Sober (Kelly Clarkson song)

"Sober" is a song recorded by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson taken from her third studio album, My December (2007). The song served as the album's second single on June 12, 2007, through 19 Recordings and RCA Records. Clarkson wrote it after her friend Calamity McEntire, who receives a songwriting credit, gave her the line "pick her weeds and keep the flowers", with additional writing by Aben Eubanks and Jimmy Messer, production by David Kahne, and co-production by Messer and Jason Halbert. "Sober" is an alternative rock song, with lyrics that use addiction as a metaphor for a relationship, evolving around the line "Three months and I'm still sober".

"Sober"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
from the album My December
ReleasedJune 12, 2007 (2007-06-12)
Genre
Length4:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kelly Clarkson singles chronology
"Because of You"
(2007)		 "Sober"
(2007)		 "One Minute"
(2007)
Music video
"Sober" (Live) on YouTube

Upon its release, "Sober" was met with positive reviews from music critics, who considered it to be the musical highlight of My December. Clarkson's vocal performance and song's production received particular praise. Commercially, "Sober" failed to make an impact, charting at number 93 on Billboard's Pop 100 component chart, based on airplay on mainstream top 40 radio stations and digital downloads, and at number 10 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. No accompanying music video was recorded for the song; however, Clarkson promoted it through several live appearances, including at Live Earth and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Writing and composition

Clarkson wrote "Sober" after her friend Calamity McEntire gave her the line "pick her weeds and keep the flowers".[3] The singer said the lyrical content 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."[4] When asked if the lyrics were regarding a drinking problem, Clarkson responded, "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."[5]

"Sober" is an alternative rock ballad that uses addiction as a metaphor for a relationship, and evolves around the line "Three months and I'm still sober".[1][5][6] The song is composed in the key of D major and is set in time signature of common time, with a moderately slow tempo of 120 beats per minute. Clarkson's vocal range spans over an octave, from A3 to F#5.[1] It begins softly, propelled by an acoustic guitar reminiscent of U2's "With or Without You" (1987), and takes "nearly four minutes to reach its climax layering Kelly's desperate vocals over each other", as noted by Talia Kraines of BBC Music.[2][7] Clarkson deemed "Sober" as her favorite song from My December, and commented that "musically, [the song is] almost hypnotic. You just get lost in it, it's just so beautiful."[5]

Release and reception

Six weeks after "Never Again" had been sent to radio, Roger Friedman of Fox News reported that RCA Records "pulled [the song] from rotations after not catching on."[8] Chuck Taylor of Billboard revealed on June 26, 2007, that "Sober" would be released as the second single from My December, and commented that the song, compared to "Never Again", was "a better bet to propel [Clarkson] back to [radio]."[9] It was officially sent to contemporary hit radio on July 10, 2007,[10] through a promotional CD single including a radio edit and a call-out hook.[11]

Critical response

"Sober" received positive reviews from music critics, with many considering it as one of the album's highlights. Entertainment Weekly editor Chris Willman considered both "Never Again" and "Sober" to be "moody" and "warm-weather singles."[12] On his review of My December, Josh Love of Stylus Magazine wrote that while album track "'Hole' whips up an almost joyously liberating nihilism that blessedly bypasses goth’s obfuscation, [...] right on its heels there's 'Sober' seething with quiet restraint (at least until the end)."[13] Boston Globe reporter Sarah Rodman thought "Sober" was the album's "centerpiece," praising it as "the set's second best vocal [performance]."[14] Sam Lansky of PopCrush considered "Sober" as Clarkson's 2nd best song, commenting that, even though it had a "dismal" chart performance, the song still is "one of the tracks most beloved by hardcore Clarkson fans."[15] Lansky continued to praise the "riveting vocal performance, heartbreaking lyrics, and haunting production that recedes to the background so [the singer's] incredible voice can shine."[15]

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said "Sober" is a "slower-burning ballad",[16] while Bill Lamb of About.com considered it one of the top tracks from My December.[17] Two different reviews by staff members of Sputnikmusic praised the song. On the first review, Dave de Sylvia said the song was not radio-friendly, but added that "it is beautifully arranged, taking in bouncy Sting-like synthesised strings and an excellent vocal performance."[18] On the second review, Channing Freeman wrote that "Sober" is "one of the few tracks [on the album] where Clarkson gets away with her vocal restraint, mainly because at the end she lets loose and gives one of the best performances of her career, making the two or so minutes of waiting worthwhile."[19] Chuck Taylor of Billboard praised "Sober" as a single that would "reintoxicate [Clarkson's] deserved stance as a staple act".[9]

Chart performance

The song failed to make impact, charting at number 93 on Billboard's Pop 100 component chart, based on airplay on mainstream top 40 radio stations and digital downloads.[20] Additionally, it peaked at number 10 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[21] As of February 11, 2010, "Sober" has sold 113,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.[22]

