So much for My Theory on Pop Reality shows!!!! (Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson)

Member Name: nereesa85

Product:	Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
Date:	10/03/06 (761 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No bad tracks, lyrics that actually mean something from a VERY tallented artist .

Disadvantages: You can easily see the Evanescence and Avril lavigne influence

When Kelly Clarkson won American Idol, I didn't notice. I'm not interested in those kind of programs, or the contestants. I thought that they only produced good looking singers who couldn't write a decent set of lyrics for toffee……How wrong was I?! Kelly Clarkson is no talent-less pop Princess, she can write her own lyrics, she truly has a fantastic voice and I love her album sooo much!
I bought it a few weeks ago with my Tesco Clubcard vouchers. It cost me £8.95 at Tesco but you can get it on MSN Downloads for £7.95. On Amazon it costs £8.99 but you can get it used for a few pounds less.

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Kelly who?
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Way back in September 2002, Kelly won American Idol. Since then she has become an international pop star. Her first Single, A moment Like This was released a couple of weeks after winning and reached Number 1 in the US. All the singles which have been released from the Album, Breakaway reached the Top 10 in the UK chart. Breakaway got to No 5 in the UK Albums Chart in June 2005. Not bad for a cheesy pop idol winner eh? Foot in mouth I think Nereesa!!!

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Breakaway...What's that all about?
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Kelly Clarkson has co-written at least half of the songs on this album. I think this sets her apart from other "Artists". She not only has a fantastic voice but she can write lyrics that have meaning and depth.
There is usually at least one song that I don't like on an album. Not the case here. Though there are a couple of them that are weaker, I can still listen to them. The lyrics are fantastic and great for all us self confessed hairbrush and air guitar girls, you know who you are. ; )
There is a sort of Rock chick feel to this album which really suits Kelly's powerful voice. It's kind of Rock-Pop. If you like Avril Lavigne, Pink, Evanescence and the likes of, you will LOVE this album...GO BUY IT!

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What did I get for my Money?
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Well, 2 CDs, a little book of lyrics and some plastic to keep it all in! The first CD has 12 tracks on it. The second CD has 3 remixes, 4 live performances and 3 videos. Very generous indeed and well worth £8.99 of my money!

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Breakdown of Tracks
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1. Breakaway
This was written with Avril Lavigne and you can tell. The single got to No 1 in the charts across the pond and I'm not at all surprised. It starts off quite mellow but builds up for the chorus. The lyrics are very powerfully sung with allot of passion. The song is about trying to "breakaway" from small town life and wanting to be in a big city where all the action and excitement is. It's a good mood song and is a great first song for the album.

2. Since U Been Gone
Released in the UK this got to number 5 in the UK Top 40. It's another passionately sung track and great for belting out on the karaoke when you're feeling brave, or just drunk! Again the lyrics are brilliantly written and actually make sense. (How novel ! ) In this one Kelly is singing about a dead end relationship. She's giving it her all and getting nothing in return, so she moves on. Despite the subject, it's not depressing or mournful. It's more upbeat and positive. She's moving on, not reminiscing.
The background music emphasises the passion in her voice. It's a bit more rockified than Breakaway, making more use of powerful electric guitar chords. Although it does start out slow and quiet, like Breakaway, it builds up for the chorus in a big way.

3. Behind These Hazel Eyes.
Much louder and Rockified than the first two, this one's great for the old air guitar! She's singing about a relationship break-up. It uses minor chords in this one though and so is more reflective. Not depressing though, just less upbeat and uplifting. "Broken up deep inside, But you won't get to see the tears I cry " Sort of like I'm hurting inside but I'm not going to let you see it.

4. Because of You.
This is a contrast to the first three songs. Makes use of the Piano rather than the guitar. It feels very mellow and depressed. As with the first three tracks Kelly's voice is strong and powerful for the chorus but more sombre for the verses.
The lyrics are about a very bad relationship. The other half took all their pain out on her. Though she is determined to, "...not make the same mistakes", it has affected her deeply.

