Since U Been Gone

This article is about a song by Kelly Clarkson. For the 1970s rock song, see Since You Been Gone. For other works with similar titles, see Since You've Been Gone (disambiguation).

"Since U Been Gone"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
from the album Breakaway
Released	December 22, 2004 (2004-12-22)
Format	CD single, download
Genre	Pop rock, pop punk, powerpop
Length	3:08
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald
Producer	Max Martin, Dr. Luke
Certification	Platinum (RIAA digital downloads) Platinum (RIAA CD singles) Silver (UK OCC) Platinum (ARIA) Platinum (CRIA)
Kelly Clarkson singles chronology
"Breakaway" (2004) "Since U Been Gone" (2004) "Behind These Hazel Eyes" (2005)

"Since U Been Gone" is a song written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald for American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song was released as the second single from her second album, Breakaway in the US and Australia and was released as the first single in Europe. Its lyrical concept concerns a failed relationship in which the protagonist later expresses relief about the breakup. Clarkson, who sought interest in a more rock-oriented image, wanted to alter the song's original composition to allow more drums. The song has a pop punk influence in drums and guitar riffs. The song was going to be offered to Pink and Hilary Duff.

The song was successful during 2005, and was the second US digital download to sell over one million copies. It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canada airplay chart. In the UK it reached number five and remained on the chart until the second quarter of 2006. The song earned Clarkson the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards. "Since U Been Gone" charted at 97 in Blender magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. In August 2009, the song was ranked at number 21 in "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s" by Pitchfork Media. In December 2009, the song was listed as number 18 in Rolling Stone's "100 Best Songs of the Decade". In 2009, Billboard ranked it as the sixth most successful pop song of the decade (Mainstream Top 40) and the 47th most successful song overall. Rolling Stone later ranked it number 482 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 135 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".

The song was included as the opening track of the American Idol 10th Anniversary - The Hits compilation album.

Background

"Since U Been Gone" was written and produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke. Duff's management team considered for recording a song titled "Since U Been Gone", which Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald and Max Martin had originally written for Pink. According to Gottwald, Duff's team passed on the song because some of the notes were too high for Duff's voice. "Since U Been Gone" was later recorded by Kelly Clarkson.

Reception

Critical reception

Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Can anyone do bitter better? Nothing packs more romantic rage than the original Idol's 2004 kiss-off to a coldhearted ex." Rolling Stone ranked it number 482 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010.

Chart performance

"Since U Been Gone" topped several U.S. Billboard charts, including the Pop 100, Hot Dance Airplay and the Top 40 Mainstream. It peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 but was held off the top spot by "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent. It stayed in the top ten for 20 weeks, in the top 40 for 43 weeks and on the chart for 46 weeks. The RIAA certified "Since U Been Gone" Gold in March 2006 for selling over 500,000 digital downloads. As of September 2010, "Since U Been Gone" has sold over 2,067,000 downloads. It was also certified gold in June 2006 for over 500,000 ringtones sold. It ranked fourth on the 2005 Billboard year-end chart. Similar to "Breakaway", "Since U Been Gone" took a while to become popular on radio. Released in the U.S. in late November 2004, the song spent three weeks steadily climbing the charts. In late March, after over 4 months of being on the charts, the popularity of "Since U Been Gone" suddenly began to surge. By April 2005, the song had finally peaked at number one on the Pop 100 chart, where it remained for seven weeks.

The song was also popular worldwide, reaching number one in Canada for two weeks and remaining on the chart for 29 weeks. It peaked inside the top five in Australia and the United Kingdom; in the former country it stayed in the top 40 for 19 weeks, and in the latter 13 (non-consecutive). "Since U Been Gone" performed well in markets where Clarkson's success had previously been limited.^{[citation needed]}

Music video

The single's music video depicts Clarkson exacting revenge on a boyfriend by trashing the apartment he shares with his (apparently) new girlfriend. Scenes of Clarkson performing at a concert are also seen. Alex Da Rakoff directed the video. The video won "Best Female Video" and "Best Pop Video" at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.^{[citation needed]}

Covers and other uses

• American musician Butch Walker recorded "Since U Been Gone" for his 2005 EP of cover versions, Cover Me Badd.
• The band A Day to Remember covered "Since U Been Gone" on the 2008 special edition of their second album, For Those Who Have Heart.
• Girl Talk sampled "Since U Been Gone" for the song "Here's the Thing" on his 2008 album Feed the Animals.
• Canadian indie rock band Tokyo Police Club covered the song for their 2011 covers project, Ten Songs Ten Hours Ten Days Ten Years.
• American composer and keyboardist Michael K. Bain made a very unique orchestral and techno pop arrangement of the song in 2011.
• American actor and musician Darren Criss covered and mashed the song up with At Last by Etta James.

Track listing

7" single

1. "Since U Been Gone" – 3:08
2. "Breakaway" – 3:56

Compact Disc

1. "Since U Been Gone" (album version) – 3:08
2. "Since U Been Gone" (AOL live version) – 3:16

CD Maxi single

1. "Since U Been Gone" (album version) – 3:08
2. "Miss Independent" (AOL live version) – 3:16
3. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Club Mixshow) – 5:12
4. "Since U Been Gone" (music video) – 3:08

Digital download AUS/U.S. remixes EP

Released March 22, 2005.

1. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Rock Da Club Edit) – 3:22
2. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Ambient Candlelight Mix) – 3:29
3. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Mixshow) – 5:35
4. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Club) – 7:40
5. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Dub) – 7:21
6. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Radio Edit Instrumental) – 3:51
7. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Radio Edit Acapella) – 3:37
8. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Reprise) – 5:12

Release history

Region	Date
United States	December 22, 2004 (2004-12-22)
United Kingdom	March 22, 2005 (2005-03-22)
France	March 24, 2009 (2009-03-24)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004-05)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	22
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)	31
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	4
Germany (Media Control AG)	6
Ireland (IRMA)	4
New Zealand (RIANZ)	11
Norway (VG-lista)	9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	5
US Billboard Hot 100	2
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)	2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	22
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard) Jason Nevins remixes	22

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	22
UK Singles Chart	30
US Billboard Hot 100	4

Sales and certifications

Country	Certification	Sales
United States	Platinum	2,235,000

References

Preceded by "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day	Billboard Pop 100 number-one single March 26 – April 30, 2005	Succeeded by "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani
Preceded by "1, 2 Step" by Ciara featuring Missy Elliott	Billboard Hot Dance Airplay number-one single April 3 – May 8, 2005	Succeeded by "One Word" by Kelly Osbourne