Posted on: Wednesday, June 1, 2005
'Idol' winner Clarkson knew she'd sing her way to the top
By Richard Cromelin
Los Angeles Times
The headliner at The Wiltern LG in Los Angeles didn't waste any time on a recent Wednesday kicking her concert into overdrive, opening the show with "Since U Been Gone," a catchy chunk of pop-on-steroids, whose build-and-release tension and big-hook chorus have helped make it one of the biggest Top 40 hits of the year.
From there the singer easily charmed and commanded the capacity crowd of cheering, screaming, singing-along fans through an hour-plus of similarly accessible songs.
It looked like a conventional performance by a popular performer on a commercial winning streak, but this scene starred an unlikely heroine: Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first "American Idol" competition three years ago. She got less respect from showbiz oddsmakers when she leapfrogged into the big leagues than longshot Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.
The masses might have loved the TV talent contest and its scrappy kid-next-door stars, but few pop pundits expected any of the program's products to survive very long in the real world of the record business. Subsequent "AI" stars Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia have all sold some records, but they've had little influence in the heart of the mainstream pop world.
But here is Clarkson, with a 2003 debut album, "Thankful," that has sold 2.2 million copies and a follow-up, "Breakaway," that's about to pass it after only five months in stores.
The new album is hemorrhaging hits — first the lilting, follow-your-dreams title song, then "Since U Been Gone" and now another rocker, "Behind These Hazel Eyes."
Clarkson has joined Mariah Carey and Alanis Morissette as the only female artists to have two singles simultaneously in the top 5 of the mainstream Top 40 chart.
Her first headlining tour, which concentrated on theaters, sold out, and she's just announced an arena-level tour.
You don't make that kind of showing just because nearly 9 million viewers punched your ballot three years ago.
"She is a legitimate star," says John Ivey, program director for Clear Channel Los Angeles.
"These are legitimate hit records — after they get on the air, if they're not performing you don't play them anymore."
If there's one person who isn't surprised at all this, it's Clarkson herself, though she can understand why she initially faced a wall of skepticism.
"If I was at home watching, I would have thought the same thing: 'Well, she's good now, but that's 'cause of all the TV and everything,' " Clarkson, 22, said last week in her dressing room at The Wiltern.
"And that's true for most of the people from the show. You don't hear a lot about them afterwards. But I think the difference is that I'd already done stuff. . . . I really know what I want, I know what I want to do and I'm working with great people."
The year before "American Idol" premiered in 2002, Clarkson had come to Los Angeles from her hometown of Burleson, Texas, aiming to make it as a singer.
How determined was she?
"I stood in front of Sony (Music headquarters) out here, I stood right in front of the building with a jam box and a tape player, singing my heart out," said Clarkson, looking like a Texas tomboy in a backward baseball cap and a black T-shirt with "Kelly . . . Singer" on the front.
"This guy came out. ... and he was laughing and he was like, 'I've never in my career seen anybody do this.' And I was like, 'Yeah, I'm going to be here every day until somebody comes out there and at least gives me a chance.' "
Clarkson worked four jobs and got some work singing backup and on demonstration recordings (for famed songwriter Gerry Goffin, among others), but after a fire ruined her West Hollywood apartment, she returned to Texas to earn some money as a waitress. Before she could head back west, "American Idol" came along.