5. Gone.
We've gone back to the positive, moving on from the past theme. Very up beat but a different style to other tracks. It sounds like something that Christina Aguilera would sing. It's a faster tempo to the previous tracks and I think an appropriate up lifter after the emotional torment of Because of You.
In this one she's singing about moving on from a bad relationship. (Could this be a theme?!) "...You washed away the best of me, You don't care, You know you did it, I'm gone..."

6. Addicted.
Now this is the one I've got on repeat at the moment. It starts off very quiet and calm. Mainly concentrating on the lyrics. Again a nice crescendo from the guitars for the chorus. Uses minor chords so it's sad in mood. The lyrics reflect this as it's about not being able to get away from a bad relationship. Wanting to escape but not being able to. "...It's like you're a leach, Sucking the life from me, It's like I can't breathe, Without you inside of me..."

7. Where is Your Heart?
This one's another Ballad. The music is coming from mainly the piano and strings until later on when we get the good old guitar back for a final crescendo. It's a very slow and sad feeling track. I could imagine KT Tunstall releasing this one. The lyrics in this are all about another bad relationship. It's another one where she feels that she is not getting enough from her partner. "...I don't understand, Your love is so cold, It's always me who's reaching out for your hand..."

8. Walk Away
Very 80's Rock in style. It's all choppy and funky. It makes use of a synthesiser which is probably why it has that 80's feel. Very catchy track and addictive, I caught myself humming this at work this morning! The lyrics in this are about...yeah you guessed it, another bad relationship. She's not getting enough from the relationship so she wants her partner to "Walk Away" and she's telling him why.

9. You Found me
Now this reminds me of Anastacia. In the beginning it sounds like something she would do in the beginning. It's much more Pop-ish than other tracks on the album. It's my least favourite on the album. Not a bad track, just a bit cheesier and pop-ified than the rest.

10. I Hate Myself for Losing You
Again, the intro reminds me of Anastacia. Back with the Rock-Pop feel it's very Avril Lavigne or Pink. Surprisingly enough the lyrics tell us about another bad break-up. Although this time she's criticising herself. "...What do you do when you look in the mirror, And staring at you is why he's not here, You got what you deserved..."

11. Hear Me
This is another Passionate Ballad. Now this sounds very much like Evanescence. Much more Rock-ish with more emphasis on guitars and even a bit of screaming towards the end!

12. Beautiful Disaster
Another slow and pretty Ballad to finish with. This one was also on her first album but It's sung live for us here. Uses the Piano rather than the Guitars used in the original.

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Now the Bonus CD.
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Put it in the PC and a little window pops up. You have to click on the "BONUS" Tab to view the three videos. Since u Been Gone, Behind these Hazel Eyes and Because of you.
You can listen to the remixes and live performances though your media player.
The remixes are not to my taste. In my opinion they spoil the original song. They don't give them the same passionate and strong feeling. Behind These Hazel Eyes becomes weak and boring. Since U been Gone isn't too bad but its a rock-pop song, not one that you're going to find on your next Cream Anthems CD. The remix doesn't suit the song at all. It's just trying to be something that it's not.
The videos are the same as those you've seen on MTV which is ok but the screen you get to watch them on is about inch by 3 inch. Pants so you're better off watching them on a TV screen.
Now the Live performances are pretty good. Unlike The Black Eyed Peas for example, Kelly gives a fantastic live performance. She definitely deserved to win American Pop Idol! My favourite is the Acoustic version of Breakaway which is just lovely. More emphasis on Kelly's voice and it's simpler. For easy listening I suppose.

All in all a fantastic album. One I'm going to put in the car for long journeys, (If I ever pass my test!!!), and one I'm going to play around the house so loud that the neighbours are going to complain! I think the remixes are weak and the screen for the videos is pathetic which is why It's got 4/5 stars. The Live performances are pretty good though so that brings the whole package back up to my standards. If you havent already bought this then I would order it. It's one I'm going to be trying to sing to on the karaoke when I'm old and want to embarrass my grandchildren!

Summary: One that I'm still going to be singing when I'm old and cranky !!!