Just something in my eye
February 29, 2016 1:18 PM Subscribe
Kelly Clarkson's incredibly moving performance of "Piece by Piece" on American idol.
Kelly talks about writing the song, the unexpected reaction to the live performance, and her relationship with her father in more detail here.
Kelly talks about writing the song, the unexpected reaction to the live performance, and her relationship with her father in more detail here.
American Idol feels like it should have existed to bring us Kelly Clarkson and then disappear forever.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:54 PM on February 29, 2016 [33 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:54 PM on February 29, 2016 [33 favorites]
But then how would we have discovered Taylor Hicks?
posted by holborne at 1:58 PM on February 29, 2016
posted by holborne at 1:58 PM on February 29, 2016
Taylor who?
posted by sutt at 2:03 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by sutt at 2:03 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
SOUL PATROL.
(That I know what this is even though giving up on American Idol the tv show midway through Season 2 really speaks to what a place in the culture the show used to have.)
But yes, there have been lots of winners but only one American Idol.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:03 PM on February 29, 2016
(That I know what this is even though giving up on American Idol the tv show midway through Season 2 really speaks to what a place in the culture the show used to have.)
But yes, there have been lots of winners but only one American Idol.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:03 PM on February 29, 2016
American Idol feels like it should have existed to bring us Kelly Clarkson and then disappear forever.
I enjoyed The Clay Aiken Experience, and his celebrity almost got him elected to Congress as a Democrat from a pretty conservative district here in NC, so that's something.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:15 PM on February 29, 2016 [7 favorites]
I enjoyed The Clay Aiken Experience, and his celebrity almost got him elected to Congress as a Democrat from a pretty conservative district here in NC, so that's something.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:15 PM on February 29, 2016 [7 favorites]
She's not exactly my musical taste but man do I like Kelly Clarkson, this was gorgeous.
posted by Cosine at 2:16 PM on February 29, 2016
posted by Cosine at 2:16 PM on February 29, 2016
But yes, there have been lots of winners but only one American Idol.
Two. Carrie Underwood has a solid claim of her own.
That said, there's also been Jordin Sparks, and Haley Reinhart, and Allison Iraheta, and Blake Lewis, and Kimberley Locke, and Adam Lambert, and Daughtry, and on and on. The list of notable alumni is a long one, and they've been responsible for a bunch of albums that I've liked a lot.
posted by Shmuel510 at 2:25 PM on February 29, 2016 [6 favorites]
Two. Carrie Underwood has a solid claim of her own.
That said, there's also been Jordin Sparks, and Haley Reinhart, and Allison Iraheta, and Blake Lewis, and Kimberley Locke, and Adam Lambert, and Daughtry, and on and on. The list of notable alumni is a long one, and they've been responsible for a bunch of albums that I've liked a lot.
posted by Shmuel510 at 2:25 PM on February 29, 2016 [6 favorites]
while few winners of american idol can even come close to kelly clarkson (although i'd put carrie underwood up there - technically passes kc in album sales, but i still personally rank kc higher), many of the not-winners are talented and successful.
on preview : yeah - if you're looking at alumni, the list is long. if you're looking at winners, it shortens up pretty quickly.
posted by nadawi at 2:30 PM on February 29, 2016
on preview : yeah - if you're looking at alumni, the list is long. if you're looking at winners, it shortens up pretty quickly.
posted by nadawi at 2:30 PM on February 29, 2016
And also Jennifer Hudson!
(For future reference, please note that my belief that Kelly Clarkson is the One True American Idol has everything to do about the intensity of my feelings about her and very little to do with the talent of any other winners or runner-ups.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:30 PM on February 29, 2016 [8 favorites]
(For future reference, please note that my belief that Kelly Clarkson is the One True American Idol has everything to do about the intensity of my feelings about her and very little to do with the talent of any other winners or runner-ups.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:30 PM on February 29, 2016 [8 favorites]
A while ago, for some reason, the idea of Michael Stipe covering Breakaway seeped into my head. I'd love to hear that.
posted by davebush at 2:39 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by davebush at 2:39 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
sio42: "am I confusing celebrities"
Yep, you're confusing celebrities (or being ironic, which whooshed over my head).
Adam Lambert (American Idol contestant) ≠ Adam Levine (lead singer of Maroon 5).
My brain tries to confuse them as well, not just because their names are similar but because Adam Levine is a judge on The Voice, a reality show that competes very directly with American Idol.
posted by Riki tiki at 3:16 PM on February 29, 2016
Yep, you're confusing celebrities (or being ironic, which whooshed over my head).
Adam Lambert (American Idol contestant) ≠ Adam Levine (lead singer of Maroon 5).
My brain tries to confuse them as well, not just because their names are similar but because Adam Levine is a judge on The Voice, a reality show that competes very directly with American Idol.
posted by Riki tiki at 3:16 PM on February 29, 2016
And also Jennifer Hudson!
Who was completely robbed. But I have a feeling Hudson would have been successful eventually, with or without Idol. She is just that great.
This video was lovely.
posted by mochapickle at 3:18 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Who was completely robbed. But I have a feeling Hudson would have been successful eventually, with or without Idol. She is just that great.
