Kelly Clarkson bombs in London
Gig Review: Kelly Clarkson
Stars 2/5
When: Wednesday night
Where: Hammersmith Apollo
Responsible for several amazing pop singles in recent years, Kelly Clarkson’s ‘My December’ tour is sadly named after her ill-advised mature third album, one which yielded no chart hits of note and tore strips from the success she had built from her first two records.
More of the review after the jump...
Kelly Clarkson's London concert in pics...
The lack of interest from tonight’s audience in the former American Idol winner’s attempts to flog the sadly-deceased horse of ‘My December’ is obvious when compared to the hysteria which accompanies any track plucked from her earlier releases. Songs from the disappointing album in question blur into a noisy mush of anonymity, leaving older numbers such as ‘Miss Independent’ and the incredible ‘Since U Been Gone’ to remind her young audience why they pestered for tickets in the first place.
Kelly’s vocal ability is immense and her pop credentials are never more evident than on standout performance, ‘Breakaway’. It is a prime example of how much can be achieved in the simple pairing of a phenomenal singer with a soaring pop song.
Somebody needs to get this woman a decent fourth album and fast – let’s not see her back on the road until she has the material necessary to showcase her world-class talents.
Michael Baggs
Michael Baggs is obviously blind, stupid and deaf. The fans went CRAZY for the My December songs. I was there, trust me.
I guess some people just have to write bad reviews for the fun of it.
Michael should read the dozens of AMAZING reviews for this tour, and then realise he's wrong.
Posted by: Alexis | 27/03/2008 at 14:17
Ok I have to ask were you even at the show or did you just pluck this story out of thin air, I'm inclined to go with the latter, Having been at this show nad many others from this tour and being a huge Clarkson Fan I can honestly say that this story is absolute bull, I myself love MD alot more the Breakaway and was much more excited about hearing her sing her new material and for your information My December did not bomb, last time I checked it had sold over 1 million copies, it also debuted in the top 5 of numerous album charts all over the world since when has that been bad, Thats an acheivement concsidering she had some moronic 80 year old "Golden Eared" know it all trying to sabotage the whole thing, Why don't you try actually writing truthful reviews instead of writing what somebody else paid you off to write.
Posted by: Kelly-Fan | 27/03/2008 at 14:22
excuse me but were u actually at the concert!!! the show was amazing the songs are amazing. Did you not listen to Capital this morning with the raving views about kelly. the person who sucked last night was jamie scott. NOT KELLY!!!!
Posted by: Annmarie | 27/03/2008 at 14:43
You are obviously someone who is more interested in commercialised appeal than the real music - otherwise you would have listened to it. Did you copy Perez Hilton's hate comments?
Posted by: Chris | 27/03/2008 at 14:59
hmmm, I was there last night too. And, you must've been to a different concert than I was at. I went there with my girlfriend, and I thought the concert was amazing, and the crowd was screaming throughout, not just on her old material, but, her new material as well.
Posted by: Steve | 27/03/2008 at 15:14
I wasn't there at the concert but I know for a fact that Kelly's new album "My December" yielded some of the best lyrics and melodies that I have ever heard. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful, especially on "Sober", "Never Again" and "Be Still."
Maybe the London concert-going public just isn't ready for Kelly's un-pop perspective, but it's clear that at least a few of us are.
Posted by: Adam | 27/03/2008 at 15:27
the night was wicked, kelly was fantatsic, the crowed loved it - what yo on about?
Posted by: glen morris | 27/03/2008 at 16:17
This review makes me angry. I'm not a fan of this woman, but this reviewer clearly doesn't know HOW to review.
To me it seems like he's reviewing the album rather than the concert.
Where are the details of the show? What kind of atmosphere was there?
Two thumbs down from me
Posted by: Ben | 27/03/2008 at 16:17
Was he even there?? between the singing along to every song and the loud cheering, please tell me when the crowd went dead??
I was standing next to two members of Kelly's tour team all concert and they were always saying to eachother how the crowd was energetic and hoUK were often the best crowds
so I dont get it??
Posted by: Kat | 27/03/2008 at 17:58
omg thats such a shit review, that was an amazing gig and how the fuck can you call that album crap it's great.i'm sure everyone who was there would agree with me
Posted by: jake twyman | 27/03/2008 at 18:16
I have to say one thing to this review: OBVIOUS.
If you go to any band's concert, you will find that the songs receiving radio play will always get more cheers than unknown tracks buried on an album. The simple fact of this is that there has been more exposure. I guarantee that there are large numbers in the crowd that only know just that one song, and came to the concert as a result.
Also, a correction: It just so happens that Kelly Clarkson DID have a well-performing song from her My December album with Never Again, though I will be the first to admit that the album has not been full of hits.
Posted by: Erin | 27/03/2008 at 18:45
What a load of crap!! I personally queued over eleven hours to be at the front for this concert along with hundreds of other fans who waited all day in the rain to see the talent that is Kelly Clarkson. The biggest roar of the night was to Kelly's "Hidden" track Chivas at the end of the My December album, but I am guessing the reviewer was someone who left after the first three songs!! RUBBISH MATE
Posted by: Lisa | 27/03/2008 at 19:05
the sad part is that the reviewer AND perez hilton are quick to promote a supposed lackluster performance and material when they were obviously not even in the concert. i think it's ironic how the fan reviews all pretty much say the opposite!
Posted by: Boogie | 27/03/2008 at 19:07
This isn't a review, its a thinley veiled attack on an Album, not even the tour!!! Who employ's you, Michael Baggs?? I wouldn't pay you to report that drivel.
