Bob Out: February 2013

I do love a good cat fight and it seems we've got a pretty good one going on right now. I had heard rumors or a tift between Kelly Clarkson and Clive Davis back when she was getting ready to release her third album, "My December". From what I heard, Kelly was insiting on releasing the album she wanted to make but Clive wanted to her to add more "radio friendly" songs. I even heard he offered her several million dollars to include a few songs of his choice on that record but she refused. The album did pretty good and eventually went platinum but there was only one single released. I always wondered why because I actually loved the whole record(Do we still call them records?).

Now Clive has a new book coming out , "The Soundtrack To My Life", where he talks about making records with Kelly. He also admitted he is bi-sexual but didn't have sex with man until he was in his 50's...WOW...but I digress. Clive claims Kelly hated the songs "Since You Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and wanted them off her album, "Breakway". When he told her no she burst into "Hysterical sobbing". He also said “It became a David-and-Goliath battle between an all-powerful music mogul and a solitary young woman fighting bravely for the right to self-expression.”

Kelly has issued the following statment...

Hey y’all,

So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.

First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.

But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with.

But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.

He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….

Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.

Cheers to another amazing year! And, as always, thanks for listening!

KC

What do you guys think of this fued? I think it's brave of Kelly to fight for what she wants but I also wonder why she's the only one to ever have such beef with Clive Davis. Is it because all the other artist were just his puppets and did what he wanted and Kelly was like Hell No, I am doing it my way? Who knows! All I do know is I love me some Kelly Clarkson and her choices have been pretty damn good so far.

Bob Out