Today I was sitting in an Arby’s (yeah, I know, but everything shuts down here on a Sunday and I was pressed for time) and Kelly Clarkson’s song “Because of You” came on the Musak Dispenser. I listened to about a half a refrain’s worth of lyrics and thought, “what an odd tribute to her mother. It makes it sound as if she’s thanking her for making her a mopey, boring neurotic.” Then I went and assisted the recording of a symphony orchestra that was accompanied by no less than three children’s choirs (adorably placed in the audience…wankers. I am NOT mic-ing the audience. Sing loud.)
Then, on the ride home, the song came on again. Having little else better to do I listened more carefully this time…it’s not a tribute at all! Kelly Clarkson tricked me! She’s actually angry with someone! Well, angsty is more like it. I guess that’s the best you can do when your career depends heavily on your being made out of sugar and spice-but mostly sugar. The focus groups didn’t care for spice.
I didn’t think I could like her any less after “ms independent,” but what do you know? Turns out I can. I thought it was odd a few months ago when Pink released that “Stupid Girl” song and people flipped out over how awesome it was, but if this is the kind of stuff Pink was being played against, I can kind of see why it was a biggish deal now.
You know what I hate in particular about this song? I mean, like MORE than I hate the general idea…. It’s how the singer seems to place THE WHOLE ENTIRE BLAME (sorry, I’ll stop with the caps) for her neurotic behavior on mom. I mean, hullo? She had to break up with someone, right? So, unless her mom was a lesbian, there was a dude involved. Yet, Kelly’s all hung up on how her mom screwed her up.
Not to mention that we’re a product of our parents’ nurture to a point, and after we’re grown up, we can change our mentality, should we want to do it and spend effort on it.
According to the websites I looked at, the song is actually about her dad. Not that you can tell from listening to it. Of course, these were the same sites that described the song as “powerful” so take from that what you will.