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Dark Side (Kelly Clarkson song)

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"Dark Side"
Song

"Dark Side" is a song by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson, written by busbee and Alexander Geringas, and produced by Greg Kurstin. The song is set to be released as the third single from Clarkson's fifth album, Stronger. "Dark Side" is a mid-tempo synthpop song that incorporates a vigorous music box melody with up-tempo beats in choruses, with its lyrics containing the theme of acceptance in spite of someone's flaws.

"Dark Side" has received generally positive reviews from musical critics who considered the song as a decent successor to "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", Clarkson's previous single. Critics also praised Clarkson's vocal performance blending with the song's melody as haunting and breathtaking. Clarkson also included the song as the opening in the set list of her Stronger Tour. It will be officially sent to radio airplay in the United States on June 5, 2012.

Background and release

"Dark Side"
A 22 second sample of "Dark Side" by Kelly Clarkson.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Dark Side" was written by songwriters busbee and Alexander Geringas, and produced by Greg Kurstin, who also produced "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)". In an interview with Popjustice, Clarkson revealed that she had always desired to collaborate with Kurstin since finishing recording tracks for her sophomore album Breakaway in 2004. Jeff Aldrich, RCA Records' A&R executive, managed to get Kurstin to produce tracks for Clarkson's fifth studio album in 2010.[1] Kursin took time to hear Clarkson's previous records before their recording sessions began, in which Clarkson felt made the recording "easier."[2]

In July 2011, several of Clarkson's demos were leaked on the internet, including a demo of "Dark Side"[3] Subsequently, a final version of the song manage to surface online just a week before the album's release, although it was quickly taken offline by RCA Records and the IFPI. Clarkson then published the song online to prevent the leaks.[4] In an interview with New York radio Z100, Clarkson revealed that she was considering "Dark Side" to be released as the third single from Stronger: "I like "Dark Side" because it’s still got a beat to it, It’s a sweet-sounding song but with a dark lyric, and I like that."[5] During the Canadian leg of her Stronger Tour, Clarkson confirmed to MTV News Canada that "Dark Side" will be released as the third single from the album.[6][7][8] The song was already receiving early radio airplay in Sydney, Australia from November 2011, on the pop/rock show, 'Juice'.[9]

Critical reception

The song has received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with most of them noting its goth-like resemblance to some of the tracks of My December, but were pleased by its music box style melody, dance-pop tempo and positive message. Scott Shelter of Popcrush gave the song three and a half stars, he described the song's music as "nicely mixes hushed, somber sections with catchier passages."[10] He also remarked, "Lyrically, "Dark Side" does a nice job of conveying difficult truths while trying to stay upbeat and positive. It isn’t quite as infectious as "Let Me Down," but it would be a solid album track, if not a potential single." [11] Chris Willman of The Wrap remarked, ""Dark Side" cleverly reinforces the idea that Miss American Idol has a shadow side with a spooky music-box melody that cuts in every time the big beat and goth histrionics briefly cut out." [12] James Dinh of MTV News described the song as "On "Dark Side," Kelly ventures away from her sometimes predictable scorned woman stomping grounds and closer toward her vulnerable side as she questions whether her lover will stick around even through the bad times."[13] Entertainment Weekly also included the song in their "Songs for the Lovers (and Haters)" playlist article, remarking, "(Clarkson's) soaring synth-pop ballad defines what love's all about: knowing your girlfriend's a little bit crazy, and still not running away."[14]

Joey Guerra of Houston Chronicle noted that "Dark Side recalls Clarkson's under-appreciated My December disc, a swirl of lullaby strains and goth-pop grooves. Think Katy Perry with a much, much better voice."[15] Jason Scott of Seattle Post-Intelligencer remarked, ""Dark Side," takes Stronger and banks a hard left. With a xylophone tinkling out a lullaby-like intro, Clarkson takes a creative adventure into extraterrestrial territory that is an oddly soothing and intriguing fit for her voice. You did not ask for The Twilight Zone, but somehow with an electrically tender arrangement, Clarkson transports you there." He later described the song as "a crafty pop hook with Owl City influence that does not let up on skeletal drums, charts new territory for the Idol without venturing too far from the working formula."[16] Katherine St Asaph of Popdust remarked that Stronger has a range of, depending on how charitable you are, subjects or even just single lenses on a subject." and described ""Dark Side" as fundamentally a love song."" [17] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard remarked, "On this thoughtful mid-tempo track, Clarkson dials back her vocal power on the verses and pleads with a guy to embrace her flaws." [18] During her performance of the song during the VH1 Unplugged: Kelly Clarkson special, Kat George of VH1 remarked "In fact, this is what we love best about Kelly — that she’s just a regular girl. Acknowledging the pitfalls of her personality, Kelly invites us all to be imperfect without letting us (or herself) be any less perfectly loveable."[19] Brian Mansfield of USA Today descried the track's music-box intro as "nightmarish" and stated that the song "could wind up being a favorite songs of psycho girlfriends everywhere, because it's a set-up."[20] Sam Lansky of Popcrush.com said ‘Dark Side’ grapples with authenticity in romance. The saccharine tinkle of a music box yields to atmospheric drums and another pounding chorus as Clarkson wonders “Everybody’s got a dark side / Do you love me / Can you love mine?”[21]

Music video

Background

According to videostatic.com the music video is currently in production. It will be directed by Shane Drake who directed Clarkson's previous music video of Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You). [22] On April 21, 2012, it was revealed that the music video will be shot in Downtown Los Angeles on April 28, 2012, and there will be a few actors: real couple who has recently broken up, teen runaway, heavily tattooed guy, pierced girl, teen cutter and wheelchair bound amputee. Part of the video was shot alongside the Los Angeles River beneath the 1st Street bridge. [23] On May 21, a behind scenes video for the music video was released on Clarkson's offical VEVO page. On May 24, the music video for the song was released on her official VEVO page[24].

