Having one of the most successful careers in modern music, there are bound to be some Kelly Clarkson moments that fly under the radar.
Now, we are here to celebrate those moments, to shine a light on what could have been had they been given their time to dazzle.
Join us below as we countdown That Grape Juice’s Top 5: Underrated Kelly Clarkson Songs…
5. Would You Call That Love
If there has been one thing that Kelly Clarkson has become synonymous with is her signature pop-rock sound. However, she ditched that for a new soul-inspired palette on her ‘Meaning Of Life’ album. The centerpiece of that album is the trap-pop ballad, ‘Would You Call That Love.’ Written by Clarkson and Greg Kurstin, it strikes the perfect balance of heartfelt and heartbroken, drawing both tears and smiles. Having been buried in the middle of the album, ‘Would You Call That Love’ often gets overlooked. However, one listen and it will prove that sometimes the best treasures are those who are buried the deepest.
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4. Nostalgic
Ramping up the BPM here, this tune from ‘Piece By Piece’ often goes unnoticed. Containing all the ingredients for a pure pop confection – glittering 80’s synths, love, loss, and rocking electric guitar – Clarkson is able to create something as timeless as the decade that she references.
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3. Just Missed The Train
A rumored single that had been canceled due to the underperformance of ‘Low,’ we can’t help but think they just missed the train with this song. Built around pounding drums, acoustic guitar, and haunting background vocals, the production builds in the verses until it reaches a fever pitch and explodes on the bridge releasing all those pent up emotions and turning them into pure serotonin. A true showing of her legendary vocal prowess, it stands among the best work of the 2000’s.
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2. It’s Quiet Uptown
From the opening line of “There are moments where the words don’t reach,” this song accurately best describes how to sum it up. Appearing on the ‘The Hamilton Mixtape’ album, the song is among the most heartbreaking ever recorded. The delicate piano, soft strings, and echoing synths help reflect the utter, fragile mortality founding father Alexander Hamilton faced after losing a child. When paired with Clarkson’s expressive vocals, it elicits tears from the audience and will leave them a tear-soaked mess. While it may be a cover, Clarkson has done the unimaginable and made the song all her own, one that will surely live on for years to come.
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1. Sober
While this list could solely be made up of songs from Clarkson’s magnum-opus ‘My December,’ there is one song that stands among the best of them. That song is ‘Sober.’ This slow-burning ballad sizzles with heartbreak and anger and with each passing verse, the flames are fanned and they burn higher and hotter, until the final minute when the fire is turned into a wildfire, burning with such intensity that nothing is left in its wake. Easily one of the best songs of all-time, Clarkson’s raw talent is at its peak, one that has yet to be matched.
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Do you agree with our picks?