FYI, I wasn't at the gig last night, but was at both shows in Glasgow last week - which had a diverse crowd both nights, not just a 'young audience' as the 'reviewer' puts it. And all the My December songs were very well received.
Not everyone there would have been familiar with the album - thats cos the record company didn't promote it!! Kellyclarkson.co.uk have been promising us the 2nd single since September last year!!!
My December has now sold 2.5mil approx world wide, which is almost catching up with her debut album Thankful. She's not going to sell every album as well as Breakaway. That doesn't make My December or this Tour a failure. Kelly is an amazing singer AND song-writer.
Michael, you obviously don't have a clue what you are talking about so do us all a favour and leave the concert reviews to the professionals - this is the first negative review I've seen since Kelly kicked off the UK leg of the tour. Guarantee it will be the last.
Posted by: Gemma Scott | 27/03/2008 at 19:20
You said the crowd didn't like or respond to the songs from My December.
You're a liar.
Posted by: Jenna | 27/03/2008 at 20:12
Are you kidding me? I could not disagree with this review more. My flatmates and I went to the show last night and we loved it. Everyone around us did too, singing along to all the songs, including those on 'My December'. Sober, from that album, was one of the highlights of the night. Were you actually AT the concert Michael?
Posted by: Nathalie | 27/03/2008 at 20:14
Kelly was incredible last night i was there and the atmosphere was great. My December is not a flop of an album it is awesome.
Yea the crowd went crazy for hits such as since you been gone but news material was performed very well such as: One minute, Be still, Dont waste your time, Hole How i feel and Sober were especially well delivered. Even my boyfriend was pleasantly surprised. I suggest you change your review for tomorrow as i believe she is again performing tonight.
Posted by: Kelly was great. | 27/03/2008 at 20:30
Are you kidding!? I flew in from New York to see this concert because I loved her show in NY so much! I was totally blown away with the show. The crowd was going crazy. I'm looking forward to the new album as well, but that's no reason to dis on a show when there was nothing to dis. You obviously are just looking for readers because your writing was done so poorly. Where are the actual review details? Two thumbs down to this writer! Pathetic.
Posted by: AJOMO | 27/03/2008 at 20:37
It's obvious that you don't like the My December album, but how could you say the audience at the concert didn't like it either. I was there. They loved it. They sang along to all the new songs. You shouldn't write misleading articles like this. All it does is hurt the artist and anger the fans that know you printed lies.
Posted by: Leah | 27/03/2008 at 21:01
Before writing a review next time, try actually being at the concert cause I really dont think you were, cause if you were you would have seen that she was amazing, it was packed and the crowd were going wild at every song.
Song by song it got stronger and stronger, her voice is powerful and yet potrays emotion so easily.
One of the best concerts Ive been to, so get over yourself Micheal
Posted by: Clair | 27/03/2008 at 21:09
Michael Baggs has clearly never heard music. More than that, I fear he may be deaf. In fact, I'll bet his favourite band is Shania Twain, or anything produced by Mutt Lange. I reckon he watches American Idol still and reckons that David Archuleta is better than Carly the girl from Ireland or worthy Brooke with the curly hair or David with the guitar. I reckon he's wrong about al these things. Don't trust him, also: he will steal your pension and kick your children in their eyes. Plus, I'm betting this story was actually plucked from thin air, as supposed, as I've heard he can't write because he has two gammy hands and fingers made of cheesestrings - WHICH IS ALL HE EATS LOL! Plus, he couldn't go to a concert with his girlfriend because I'll bet he killed her, like that man who pushed his children off a balcony. What are the details of the show - what was she wearing, did she stand, sit or kneel for 'Since You've Been Gone', did she cover any songs by 80s acts, how much was a beer (or alcopop, I'll bet you are ten), was her hair good, was she fat???? - what kind of atmosphere was there - bleak? morbid? angelic? like Church? WHAT?
Michael, this review fails on every single count. I give it 1.9 out of 5, which is .1 worse than this gig was according to your deaf and full-of-wax ears.
Posted by: Jaymez Smithe | 27/03/2008 at 21:12
Im absolutly outraged at this review!!! Even though My December has been bashed by critics in the past, you can ask fan apon fan apon fan how amazing the album is!!! Every song is filled with so much emotion and feeling! Just because the songs dont match everybodys preference does'nt mean you should be able to insult it....Im the proud owner of 2 Kelly Clarkson tickets for the Cardiif show on Saturday and believe me ive had the pleasure of seeing Miss Clarkson live before and i was absolutly blown away. Its not down to the songs its down the heart of the performer and the connection they have to their fans so sir i believe you are wrong and should really develop so music taste....oh and the ability to write a correct review.
Posted by: Jade Warren | 27/03/2008 at 21:23
The show was phenomenal. Of course Since U Been Gone is going to get a better reception due to the fact it's been her biggest single.
Posted by: Laura | 27/03/2008 at 23:56
I have to agree with Ben. No one needed ANOTHER review of My December - there were plenty written many months ago. The readers were looking for a CONCERT REVIEW. I'm not sure if an amateur writer like Michael Baggs, who is already biased with a dislike for 'My December,' was the best choice for this review. If Michael doesn't like Kelly's latest material, distorting facts of Kelly's "hits," then who thought he would write an objective review? Where were the details of the performance? Was he even there? Editors of thelondonpaper, you should know better. Next time, please assign this to a professional.
Posted by: David | 28/03/2008 at 02:09
i was at the U.S. tour. The concert definitely lacked some pep and she looked some what out of shaped. Definitely it was the CD or Kelly's problem. The songs from My December was great. I think someone did not know how to promote the CD and target the songs. Her voice was amazing. I went to buy My December right away after the concert.
Posted by: lucy | 28/03/2008 at 05:00