Never mind her life, it's ours which have been worse off for Kelly's disappearance from the airwaves...
Kelly Clarkson - 'My Life Would Suck Without You' (RCA)
'I know that I've got issues / But you're pretty messed-up too' accuses the original American Idol winner on the first single from her fourth record 'All I Ever Wanted'. Don't be fooled, though; this is not a down-with-men! convention. Kelly has moved on, it seems. Perhaps third album 'My December' was just what was required to get that out of her system because on her highly-anticipated comeback single, Kelly admits defeat; 'You've got a piece of me / And honestly, my life would suck with you'. Progress!
We've got Dr.Luke, one of the handful of pure pop producers in demand in America, to thank for these three-and-a-half minutes of aural joy. Under Clarkson's all-conquering vocal he lays down a pumping, relentlessly energetic electro-pop-rock beat to rival the best of his back catalogue - this is better than 'Hot n' Cold', better than 'Girlfriend'. Clearly it helps that he has an A-grade vocalist at his disposal for however appealing a computer can make Ms.Perry or Mrs.Lavigne's vocals sound, they can't touch Kelly's tones, emotive and effortless in equal measures. The song is, by big comeback standards, simplistic and sometimes even subtle, from the demure guitar-led intro to the retro drum-roll leading into the final chorus. Most importantly it is immensely catchy, sporting a hook - multiple hooks - which won't leave your mind for days, weeks, probably months.
It'd be nice to see that RCA haven't totally eradicated Kelly's clearly-ample songwriting abilities from 'All I Ever Wanted' but, as lead singles go, 'My Life' could barely be more perfectly-conceived. Call it the 'So What' of 2009.
