Since U Been Gone

This article is about the Kelly Clarkson song. For other works with similar titles, see Since You've Been Gone.

In particular for the 1970s pop song with the same title see Since You Been Gone.

"Since U Been Gone"
Song

"Since U Been Gone" is a song written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, and recorded for American singer Kelly Clarkson's second album Breakaway (2004). It was released in 2004 as the second single from the album in the U.S. and the first in Europe. Its lyrics recall 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 proved successful throughout 2005 and became the #1 Billboard Pop 100 Airplay song of the year. "Since U Been Gone" was also the second U.S. digital download to sell over one million copies. It reached number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian airplay chart. In the UK, where "Since U Been Gone" was released as the first single from Breakaway, it reached number five and remained on the chart until the second quarter of 2006. At the Grammy Awards of 2006, Clarkson received a Grammy Award for the song in the category of "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance".

Background and writing

Clarkson's last two singles at the time of the song's recording, "Low" and "The Trouble with Love Is", had failed on the U. S. charts. She decided she needed more control over her career and the direction of her music. With the help of a lawyer and advice from lead guitarist Jimmy Messer, she was able to get out of her contract and move in the direction of pop rock.

Clarkson completed the new album following this change, but there had been no decision regarding what its second single (after "Breakaway") should be. She considered using some songs that she had written with Ben Moody and David Hodges, formerly of Evanescence, but executives at her label felt those songs were a little too dark. After a suggestion from a friend, Clarkson went to Sweden, where she met up with producers Max Martin and Dr. Luke.

Martin had previously produced successful pop records for Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, but he did not want to work with Clarkson at first, because he felt she would want him to recreate his pop sound for her songs. Clarkson was also familiar with Martin's experience with rock music: he was a former member of a heavy metal band, and had also produced material for rock musicians such as Bon Jovi. Once Martin and Clarkson realised that they were in agreement, they began writing songs together. During this period, a song that had previously been written by Martin and Dr. Luke caught the attention of Clarkson. It was then relayed to her label executives, who chose it for release as a single. The song originally had a prominent pop influence, but Clarkson later asked for a slightly harder rock feel with increased drums.

Music video

The single's music video features Clarkson at a former boyfriend's apartment, where she is looking through some of his possessions before destroying all of it. The video is intercut with scenes of Clarkson performing with her band for an energetic crowd. The video won "Best Female Video" and "Best Pop Video" at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.

Covers

Ted Leo recorded an unreleased acoustic cover of "Since U Been Gone", mixing it with "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. (The guitar breakdown of Since U Been Gone is almost a note for note lift from the bass breakdown of "Maps.")

Hey There, Polar Bear recorded a mandolin cover of the song.

Butch Walker's EP Cover Me Badd includes a live version of the song. It has also been covered by Canadian hardcore punk band Fucked Up and California punk band The Aquabats who played it at the conclusion of their 2005 live shows.

"Since U Been Gone" is also featured in the video game Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA.

Uber-producer Timbaland has remixed this song with Keri Hilson singing the vocals. Hilson has performed this on several occasions on Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveShow world tour.

Formats and track listings

US Remixes EP (Digital only)

Released March 22 2005.

1. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Rock da Club edit)
2. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Ambient Candlelight mix)
3. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Mixshow)
4. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins club mix)
5. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins dub)
6. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins radio edit instrumental)
7. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins radio edit acapella)
8. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins reprise)

US 7" vinyl single

1. "Since U Been Gone"
2. "Breakaway"

UK CD1

Released July 4 2005.

1. "Since U Been Gone" (Album version)
2. "Since U Been Gone" (AOL Live)

UK CD2

Released July 4 2005.

1. "Since U Been Gone" (Album version)
2. "Miss Independent" (AOL Live)
3. "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Mixshow)
4. "Since U Been Gone" (Music video)

Australian CD single

Released March 1 2005.

1. "Since U Been Gone" (Album version)
2. "Since U Been Gone" (AOL Live)
3. "Miss Independent" (AOL Live)
4. "Since U Been Gone" (Music video)

Charts

File:Kelly Clarkson performing Since U Been Gone.jpg

Clarkson performing "Since U Been Gone" at the Hearst Greek Theatre in September 2005.

Similar to "Breakaway", "Since U Been Gone" took a while to become the popular song it is considered today. Released in late November of 2004, the song spent the months of December, January, and February steadily climbing up the charts. Many considered it a sureshot for the #1 position on Top 40 Radio. However, Green Day's single "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" surpassed "Since U Been Gone" and jumped to #1. In late March, after over four months of being on the charts, the popularity of "Since U Been Gone" suddenly began to surge. By April of 2005, the song finally peaked at #1, where it remained for seven weeks. It also went on to become the most played song on Top 40 Radio in 2005.

"Since U Been Gone" topped several U.S. Billboard charts including the Pop 100, Hot Digital Tracks, Hot Dance Airplay and the Mainstream Top 40. It peaked at #2 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the top ten for twenty weeks (the second most for a single in 2005), in the top forty for 44 weeks and on the chart for 46 weeks. The RIAA certified "Since U Been Gone" Platinum in March 2006 for selling over 1 million digital downloads (1.4 million as of late 2006), and gold in June 2006 for over 500,000 ringtones sold.

On the ARC Weekly Top 40, the single broke the longevity record in the chart's 25-year history, spending eight non-consecutive weeks at number one and remaining on the chart for a record-breaking 33 weeks (a little over eight months). It ranked fourth on the 2005 Billboard year-end charts, and Clarkson set a new record on the ARC Weekly Top 40 as she had three of the year-end chart's top five singles of the year ("Since U Been Gone", "Because of You" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes").

The song was also popular worldwide, reaching number one in Canada for two weeks and remaining on the chart for 29 weeks. It peaked within the top five in Australia and the United Kingdom; in the former country it stayed within the top forty for 19 weeks, and in the latter thirteen (non-consecutive). "Since U Been Gone" also performed well in markets where Clarkson's success had previously been limited. It was one of the most popular songs of 2005, and is arguably the biggest hit of Clarkson's career.

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	3
Austria Singles Chart	3
Belgium Singles Chart	22
Canadian BDS Airplay Chart	1
Dutch Top 40	4
German Singles Chart	6
Indonesian Singles Chart	1
Irish Singles Chart	4
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Charts	11
Norway Singles Chart	9
Mexican Top 100 Singles Chart	11
Mexican Digital Sales Chart	21
South African Singles Chart	1
Sweden Singles Chart	16
Switzerland Singles Chart	7
UK Singles Chart	5
U. S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U. S. Billboard Pop 100	1
U. S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	1
U. S. Billboard Adult Top 40	2
U. S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	22
U. S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1	22
U. S. ARC Weekly Top 40	1
United World Chart	8

¹ (J. Nevins remixes)