Synopsis

Clarkson wears a long black and green dress while walking outside around graffiti drawn walls, along railway and in front of a city. She is also shown in front of black background wearing a coral T-shirt. There are a few people in the video with their stories. A man who lost his job due to poor economy, a young girl struggling with her body image, a man who was bullied, an Asian girl who lives with her parents in a motel, a former beauty queen who is addicted to pills, a stressed out man who is an alcoholic, a woman who leaves her husband and wants to divorce with him, a returning war veteran who lost a leg. At the end of the music video, the people smile and Clarkson hugs several of them. Brief scenes tell stories of those people. There are also another short scenes of a blooming flower, rising sun, word "HOPE", birds on sea shore, clouds, a heart drawn on a wall, a rosary, touching hands, a man and a woman kissing during sunset on a beach, two butterflies. Those scenes don't belong to any of the people.

Live performances

Clarkson first performed the song a during Sony-sponsored special concert at The Troubador in Los Angeles on 19 October 2011 to promote Stronger.[25] She then performed it as the opening song in the VH1 Unplugged: Kelly Clarkson television special on 17 November 2011.[19][26] Clarkson also included the song as the opening performance of her Stronger Tour.[27] Clarkson performed the song at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2012.[28] Two days later, on May 22, 2012, she performed the song along with her single Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) on the finale of the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars.[28] [29]

Credits and personnel

Recording
  • Recorded at Echo Recording Studio, Los Angeles, California
Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Stronger.[30]

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[31] 48

Release history

Region Date Format
United States[32] June 5, 2012 Mainstream radio
Germany[33] June 29, 2012 CD Single

References

  1. ^ Robinson, Peter. "Kelly Clarkson does interview, results are spectacular". Popjustice. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  2. ^ Halperin, Shirley (25 October 2011). "Kelly Clarkson on Making Peace With Her Label, New Album: 'It's About Putting All That Crap in the Back'". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  3. ^ Goldblatt, Henry (22 August 2011). "Kelly Clarkson on leaked songs: She was 'robbed'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Reveals Her "Dark Side"". Idolator. Buzz Media. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  5. ^ Rahman, Ray (22 February 2012). "Kelly Clarkson says her next single might be 'Dark Side' -- what do you think?". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  6. ^ Robert, David (6 March 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Clarkson Confirms 'Dark Side' As 3rd Single". MTV News. MTV Canada. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. ^ Mansfield, Brian (7 March 2012). "Kelly Clarkson: 'Darkside' will be next single". Idolchatter. USA Today. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Will Turn To The "Dark Side" For Her New Single". Idolator. Buzz Media. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  9. ^ https://www.facebook.com/juiceshow/app_205521576149308
  10. ^ Maher, Cristin (7 March 2012). "New Songs on the Radio – March 2012". PopCrush.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  11. ^ Shelter, Scott (15 July 2011). "Kelly Clarkson, 'Dark Side' – Song Review". PopCrush.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  12. ^ Willman, Chris (25 October 2011). "Review: Kelly Clarkson "Stronger" lives up to title". The Wrap. Reuters. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  13. ^ Dinh, James (22 August 2011). "Kelly Clarkson's Musical Robbery And Our Thoughts On The Loot". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Songs for the Lovers and Haters". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  15. ^ Guerra, Joey (25 October 2011). "A weaker voice couldn't pull off Kelly Clarkson's Stronger". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  16. ^ Scott, Jason (29 October 2011). "Music Review: Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (Deluxe Edition)". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  17. ^ St Asaph, Katherine (22 February 2012). "Let's analyze the lyrics to Kelly Clarkson's "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"". Popdust.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  18. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (24 October 2011). "Kelly Clarkson, 'Stronger': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  19. ^ a b Graham, Mark (16 November 2011). "Learn To Love Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" As She Performs On VH1 Unplugged". VH1. MTV Networks. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger': A track-by-track-review". Retrieved 1 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "23 October 2011" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  21. ^ "Kelly Clarkson, 'Stronger' – Album Review". Retrieved 5 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "24 October 2011" ignored (help); Text "date" ignored (help)
  22. ^ http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2012/04/in-production-kelly-clarkson-shane-drake-dir.html
  23. ^ http://actorscastings.com/index.php/category-table/6260-kelly-clarkson-video-casting
  24. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ArpRWcGe0
  25. ^ Powers, Lindsay (23 October 2011). "Kelly Clarkson to Play Free Concert in L.A." The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Mapes, Jillian (16 November 2011). "5 Outrageous Quotes Cut From Kelly Clarkson's 'Unplugged' Taping". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  27. ^ Angermiller, Michelle Amabile (16 January 2012). "Kelly Clarkson Gets Personal at Atlantic City Tour Stop: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  28. ^ a b Gallo, Phil (18 May 2012). "Kelly Clarkson to Premiere 'Dark Side' at BBMAs, Talks 'Duets'". Billboard. Los Angeles: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  29. ^ http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Dancing-With-The-Stars-results-show:-Who-won----Spoilers/8672896
  30. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Korean International chart for week 2011-09-04 to 2011-09-10". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  32. ^ http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases
  33. ^ http://www.beatblogger.de/vo-vorschau/
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