Kelly Clarkson

Why did My December, Kelly Clarkson's latest CD, cause such a stir? Because it was better than anyone anticipated. Clarkson, of course, smooched fame thanks to American Idol, and while many of her subsequent recordings — particularly "Miss Independent" and "Since U Been Gone" — were mighty catchy, they remained...

By Michael Roberts

November 1, 2007

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Why did My December, Kelly Clarkson's latest CD, cause such a stir? Because it was better than anyone anticipated. Clarkson, of course, smooched fame thanks to American Idol, and while many of her subsequent recordings — particularly "Miss Independent" and "Since U Been Gone" — were mighty catchy, they remained fairly standard commercial fare. She tried to change this equation with December, and on songs such as "Never Again," she raised her game from a creative standpoint. But Clive Davis, her label head and mentor, didn't want her stretching so far that sales suffered, and when Clarkson reacted to his grandfatherly advice with public defiance, he took his revenge, under-promoting December to such a degree that her summer tour had to be canceled. Clarkson subsequently fired her management firm and is currently attempting to rebuild her popularity with a small-venue tour co-starring Jon McLaughlin — something she probably could have avoided had she been satisfied making disposable radio bonbons for the rest of her career. There's a lesson in her story, and it's not very pleasant.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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