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Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

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"Stronger"
Song

"What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" is a song by American pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson. It is the second track from her fifth studio album, Stronger. It was written by Jörgen Elofsson, Ali Tamposi, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin and produced by Kurstin. The song's lyrics mainly explores the themes of empowerment. It was released as the second single from her fifth studio album, Stronger.

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised Clarkson's vocal performance, some of whom highlighted it as one of the album's musical highlights. Immediately following the release of Stronger, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 64.[1] Before singing the song live at The Borderline in London, Clarkson announced that "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" would be released as her next single and that the video for it would have worldwide fan involvement. The song is currently being used in a Toyota commercial which features Clarkson singing the song.

Background and release

Originally titled "What Doesn't Kill You", the song was written by Jörgen Elofsson, Ali Tamposi, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin. Elofsson also co-wrote "A Moment Like This", which was released as a non-album single by Clarkson in 2002 following her coronation as the first American Idol winner. The song was inspired by the Friedrich Nietzsche quote, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger,"[2][3] which was written in his book Twilight of the Idols, or, How to Philosophize with a Hammer in 1888 and was originally attributed to Alexander the Great. In an interview with MTV News prior to the song's release, Clarkson remarked "That'll be the one [that's] kinda like "Since U Been Gone," [with] people jumping up and down to [it], and it's just kind of really inspiring, so I can't wait to perform that one."[4] The song's empowerment and uplifting theme led Clarkson to name her fifth studio album as Stronger.[5] Clarkson also remarked that song doesn't refer to a specific person, saying "I didn't have a bad breakup or anything, I just think life is about relationships so I always write all about these different ones going on in my life. And I don't have a filter, so it's pretty verbatim."[6] In July 2011, a demo version of the song was leaked to favorable response.[7][8] And a week before the album's release, a newer and lower-key version of the song also leaked, prompting Clarkson to preview the song in an attempt to counter-attack the leak.[7]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from contemporary critics. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard remarked that the song is "A guitar riff reminiscent of "Since U Been Gone" segues into an anthem that encourage personal reinvention, and dancing."[9] Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "I’m more partial to the understated, sassy-but-soulful vibes on current lead single "Mr. Know It All", but there’s chatter around the Entertainment Weekly music department that Clarkson might have been better off releasing “What Doesn’t Kill You” as the first track from Stronger."[7] Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Best of all is "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)", a throbbing glitter-disco tribute to believing that it really does get better."[10] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine remarked "the chilly electro-pop that Greg Kurstin brings to the verses of "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" suggests a Top 40 version of Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend" before the song explodes into the kind of ginormous chorus that Clarkson sells better than just about anyone else."[11] MTV remarked, "Like "Since U Been Gone," "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" has a super radio-friendly hook, and we're already singing along: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/Stand a little taller/Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I’m alone."[8] The song was also included in MTV's five key tracks from Stronger, saying "This ex clearly had it coming and Kelly lays it all out in the open. Upbeat yet soulful, the chorus will drag you up and onto the floor to dance the heartache away alongside her."[12][5] Brian Mansfield of USA Today wrote, "Just in case Kelly didn't belittle "Mr. Know It All" enough in the first song, telling him, "You know everything about everything, but you don't," now she's back for round two: "The bed feels warmer, sleeping here alone" (Ouch!). Nah, her life doesn't suck without him. What sucks is that she didn't deck him before she left. With a song that would fit with a boxing film's workout montage, she's clearly thinking about it: If she does come back, she'll come back swinging."[13]

Chart performance

Following the release of the album, the song debuted at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States on the week ending November 3, 2011 with over 40,000 copies sold.[1] The same week it peaked on the Hot Digital Songs and Canadian Hot 100 at South Korean Gaon Chart at numbers 31, 64 and 22, respectively.[14] On the week ending November 20, 2011, the song re-entered Billboard Hot 100 at number 99.[15] It has currently sold 106,000 copies in the United States.[16]

Music video

Clarkson started filming the video for "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" on November 18, 2011.[17] According to Clarkson, she will incorporate "a global flash mob" into the music video. She also released the choreography that will be used in the video for fans to learn.[18]

Live performances

Clarkson first performed the song a in a Sony-sponsored special concert at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on October 19, 2011 to promote the album.[19] Her first televised performance of the song was on November 23, 2011, during The X Factor results show.[20][21]

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 44
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 64
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[14] 22
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 64

Release history

Region Date Format
Australia[25] November 14, 2011 Contemporary hit radio

References

  1. ^ a b "Hot 100: Week of November 12, 2011 (61–70)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  2. ^ "Kelly Announces New Album, Stronger, Available Oct. 25th!". RCA Music Group. 2011-07-18.
  3. ^ "Kelly Clarkson - Stronger 2011 Biography". RCA Music Group Press Releases. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  4. ^ Garibaldi, Christina (2011-10-24). "Kelly Clarkson Thinks Coldplay Competition Is 'Healthy'". Kelly Clarkson Thinks Coldplay Competition Is 'Healthy'. MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  5. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (2011-10-05). "Kelly Clarkson's 'What Doesn't Kill You' Is An 'Anthem'". MTV News. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  6. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2011-10-24). "Kelly Clarkson Calls Stronger Her 'Best Album'". MTV News. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  7. ^ a b c Smith, Grady (2011-10-05). "Kelly Clarkson debuts new song 'What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)': Listen here!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Magazine. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  8. ^ a b Rubenstein, Jenna Hally (2011-07-11). "New Songs: Kelly Clarkson, 'What Doesn't Kill You' And 'I Forgive You'". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  9. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (2011). "Kelly Clarkson, 'Stronger': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. New York, NY: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 25 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  10. ^ Maerz, Melissa (2011-10-19). "Music Review - Stronger (2011) - Kelly Clarkson". Entertainment Weekly. Time Magazine. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  11. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (2011-10-24). "Album review - Kelly Clarkson - Stronger". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  12. ^ Lancaster, Elizabeth (2011-10-24). "Kelly Clarkson- Stronger - Five Key Tracks". MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  13. ^ Mansfield, Brian. "Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger': A track-by-track-review". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-11-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b "Korean International chart for week 2011-09-04 to 2011-09-10". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  15. ^ Grein, Paul (11-24-2011). "Week Ending Nov. 20, 2011. Songs: Katy Joins The Club". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved November 24, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Mansfield, Brian (11-30-2011). "'Idol' downloads: Kelly Clarkson, Haley and Casey, more". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved December 1, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Jared, Just (11-19-2011). "Kelly Clarkson: Be in My 'What Doesn't Kill You' Video!". Retrieved November 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Bustos, Kristina (11-16-2011). "Kelly Clarkson to hold flash mob for 'What Doesn't Kill You' video". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Powers, Lindsay. "Kelly Clarkson to Play Free Concert in L.A." The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-10-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Hibberd, James (11-21-2011). "Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars to perform on 'X Factor' -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 24, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Fitzmaurice, Sarah (11-24-2011). "Body confident Kelly Clarkson shows off her womanly curves in figure-hugging gold bandage dress on X Factor USA". Daily Mail. Retrieved November 24, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Kelly Clarkson – What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  23. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  24. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  25. ^ http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/industry/2011/11/14/chart-wrap-up-kelly-clarkson-and-susan-boyle-score-1s/
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