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Already Gone (Kelly Clarkson song)

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"Already Gone"
Song

"Already Gone" is a soft rock song performed by American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson. It appears on Clarkson's 2009 album, All I Ever Wanted and was co-written by Clarkson and Ryan Tedder, who also produced it. The song will be released as the album's third single in August 2009. Lyrically, "Already Gone" is about the break up of a relationship; the music consists of an arrangement using a piano, drums, and string instruments. The result is a power ballad with pop and R&B undertones.

Clarkson has criticized Tedder for providing the same musical arrangement to Beyoncé Knowles for her 2008 song, "Halo", without informing her, though these accusations have yet to be proven. She has also voiced dissatisfaction with her record company bosses for subsequently deciding to release "Already Gone" as a single. The accompanying music video was directed by Joseph Kahn and features Clarkson wearing a gold evening gown and jewelry laying on a chaise longue in an apartment. Shots of floating objects intersperse a second scene where Clarkson is wearing a black dress and singing in a rehearsal room surrounded by an invisible orchestra.

Although "Already Gone" has not been released as a single, as of 29 July 2009, it has charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian Hot 100, and Australian Top 50 Singles Chart due to download sales of the album track. Beginning July 2009, Clarkson began promoting the single, performing it live on Late Night with David Letterman and Good Morning America. It was used as the "exit song" on the fifth season of So You Think You Can Dance.

Writing and production

"Already Gone" is one of four songs co-written by OneRepublic's lead singer Ryan Tedder and Kelly Clarkson that appear on her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted.[1][2] The song is a ballad about a relationship coming to an end. Lyrically, "Already Gone"'s narrative has Clarkson telling her boyfriend that although he has acted perfectly and could not have loved her any better, their relationship cannot last because she is not good enough for him; therefore, to avoid hurting him in the future, she must end the relationship now, and he should move on, as she is already gone. The music features crashing drums, swooping strings, hand claps, and tinkly piano arrangements to create a soft rock tune with pop and R&B influences.

Clarkson later accused Tedder of using the music he had written for "Already Gone" for "Halo",[3] which was originally intended to be included on Leona Lewis's second album, but was eventually recorded by Beyoncé Knowles, though this has yet to be proven.[4] Tedder receives co-writer and producer credits on "Halo",[5] which appears on Knowles' 2008 studio album I Am… Sasha Fierce. Clarkson claimed that by the time she had heard "Halo", I Am… Sasha Fierce had already been released and her own album was being pressed; it was too late to remove "Already Gone" from All I Ever Wanted's tracklisting.[6] Clarkson was surprised with Tedder for using the same arrangement on two different songs, claiming that people would assume she was stealing it from Knowles:[6]

"Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else ... We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called 'Halo'. [Beyoncé]'s album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin' at home, thinking 'Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyoncé and Kelly the same track to write to.' No, they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, 'I don’t understand. Why would you do that?'"[6]

As the first two singles lifted from All I Ever Wanted were uptempo dance-pop songs, executives at RCA Records decided to release a slower ballad as the third single, and chose "Already Gone". Clarkson claims she "fought and fought" with her bosses to prevent it from being released as a single, so as to not disrespect Knowles.[6]

"In the end, they’re releasing it without my consent. It sucks, but it's one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It's kind of a shitty situation, but... you know, you learn."[6]

In a radio interview on The Morning Show with Larry Flick, Clarkson said that she wanted "Cry" to be the third single [7]

Ryan Tedder responded to the allegations with a statement, arguing that the two songs are "entirely different" and that the criticism was "hurtful and absurd".

"'Already Gone' is one of the best songs I've written or produced since 'Bleeding Love' and stands tall on it's own merits apart from 'Halo.' They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, [and] lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyoncé into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful [and] absurd. I think when people hear 'Already Gone' they will hear what I hear—one of the greatest female vocalists on earth giving her most haunting and heart-breaking performance on a song she helped write. I challenge people to listen and form their own opinions."[8]

Music video

The music video was shot in Toronto, Canada, on June 19 and 20, 2009, and was directed by Joseph Kahn,[9] who had previously worked with Clarkson on the videos for "Never Again", "Walk Away" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes".[10] The video is set primarily in an apartment and a rehearsal room. Clarkson explains that the video is a departure from her previous videos, and that she is "completely glammed out. It's the opposite of my everyday life."[9] The video begins with Clarkson alone in an apartment wearing a gold evening gown, sequined elbow gloves, and a large pearl necklace, lying on a chaise longue. This scene alternates with a second location, where Clarkson wears a black dress, singing in a rehearsal room, surrounded by invisible members of an orchestra playing their instruments. As the video alternates back and forth between the two locations, slow-motion shots of falling champagne glasses, floating pearls, and flying violins separate the scenes.

