| "Never Again" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byKelly Clarkson | ||||
| from the albumMy December | ||||
| Released | April 24, 2007 (2007-04-24) | |||
| Studio | Mower Studios (Pasadena), The Village Recorder (Santa Monica) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:37 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | David Kahne | |||
| Kelly Clarkson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Never Again" onYouTube | ||||
"Never Again" is a song recorded by American singerKelly Clarkson for her third studio album,My December (2007). Clarkson co-wrote the song with Jimmy Messer, which was produced by American producer and musicianDavid Kahne. Clarkson stated that the song was written as a counterpart to the songs from her second studio album,Breakaway (2004), and was almost removed because of its harsh lyrical nature.RCA Records serviced the song tomainstream radio in the United States on April 24, 2007 as the lead single from the album, coinciding with Clarkson's 25th birthday. "Never Again" features a strongerrock sound than Clarkson's previous releases, but maintains somepop undertones. It relies on strings, guitar riffs and drums and is centered on angry, abrasive lyrics.
"Never Again" received positive reviews from music critics, with many citing it as a darker counterpart to "Since U Been Gone" (2004) and as one of her best releases; it drew some comparisons to the works ofPat Benatar. The song fared well in international as well as domestic markets, but failed to mimic the success of her previous lead singles. It peaked at number eight on theBillboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was also certified gold in Canada and Australia while peaking within the top ten in both regions. The song has sold over one million downloads in the United States. The accompanying music video for "Never Again" was released on May 1, 2007, in the United States. It portrays Clarkson being drowned in a bathtub and in various scenes acting as a ghost, haunting her ex-boyfriend following the end of their relationship.
"Never Again" was written and composed byKelly Clarkson and Jimmy Messer while American producer and musicianDavid Kahne produced the song with Messer and Jason Halbert.[1] The song was conceived around the same subject as "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes", which were included on her second studio albumBreakaway (2004).[2] The song was written as a contrast to those songs, saying that "neither was originally written" with that thought in mind and were adjusted "after the fact."[2] It was almost removed fromMy December's track listing, but Clarkson found to be fitting as the album's opener, stating "it's a fun song, and that's why we kept it. It's just got such great energy. It's so blunt — I was so angry — and it reads so well, so we just went with it."[2] Kahne also provides the keys, along with Halbert, and Messer provided the guitars.[1] The instruments were played by Billy Mohler, who plays the bass, and Shawn Pelton, who provides the drums.[1]
"Never Again" is apop rock song with a length of 3:37 (3 minutes and 37 seconds). It also incorporates elements ofelectro andalternative rock.[3] "Never Again" consists of ringing guitar riffs, faux-strings,Queens of the Stone Age-style drums, and sharp vocals.[3][4][5] The song has been described as an embittered anthem about the end of a relationship. Clarkson, in an interview withMTV, has citedAlanis Morissette's 1995 single "You Oughta Know" andPat Benatar as influences for the record. According to her, someone at her label disliked the song because it was too similar to Benatar's music. "I was like, 'Now I really like it! I love her, and what's wrong with you?'", Clarkson said. "I love any kind ofrock chick who's just totally into what she's doing. What's funny is that we now think of her as a rock icon, but she was prettypop as well. And I'm pretty pop too — I'm a rock/pop girl, which is cool with me."[2]
According to the digital music sheet published at Musicnotes.com byAlfred Publishing Company, Inc, it is written in the key ofG minor.[6] The song is set in common time and follows a moderately fast tempo of 138 beats per minute.[6] Clarkson's vocals ranged from G3 to an E♭5.[6] Many critics made comparisons to "Since U Been Gone" (Breakaway, 2004). Tina Mrazik ofYahoo! Music compared it to "Since U Been Gone", commenting its similarity in regard to vocals.[7] Sal Cinquemani ofSlant Magazine describes "Never Again" as a slightly harder and less immediate version of the entireBreakaway album.[8]
Sarah Rodman ofThe Boston Globe comments that the song "comes much closer, pleasingly so, to the polished angst and power chords of Alanis Morissette and Pat Benatar than it does to, say, 'Gimme Shelter' or 'Nebraska.'"[9]AllMusic writerStephen Thomas Erlewine selected it among others as one of the album's best tracks.[10] Chris Willman, a writer forEntertainment Weekly, comments "There was subversive fun to be had in witnessing America's sweetheart using 'Never Again,' the he-done-me-wrong first single, to reinvent herself as a banshee (wishing gangrene on an enemy, no less)."[11] Spence D. ofIGN praised the song as an intriguing departure for Clarkson, writing that "she's kicking out the verbals with gusto."[3]
