Before Your Love

"Before Your Love" is a song recorded by American pop singer Kelly Clarkson. On September 17, 2002, RCA released it as a double-A side with "A Moment Like This" as her coronation single after winning the first season of American Idol. A remixed version of the song was later included on her debut studio album, Thankful (2003).[1] It went on to become the best-selling single of 2002 in the United States.

"Before Your Love"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
A-side"A Moment Like This"
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2002 (2002-09-17)
Recorded2002
GenrePop
Length4:00
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Child, Dennis
Kelly Clarkson singles chronology
"Before Your Love" / "A Moment Like This"
(2002)		 "Miss Independent"
(2003)
Music video
"Before Your Love" on YouTube

Background and release

"Before Your Love" was written and produced by Desmond Child and Cathy Dennis for the winner of the inaugural season of American Idol. Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin, and Tamyra Gray each recorded a version of the song in case one of them won the season. It was first performed live by Clarkson and Guarini during the final showdown of American Idol at the Kodak Theatre on September 3, 2002. It was then performed by Clarkson during the grand finale on September 4, 2002 before winning the title. It was released as a double-A single with "A Moment Like This" on September 17, 2002.[2] It was also one of the few songs to be released as a DVD single in the early 2000s. Clarkson included the song in the setlist for the American Idol Tour in 2002.[3] A music video of the song premiered on MTV as her first music video in September 2002.[4]

Reception

Critical reception

The song has received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the song a "D+" rating, he remarked "The lyrics are generalized banalities (I never lived before your love/I never felt before your touch), the melodies destined to endure as wedding songs or florist ads. A choir at the end of "A Moment Like This" is meant to indicate earthiness; the gentle acoustic guitar throughout "Before Your Love," sensitivity."[5] Rito Asilo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer remarked that the song's lyrics were "corny," but praised Clarkson's voice.[6] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote: "Yes, the girl's got immeasurable talent, but the last note of Thankful's final track, a new mix of "Before Your Love," speaks volumes: this is the sound of strained excess."[7]

Commercial performance

The song became a commercial success throughout North America, establishing Clarkson as a hit singer.[4] Along with "A Moment Like This", "Before Your Love" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 52.[8] The following week it ascended to number one,[4][9][10] fueled by sales of over 236,000 copies, making it the first single to sell more than 200,000 copies since 1999.[8] Its ascent broke the record set by the British band The Beatles for the biggest leap to number one after their single "Can't Buy Me Love" rose from number 27 to number one in April 1964.[11] That record was later broken by the American pop rock band Maroon 5 when "Makes Me Wonder" rose from number 64 to number one in May 2007.[12] Clarkson would later break it again when her single "My Life Would Suck Without You" rose from number 97 to number one in February 2009. Despite being commercially successful, it received minimal radio airplay in favor of "A Moment Like This".[12] It was later certified gold by the RIAA[13] and double platinum by Music Canada.[14]

Music video

The music video to the song begins with Clarkson returning to her home after her win on American Idol. She sits in her bedroom before getting ready for a date with her boyfriend. Driving her home from her date, her boyfriend surprises her with a house party in her backyard with friends and family celebrating her American Idol win. Scenes of Clarkson singing in her bedroom and while sitting on her pool ladder intercut throughout.

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Charts
Chart (2002) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart (Nielsen)[15] 1
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[16] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] 2× Platinum 40,000*
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Before Your Love"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States September 17, 2002 CD single RCA [19]
November 26, 2002 DVD single [20]

See also

References
  1. "Clarkson's album tops the charts in just one week". Times Daily. New York. 24 April 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. Kaufman, Gil (5 September 2002). "Kelly Clarkson Crowned 'American Idol'". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  3. Silverman, Stephen (11 November 2002). "Kelly Ditches Hit for 'Idol' Shows". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  4. Barnes, Kevin (25 September 2002). "Clarkson's single tops charts, if only for a 'Moment'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  5. Brown, David (27 September 2002). "Music Review - Before Your Love-A Moment Like This". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  6. Asilo, Rito (15 March 2004). "'Thankful' shows why Kelly Clarkson is no flash in the pan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Manila. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  7. Cinquemani, Sal (April 17, 2003). "Kelly Clarkson - Thankful". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  8. Susman, Gary (25 September 2002). "Music Article - Magic Moment". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  9. Silverman, Stephen (2 September 2002). "Kelly's Single Sales Anything But 'Idol'". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  10. Kaufman, Gil (25 September 2002). "'American Idol' Kelly Clarkson Crushes Singles Chart Competition". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. Neal, Rome (16 August 2004). "Kelly Clarkson: Breakaway". CBS News. CBS Corporation. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  12. Caulfield, Keith (28 January 2009). "Romance And Indie Rock Hit The Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  13. "RIAA – Searchable Database: Clarkson, Kelly". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  14. "Gold and Platinum Search (Kelly Clarkson)". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  15. "Billboard Hits of the World - Canada". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 40. October 5, 2002. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  16. "Billboard". 5 October 2002.
  17. "Canadian single certifications – Kelly Clarkson – Before Your Love/A Moment Like This". Music Canada.
  18. "American single certifications – Kelly Clarkson – Before Your Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
  19. "Before Your Love/A Moment Like This". Amazon.
  20. "Kelly Clarkson". Amazon. 26 November 2002.
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