Kelly Clarkson does not want songwriting hand-me-downs
By Don • May 15th, 2007 • Category: Songwriting News
In a recent interview with MTV, Kelly Clarkson went on record with what was behind her choice to go her own way regarding songs on the record label:
“Everybody always wants me to go in different directions. Obviously they’re a record label so they need to sell records.They want the formula writers and the formula producers that do everybody else’s stuff, and while I love some of those people… and I don’t mind working with that…I just don’t like working with someone that gives you a song and is like, ‘Oh, I wrote this for you.’ But you find out that they’ve given it to every other artist and they turned it down, you know?”
She continues:
“My label literally sent me a Lindsay Lohan track from her last album and wanted me to record it for my new album. And while I like Lindsay Lohan, like I’m cool with her and I think she sings the song well… it’s already been on an album. I don’t care what pop star it is.”
Her final verdict?
“You don’t want me to write my album but you’re sending me hand me downs?’ So, I ended up writing the entire thing with the people that I write well with.”
The album reportedly on the verge of being shelved, as the label (run by Clive Davis) found no hit songs to promote.
And according to Perez Hilton, some insiders reportedly told him that Kelly Clarkson didn’t want “Since You Been Gone” on her first album.
But I kinda liked that song (sorry!).
What Would YOU Do?
On one hand I think that an independent performing songwriter should be able to write whatever the hell they want. I’m all for that.
On the other hand it seems if you signed up with a major record label and they have literally invested millions of dollars into creating you, you owe it to the label to continue to support their efforts and general direction – at least til the contract runs out. Contrary to popular opinion (and some well-publicized horror stories), many major labels don’t mind meeting in the middle somewhere.
What kind of balance do YOU think should be struck with record labels and songwriters?
I’d be interested to hear what you think in the comments below.
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Don is the founder, writer and editor of BloggingMuses.com. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
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Hah I can’t believe that her record label said that to her! I read up more on this story between her, Lindsay, and their music at http://collegecandy.com/buzz/2432
Ultimately, no matter how much money has been put into an artist… didn’t the record company sign the artist on the basis they believed in what they wrote and sounded like? Kelly had written songs for alot of other artists before she got signed, so I don’t think they can say she is crap.
They should let her write and release what she thinks are good songs, not record cloned songs from the ‘hit’ factories. Songwriting comes from the soul, not from the song factories. It’s not like the record labels have been doing SO well forcing the same formulaic songs on us already…
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Kelly’s got integrity and that’s worth a lot in my book. Besides, time will tell who’s right. I suspect kelly will prevail.
Anyone remember a very similar situation with Deana Carter and the dreadful album (“I’m Just a Girl”) she fought so hard to make?