Clarkson. From what I've heard, she has some really artistic songs coming off of All I Ever Wanted.

[Nicole]

I think as a whole, Kelly's best album was Breakaway. I didn't actually like the song "Breakaway", but all other tracks were amazing. It's hard for me to find a CD where I like all the tracks, and other than one song I liked them all enough to hit repeat over and over! "Addicted" was my favorite song, and I was sad that it wasn't a single!! It definitely had the criteria to be a hit. Her album My December had a few really good songs, but mostly I didn't like it. I like her "dark" stuff and I loved "Never Again" "Sober" and "Maybe" (I was hoping "Maybe" would be a single, too bad!). Her new single is good too, but I agree it's a little too pop compared to her other songs in the past that I preferred. Still, I will be buying the album. I love her songs about break ups and hurt cuz they are so relatable, and her voice is amazing!

[hendrix07]

kelly's doin good.. she may compete with stardom with miley, katy, britney, rihanna and demi but one thing is her advantage...she can definitely sing live and she is an IDOL.

[Sally Griffin]

This is huge - an incredible hook and voice - it has been playing in my head since I heard it. Kelly just has something no one else has and it can't be denied. I love lots of music types but her voice can get me to listen over and over again to just about anything she sings. Love this one - so radio stations....PLAY IT!

[kelly]

I love kelly clarkson...and this song is catchy..of course it's not as good as since u been gone, but it will be a chart topper, hopefully bigger than '7 things' but sadly i think the writers Dr. Luke and Max martin, biggest his was 'I kissed a girl' but this song has catchy beats and catchy lyrics and great vocals...it will be good

[John]

Okay first off hardy anyone in the music industry anymore writes their own songs, they might contribute a line or so to a song, but other than that it's all the writers. This song is amazing it's what I thought her second album would be like until she broke away.

[Ninjalilly]

That Voice! Dam% she is awesome.! Not only does she have a great tone and range, but the emotion she shows when she sings is amazing. She can write some great stuff on her own, but it doesn't matter if she doesn't write them all. Basically, if there is a song out there...who better to sing it than Kelly Clarkson?! I can't wait to hear the rest of the album and I like the single very much. :-)

[Stacey]

I've got to say that i don't really like this song, the lyrics and her voice are the best bits. but it is growing on me a bit.
and I've got to say that i don't like the album and single covers. it's just a bit too plastic.
I really hope the rest of the songs have got more of a My December/Breakaway edge to them.

[Jacqueline]

I support KC in every direction possible! :)

No matter if shes more pop, rock, written by her or written by someone else- shes still AMAZING!

I think her record label is trying to get her away from REBA, and back to HERSELF!!! :)

YOU ROCK KC!

[matt]

I love her new song..I think its just enough for it to go number 1 on the charts even if it is hot 100 pop 100 or dance.She has one of the best voices in pop music so she will be fine she's pretty she has a good personality and she has rca behiend her.Never again was a good song but rca didn't push it.Berry weiss and Clive Davis are gonna promote the hell out of this to prove a point.Don't be suprised ifthis is one of her biggest hits the record label pays for play and kelly clarkson deserves sucess!

[anthon]

i love the song i listen to it like idk a lot lol
it was the first thing i did jan 13 was go find the single,
i really loved my december because it fit my mind frame at the time i was going thought some stuff and the songs related to what was going on for me.
i really can t wait to hear ur follow up song i really would like a power ballet

[Kellyfan]

Ok... I hate the fact that Kelly gave in to the record companies because I think she truly lost herself this time. The first time I listened to this. i absouletly hated it! I mean let's face it.. she's back to her old poppy crap. What ever happened to standing up for yourself and ohhh I don't know sticking to it! Her last album did awful and now she gave into Clive davis because without him she can't make it in this business. Now offense to all of her fans but it's true. It was probably the Dumbest decision she ever made dumping him! Ok now with all of that said. Once you listen to the song a couple of times you can't help but like it. Even if you HATe what she has become as the article said the third time listening to it( which everyone will listen to it a third time) you find that you really love dispite all of your opinons. So I think she will have success but I hope she finds herself again.

[chantelle]

i am getting a bit annoyed with people slating kelly, they hate the my december album they hate the breakaway album they hate this song OMG WHAT DO YOU WANT HER TO SING COUNTRY! Kelly rocks no matter what she sings yea she didnt write this song but when she did once again slated. Clive James doesnt desevre kelly and yea he will proper promote this album and its tunes just because he got his own way, the My December album didnt get the coverage it should have got which yea wasnt such a big success as we would have hoped but all i can say is no matter what kelly sings or does i will still love her and thinnk she rocks!