This video was lovely.
posted by mochapickle at 3:18 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
That show's rubbish, but she really is awesome.
posted by wenestvedt at 3:48 PM on February 29, 2016
posted by wenestvedt at 3:48 PM on February 29, 2016
I admittedly don't follow these things super closely, but have any of the other competition shows produced actual stars like Idol has?
posted by kmz at 4:04 PM on February 29, 2016
posted by kmz at 4:04 PM on February 29, 2016
I am having flirty drinks in 20 minutes and now my mascara is all over my face.
posted by Duffington at 4:07 PM on February 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Duffington at 4:07 PM on February 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
I love her so much. I agree with MCMikeNamara that she is the One True Idol. All others are but a shadow. Also, crazy respect for a woman who has the breath to belt it like that while being (self-described) hugely pregnant.
posted by donnagirl at 4:25 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by donnagirl at 4:25 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am having flirty drinks in 20 minutes and now my mascara is all over my face.
WARNING: You may be the protagonist in a romantic comedy. Attempt to move towards the closest exit. If Hugh Grant appears, shoot to kill.
posted by officer_fred at 4:28 PM on February 29, 2016 [35 favorites]
WARNING: You may be the protagonist in a romantic comedy. Attempt to move towards the closest exit. If Hugh Grant appears, shoot to kill.
posted by officer_fred at 4:28 PM on February 29, 2016 [35 favorites]
I love Clarkson deeply (Reba's DIL, for one), and this brought me to tears. I think i might like Carrie Underwood more.
posted by PinkMoose at 5:11 PM on February 29, 2016
Jesus Christ don't read the youtube comments. Why did I do that? Why?
posted by Justinian at 5:17 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 5:17 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
I watched the first season of American Idol, completely sucked in 100%. The first season was way better than it had any right or reason to be. The second season was a huge let-down and I've never watched more than an episode here or there of subsequent seasons. In retrospect, Kelly Clarkson was a huge part of why the first season was so good. She just had so much heart, and so much talent, and you just wanted to root for her.
Still love her.
posted by lunasol at 5:48 PM on February 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
Still love her.
posted by lunasol at 5:48 PM on February 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
I finally watched this now after having my fb feed over the weekend fill up with wild gushings over how good this performance was … and did I get the special export version where they missed off the good bits? What I heard was a competently presented, slightly slow, quite mawkish song designed to move lots of product. I got nothing from it.
posted by scruss at 5:57 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 5:57 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
There have almost always been some jewels each season - they don't always go the distance, though. This was one of my faves.
posted by SNACKeR at 5:58 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by SNACKeR at 5:58 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Having now watched that video about eight times I just noticed that Harry Connick is one of the judges and they never cut to him once to check on his reaction to the song like they did with Keith and Jen. Is there some reason for that? (I've never watched the show so I don't know what the back stage relationships are.)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:13 PM on February 29, 2016
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:13 PM on February 29, 2016
I admittedly don't follow these things super closely, but have any of the other competition shows produced actual stars like Idol has?
X-Factor launched One Direction, which probably would be considered stars. I also remember Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent. And Carly Rae Jepsen from Canadian Idol.
posted by Hazelsmrf at 7:38 PM on February 29, 2016
X-Factor launched One Direction, which probably would be considered stars. I also remember Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent. And Carly Rae Jepsen from Canadian Idol.
posted by Hazelsmrf at 7:38 PM on February 29, 2016
Jesus Christ don't read the youtube comments. Why did I do that? Why?
No, do read the comments.
I'm not a fan of the style, but I have to admire the mastery of the form, in the writing sense. Problem set 1, exercise 1: make the listener cry. Boom. Done. Next.
posted by ctmf at 7:38 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
No, do read the comments.
I'm not a fan of the style, but I have to admire the mastery of the form, in the writing sense. Problem set 1, exercise 1: make the listener cry. Boom. Done. Next.
posted by ctmf at 7:38 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
designed to move lots of product
yes but this time the product was my cold, dead heart
posted by mintcake! at 9:25 PM on February 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
yes but this time the product was my cold, dead heart
posted by mintcake! at 9:25 PM on February 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
kmz: " have any of the other competition shows produced actual stars like Idol has?"
Miranda Lambert was on Nashville Star, though she got 3rd place..
posted by signal at 6:52 AM on March 1, 2016
Miranda Lambert was on Nashville Star, though she got 3rd place..
posted by signal at 6:52 AM on March 1, 2016
I admittedly don't follow these things super closely, but have any of the other competition shows produced actual stars like Idol has?
Stephen "tWitch" Boss was a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance. He had a role in Magic Mike XXL and has larger roles in upcoming movies.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:01 AM on March 1, 2016
Stephen "tWitch" Boss was a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance. He had a role in Magic Mike XXL and has larger roles in upcoming movies.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:01 AM on March 1, 2016
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When this song came out last year, I called it "the Kelly Clarkson bad dad anthem if "Because of You" was too subtle" and though whatever tiny part of my brain can actually "critique" her logically still agrees, I'm less of an asshole than I was a year ago and I think it's a good pop song that I'm lucky enough to not have a personal reason to connect with (except for the fact that I care a lot more about Kelly Clarkson's happiness than someone who will probably never meet her). I'm really glad it is getting some more exposure.
(If you're interested and you didn't catch Kelly's album of the same name when it was released last year, I'd check it out. I think her cover of Tokio Hotel's "Run Run Run" with John Legend might be her best ballad, which, if you couldn't tell, is not the sort of statement I make lightly.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:44 PM on February 29, 2016 [6 favorites]