J. Freedom du Lac, a writer forThe Washington Post, commented on the song's poor performance on the charts compared to singles off ofBreakaway, writing that it lacks a memorable melody.[12]Cinema Blend's Brendan Butler lauded it as the only radio-friendly tune onMy December, writing that "There’s no denying it’s a hot tune that would be better accompanied by tracks not trying to repeat its identical magic."[13] Susan Frances ofHybrid Magazine described it as having the "pop-rock propulsion ofChevalle."[14] Tony Heywood of musicOMH labeled it as "A smart mini pop metal explosion of angst and rage."[5] "Never Again" ranked number 99 onRolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007 and number 63 on AT40's 100 Most Played Songs of 2007. It also ranked at number 70 onBillboard's 2007 Year End Chart.[15] On March 5, 2013,Billboard ranked the song #26 in its list of Top 100 American Idol Hits of All Time.[16]
"Never Again" was a moderate hit in many international territories. In the United States, on the week ending May 12, 2007, the song debuted on theBillboard Hot 100 at number eight due to the strength of over 100,000 digital downloads sold during the first week of release.[17] The song fell to number 12 in the following week and continued to fall until its fifth week, when it regained momentum and rose to number nine.[18][19] "Never Again" lasted a total of 16 weeks on the Hot 100.[20] The song also charted on severalBillboard charts, peaking at number four onHot Digital Songs, number 12 onAdult Pop Songs, number 20 onPop Songs, and number 47 onRadio Songs.[21] It was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 31, 2007, for sales of 500,000 units.[22] Since its release, the song has sold over 1,211,000 downloads in the United States.[23] In Canada, the song entered theCanadian Hot 100 at number nine on the week ending June 2, 2007 and rose to number eight the following week.[20][24] The song was certified gold byMusic Canada on December 4, 2007, for sales of 40,000 units.[25]
Internationally, "Never Again" experienced similar to less commercial success. In Australia, the song entered theAustralian Singles Chart on June 10, 2007, at number five, where it peaked, and lasted with the top 10 for seven weeks after.[26] It ended up on the Year-End Chart at number 40 and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales of 35,000 units.[27][28] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number nine.[29] It stayed present in the top 75 for a total of eight weeks.[20] In Ireland, the song peaked at number 11 in its second week on theIrish Singles Chart and lasted five more weeks on the chart.[20][30]
Themusic video, directed byJoseph Kahn, was shot inLos Angeles at theStaples Center from April 11 to 13, 2007. Kahn directed two of Clarkson's previous videos: "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Walk Away". The video premiered onTRL on May 1, 2007, peaked at number one on May 10, 2007, and held the top position four times. It also debuted at number 8 on VH1's V-Spot countdown and has since climbed to number 3 on V-Spot's latest episode. The music video was made available for download on the U.S.iTunes Store on May 11, 2007.
The plot involves Clarkson's character's ex-husband (Dominic Figlio) attempting to drown her in her bathtub. Then, he heads to an airport to meet his mistress, but he is wracked with guilt over what he has done. Apparitions of Clarkson are present in his car, and again at the airport to haunt him. Clarkson said the video was similar to the 2000 filmWhat Lies Beneath because, as she put it, "You don't know if he killed me or if he's just being haunted by his conscience."[2] Clarkson then resurfaces from the bathtub, as her ex-husband wakes up from the dream, still in his car. When he walks out, Clarkson leaves the house and drives off in the car, leaving her ex-husband behind. Clarkson also performs the song with her band in an empty white room, all wearing white clothes, during various scenes in the music video. Clarkson said the white theme was present not because she was getting "artsy-fartsy" but "because it's been ripped of innocence. Anyone who's ever been in love, when it goes bad — and sadly, everyone can relate in some manner — it just gets cold and it's hard to get past that."[2]
Digital download
Digital single
Dance vault mixes
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofMy December,RCA Records, in association with19 Recordings.[1]
Recording and mixing
Personnel
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[56] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[57] | Gold | 20,000* |
| United States (RIAA)[58] | Gold | 1,211,000[23] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | April 24, 2007 | Digital download | RCA | [59] |
| United States | [60] | |||
| Contemporary hit radio | [61] | |||
| Hot adult contemporary | [62] | |||
| Canada | May 1, 2007 | Digital download | [63] | |
| Germany | May 18, 2007 | [64] | ||
| Australia | May 26, 2007 | CD | Sony BMG | [65] |
| New Zealand | June 4, 2007 | Digital download | RCA | [66] |
| United Kingdom | June 11, 2007 | CD | [67] | |
| Ireland | [citation needed] | |||
| Germany | June 22, 2007 | [68] | ||
| Canada | July 3, 2007 | Digital download (Dance Vault Remixes) | Sony BMG | [69] |
| Norway | [70] |
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