Clarkson's official website announced July 22 that the video was almost completed and would premiere the following week.[11] It was uploaded to the site on July 27.[12] Rolling Stone described the video as "boring stuff".[13]

Promotion

Clarkson began promotion for "Already Gone" in July 2009, debuting it on Late Night with David Letterman on July 13, in a live performance that featured a stripped-back musical arrangement of that album version.[9] She also performed the song with the same arrangement on Good Morning America on July 31.[14][15] It featured on the fifth season of FOX reality show So You Think You Can Dance as the "exit song" when female contestants were voted off the series.[16]

Critical reception

Slant Magazine said that "Ryan Tedder's production on "Already Gone" is identical to Beyoncé's "Halo" to the point of distraction, but the former song has a far stronger melody and Clarkson turns in one of her most evocative performances".[17]

Track list

Australian Single

  1. "Already Gone" (Album Version) - 4:39
  2. "Already Gone" (Instrumental) - 4:39

Chart performance

"Already Gone" entered the Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100 charts at #70, on March 28, 2009, based on digital download sales of the album track, which had been released the week prior.[18] It dropped out of both charts the following week, and as of 29 July 2009 has not reentered either.[18] In Australia, the song entered the ARIA Charts at #36 and climbed to #21 for the chart dated August 3, 2009.[19]

Chart positions

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 21[19]
Canadian Hot 100 70[18]
New Zealand Singles Chart[20] 32
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 70[18]


Country Certification Sales
United States N/A 102,000+[21]

Release history

Country Release Date Label
United States August 11, 2009[22] RCA Records
United Kingdom September 7, 2009[23] RCA Label Group (UK)

Personnel and credits

  • Vocals: Kelly Clarkson
  • Producers: Ryan Tedder
  • Background vocals: Ryan Tedder

References

  1. ^ "Already Gone". ASCAP. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  2. ^ Levin, Nick (March 11, 2008). "OneRepublic frontman teams up with Clarkson". Digital Spy. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  3. ^ Santilli, M.J. (July 28, 2009). "Kelly's Beyoncé Drama". New York Post. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  4. ^ Balls, David (November 5, 2008). "Cowell 'furious' over 'stolen' Leona track". Digital Spy. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "Halo". ASCAP. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e Liss, Sarah (July 27, 2009). "American Idyll". CBC News. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  7. ^ "Kelly Clarkson in The Morning Show with Larry Flick Part 1". Youtube. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ryan Tedder responds to Kelly Clarkson/Beyonce controversy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c Collins, Leah (July 27, 2009). "New Kelly Clarkson Video Debuts, and You're Not the Only One Who Thinks it Sounds Like 'Halo'". Canada.com. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  10. ^ "Music Videos". Joseph Kahn. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  11. ^ "New Kelly Clarkson Video Premiere Update!". Sony Music. July 22, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  12. ^ ""Already Gone" Video Premiere!". Sony Music. July 27, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  13. ^ Kreps, Daniel (July 27, 2009). "Clarkson's "Already Gone" Video Debuts, Despite Kelly's Protests". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  14. ^ "All Shows for Kelly Clarkson". MySpace. Sony Music. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  15. ^ "Good Morning America". 31 July, 2009. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Check date values in: |airdate= (help); Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Parker, Lyndsey (July 27, 2009). "Kelly Clarkson's New Single Controversy: All She Never Wanted". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  17. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1666
  18. ^ a b c d "Already Gone". Billboard. Retrieved July 29 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  19. ^ a b "Australian Top 50 Singles Chart". ARIA. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved August 2 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart
  21. ^ http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2009/08/sales-numbers-daughtry-jordin-sparks-stay-hot/1/
  22. ^ http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=08/11/2009&Format=1
  23. ^ http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm
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