Sober (Kelly Clarkson song)
Encyclopedia
"Sober" is a song composed by American
pop rock
singer Kelly Clarkson
, Aben Eubanks, Calamity McEntire, and Jimmy Messer. It was released as the second and final U.S. single
from her third studio album
, My December
(2007) in the United States
.
Aben Eubanks wrote the original demo for "Sober" and said that the finished version was very much the same as his demo.
There are two versions of the song, the radio edit and album version, with the only difference being five lines and time duration. The recording features a variety of arrangement and production elements, from a timpani
playing against a strumming acoustic guitar
line to a mid-section with more frenetic drumming set against strings
to a final wind down from the climax featuring a cello
line that takes the song to a quiet conclusion.
", charted well due to strong digital downloads but encountered radio airplay resistance in a number of U.S. markets, especially when compared to the radio success of all five of her singles from her previous album Breakaway. "Never Again" had been descending in radio airplay after failing to break the top 20 on the Pop format, and therefore was one reason why "Sober" was released so soon after "Never Again" (just over five weeks later, and three weeks before the release of the album). Whether radio accepted "Sober" was considered key in determining the sales potential of My December.
In their year-end review of music, Slant Magazine listed "Sober" as the 29th best single of the year, also noting the My December controversy: "we got the lovely, tortured, and understated "Sober," which, sans promotion from a label that — perhaps vindictively — opted to cut its losses, flopped like a drunk falling off the wagon."
In July 2007, "Sober" was a highlight of Clarkson's five-song set at Live Earth at Giants Stadium
, with the audience applauding her vocal line during the song's climax near the end.
No music video
was made for the song.
As of February 2010, it has sold 113,000 copies in the United States.
on the episode "Bizarro", which is the opener for Season 7.
1 This song is a bonus track from iTunes and is available on only some copies of this single.
Unofficial Remixes
regarded the disappointing performance of "Never Again
". However, he praised "Sober" as a single that would "reintoxicate [Clarkson's] deserved stance as a staple act".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
singer Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
, Aben Eubanks, Calamity McEntire, and Jimmy Messer. It was released as the second and final U.S. single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from her third studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, My December
My December
My December is the third studio album by American pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson. The album was released on June 22, 2007 throughout most of Europe , on June 23, 2007 in Australia, on June 25, 2007 in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Poland, and on June 26, 2007 in North America...
(2007) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Background
The song was inspired by Clarkson's friend Calamity McEntire, who told her to "pick her weeds and keep the flowers". According to Clarkson the song is about survival and knowing what to do when something goes wrong. "It's not easy getting over whatever your addiction may be," she says. "The whole point of that song is, the temptation is there, but I'm not going to give in to it." Clarkson added that "Sober" is her favorite song on My December. "Musically, it's almost hypnotic. You just get lost in it, it's just so beautiful. This song is about surviving something you think you can get past or over. I'm not an alcoholic; that's not what it's about. It's just a metaphor. Everyone has something they are addicted to that they can do without in their life, so it could be about whatever your addiction is."Aben Eubanks wrote the original demo for "Sober" and said that the finished version was very much the same as his demo.
There are two versions of the song, the radio edit and album version, with the only difference being five lines and time duration. The recording features a variety of arrangement and production elements, from a timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
playing against a strumming acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
line to a mid-section with more frenetic drumming set against strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
to a final wind down from the climax featuring a cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
line that takes the song to a quiet conclusion.
Single release
"Sober" was the second single from My December. The song was released to airwaves on June 12, 2007. Industry experts state that "Sober" was a crucial single for Clarkson, as the lead single for My December, "Never AgainNever Again (Kelly Clarkson song)
"Never Again" is a song written by American pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson and Jimmy Messer, and is the first single from her third studio album, My December ....
", charted well due to strong digital downloads but encountered radio airplay resistance in a number of U.S. markets, especially when compared to the radio success of all five of her singles from her previous album Breakaway. "Never Again" had been descending in radio airplay after failing to break the top 20 on the Pop format, and therefore was one reason why "Sober" was released so soon after "Never Again" (just over five weeks later, and three weeks before the release of the album). Whether radio accepted "Sober" was considered key in determining the sales potential of My December.
In their year-end review of music, Slant Magazine listed "Sober" as the 29th best single of the year, also noting the My December controversy: "we got the lovely, tortured, and understated "Sober," which, sans promotion from a label that — perhaps vindictively — opted to cut its losses, flopped like a drunk falling off the wagon."
In July 2007, "Sober" was a highlight of Clarkson's five-song set at Live Earth at Giants Stadium
Live Earth concert, New York City
The Live Earth concert for North America was held at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA on July 7, 2007.-Running order:In order of appearance:*Kenna - "Out Of Control", "Face The Gun", "Sun Red Sky Blue"...
, with the audience applauding her vocal line during the song's climax near the end.
No music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was made for the song.
As of February 2010, it has sold 113,000 copies in the United States.
Media
The song was featured on the hit television show SmallvilleSmallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
on the episode "Bizarro", which is the opener for Season 7.
Track listing
- "Sober"
- "Dirty Little Secret"1
1 This song is a bonus track from iTunes and is available on only some copies of this single.
Unofficial Remixes
- DJ VNo Club Mix
- Aleko's Dark Tribal Dub
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
93 |
Reception
Chuck Taylor of Billboard MagazineBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
regarded the disappointing performance of "Never Again
Never Again (Kelly Clarkson song)
"Never Again" is a song written by American pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson and Jimmy Messer, and is the first single from her third studio album, My December ....
". However, he praised "Sober" as a single that would "reintoxicate [Clarkson's] deserved stance as a staple act".
"'Sober' is a better bet to propel the pop queen back to the top with affecting downtempo velocity, a doleful message of overcoming temptation and a vocal inflamed with convincing pensive emotion."