Live performances and usage in media

On July 7, 2007, Clarkson performed "Sober" during her set at the New York area concert of Live Earth.[23] It was the one Clarkson performance selected for a Warner Bros. CD/DVD release from the Live Earth concerts.[24] She performed the song during a special titled Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music,[25] on The Early Show,[26] The Sauce,[27] Sessions@AOL,[28] Take 40's Live Lounge,[29] and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[30] On October 19, 2011, while promoting her fifth studio album Stronger at nightclub The Troubadour, Clarkson performed "Sober" after it was requested by the fans.[3] Jason Scott of Billboard opined that "Clarkson certainly doesn't "crash and burn," so to speak; instead, she rips into the track until there's nothing left but lyric and heart."[31] The performance was listed as one of Clarkson's ten "most powerful and undeniable performances" as compiled by Billboard in 2016.[31] On October 10, 2013, the singer performed the song during a special Fair Trade concert for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.[32] Clarkson included "Sober" on the set list of the album's supporting concert tour, titled My December Tour (2008).[33] She also performed the song as a fan request during her co-headlining concert tour with The Fray, titled 2012 Summer Tour, on July 22, 2012.[34] "Sober" was featured on the hit television show Smallville on the episode "Bizarro", which is the opener for Season 7.[35]

Formats and track listings
  1. "Sober" – 4:52
  • Promotional CD single[11]
  1. "Sober" (radio edit) – 3:48
  2. "Sober" (call-out hook) – 0:10

Charts
Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles[37] 10
US Billboard Pop 100[38] 93

Release history
Country Date Format Label
United States[10] June 12, 2007[39] Contemporary hit radio RCA Records

References
  1. "Kelly Clarkson Sober – Digital Sheet Music". Music Notes. 10 March 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  2. Kraines, Talia (June 26, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson My December Review". BBC Music. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  3. "Sober (Live From the Troubadour 10/19/11)". MTV. October 28, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  4. "Kelly Clarkson bio". NFL. August 22, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  5. Clarke, Jamie (February 13, 2013). "Lost In Music: Kelly Clarkson – My December". So So Gay. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  6. Sanneh, Kelefa (June 25, 2007). "New CDs". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  7. Spence D. (June 26, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson - My December Review". IGN. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  8. Friedman, Roger (June 5, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson: 'My December' Trouble". Fox News. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  9. "The Billboard Review Singles". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 26. Prometheus Global Media. June 30, 2007. p. 52. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  10. "Going for adds - week of July 10, 2007". Radio & Records. July 10, 2007. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  11. Sober (Promotional CD Single liner notes). Kelly Clarkson. RCA. 2007. 88697-12972-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Willman, Chris (June 22, 2007). "Music Review: My December (2007)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  13. "Kelly Clarkson - Reviews - My December". Stylus Magazine. July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  14. Rodman, Sarah (June 25, 2007). "Ex-'Idol' shares grief and grit". Boston Globe. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  15. Lasnky, Sam (13 March 2012). "Top 10 Kelly Clarkson Songs". PopCrush. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  16. Cinquemani, Sal (June 13, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson: My December (Review)". Slant Magazine. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  17. Lamb, Bill. "Kelly Clarkson - My December". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  18. Sylvia, Dave de (June 23, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson - My December (First Review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  19. Freeman, Channing (June 24, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson - My December (Second Review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  20. "Pop 100". Billboard. July 14, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  21. "Bubbling Under Hot 100 - Week of July 14, 2007 (Subscription Required)". Billboard. July 14, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  22. Mansfield, Brian (February 11, 2010). "Bonus Soundscan Numbers for Kelly Clarkson and More!". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  23. Vineyard, Jennifer; Richard, Yasmine (April 26, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson On Summer Tour, Live Earth: 'I Can't Wait'". MTV. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  24. "Warner Bros. Records To Release Live Earth" (Press release). Live Earth. October 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  25. Kaufman, Gil; Wallace, Brian (June 19, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson's My December: Rumors Aside, LP Isn't A Radical Departure". MTV. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  26. "Episode Detail: The Early Show - The Early Show". TV Guide. July 12, 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2013. Alt URL
  27. Aquilante, Dan (June 27, 2007). "'Idol' Fury as Kelly Fights Back". New York Post. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  28. "Kelly Clarkson: AOL Music Sessions!". Kelly Clarkson's Official Website. June 26, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  29. "Kelly Clarkson Music". Take 40 Australia. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  30. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Kelly Clarkson - Toyota Concert Series". NBC. June 23, 2007. Archived from the original on June 24, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  31. Scott, Jason (October 17, 2016). "Kelly Clarkson's 10 Greatest Performances". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  32. "Kelly Clarkson - Live Green Mountain Coffee: Fair Trade Concert". NME. October 10, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  33. Borelli, Mark (October 30, 2007). "Kelly Clarkson's 'My December' Comes To Life at Massey Hall". Soulshine. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  34. Smith, Grady (August 15, 2012). "Kelly Clarkson covers Eminem, Coldplay, and Foo Fighters". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  35. "CWTV Music — Smallville — Season 7 - Episode 701". The CW Television Network. Archived from the original on July 5, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  36. "My December by Kelly Clarkson". iTunes Store. 22 June 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  37. "Sober" Debut in the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
  38. "Sober" Debut in the U.S. Billboard Pop 100. Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  39. https://web.archive.org/web/20091101141712/https://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239

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