The singer-songwriter has another hit on his hands with “Gone, Gone, Gone“, a moving song about standing by the ones you love through thick and thin.
The second single was selected as the send-off song for the eliminated contestants on Season 12 of Idol; Phillips’ recently gave a live performance of the song on the Top 10 Results show.
With relatable lyrics and an appealing Americana-folk sound, Phillips’ debut album, The World From The Side Of The Moon (available on iTunes), has established the musician’s artistic identity as one that speaks to the authenticity of the human experience.
Your hope dangling by a string I’ll share in your suffering To make you well, to make you well…
Every year, American Idol proclaims that it’s a girl’s year to win, and every year, I’m left feeling disappointed as we watch the female contestants drop one by one (Seasons 9 and 10), and witness a girl falling just short of the title at the grand finale (Seasons 9, 10, AND 11). However, it seems as if the tides have finally turned in Season 12.
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Top 5 girls have remained in tact in the Top 8 of the competition. Even better, three of those girls were named the Top 3 vote-getters during Top 10 week! With this resurgence of recognition and support for female talent, can the show finally find its first girl winner since Season 6’s Jordin Sparks in 2007? I believe so!
What would a motion picture be without its soundtrack? Songs and sounds serve to amplify silver screen productions with music that evokes emotion, nostalgia, and other sensations in film-goers.
Record executive Clive Davis really has some nerve to portray Kelly Clarkson as a naive ingrate in his newly-published memoirs.
I applaud Kelly for responding to his false claims in this blog post, where she reveals the truth behind their rocky professional relationship. It made me especially angry to learn that Mr. Davis had insulted her songwriting talents, calling her a “shitty writer” after hearing “Because of You”. As we all know now, he was wrong. And not just because it was a sensational hit on the charts, but more importantly, because it resonates today as the best song Kelly has ever written and recorded.
“Because of You” taught me a crucial lesson that helped me get through difficult times during my younger years – You Are Not Alone. For children and teenagers in broken homes, it is hard to express the pain felt and experienced from troubled family relationships. Home is supposed to be a place where you feel safe from harm and loved unconditionally, but it’s not always the case, and that harsh reality comes great pain and shame. With these unspoken truths, it’s unfathomable to imagine that anyone else is possibly going through the same situation as you. Then “Because of You” came out, and suddenly, I (and all of the kids and teens who were also hurting) didn’t feel so alone in the world anymore.
Some days, when I couldn’t hold it together, I would sit in my room, listen to “Because of You”, and cry. While the song couldn’t mend all of the wounds, it did a tremendous job at helping to ease the suffering. I felt such a great connection to Kelly, and her song was the friend I needed at a time when I couldn’t be open about what I was experiencing at home. It was through listening to Kelly Clarkson’s albums that I began to use music as an escape, and her songs continue to have that impact on me to this day.
Kudos to Kelly for standing up for your art with boldness, integrity, and class, and thank you for making music that is authentic, relatable and inspirational. I am so proud to be a fan of yours!
2012 was a strong year for music. Promising newcomers (Ed Sheeran, Hunter Hayes) emerged on the scene as alternative artists (fun., Gotye) and fabulous females (Rihanna, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson) ruled the airwaves. The 55th annual Grammy Awards recognized and rewarded the musicians whose albums and singles resonated with fans in an impactful way. Unlike Adele’s remarkable six trophies sweep during last year‘s ceremony, there was no clear frontrunner in terms of 2013′s award recipients. This year’s Grammys honoured artists and bands from a variety of genres, which was also evident from the line-up of the evening’s live performances.
Here are five of my favourite award recipients and/or moments from this phenomenal celebration of music:
Elizabeth Rosalyn 