Why "magic" might be Kelly Clarkson's best song from Chemistry
An ode to the magical song that is "magic."
Hey fellow Clarkstan! 👋 Welcome to NOTHING BUT CLARKSON — a newsletter all about Emmy and Grammy winner (and rad human) Kelly Clarkson. This week is all about a special—dare I say, magical—song from Chemistry. Let’s get into it.
HERE’S THE THING…
Some random thoughts from me.
Just like many Kelly Clarkson stans, I’ve been listening to Chemistry every day. As I’ve mentioned in my official review of Chemistry, I’m a huge fan of the record not just because of its personal nature, but also because of the musicality and innovation that Kelly Clarkson and her team brought to it.
In the first two weeks of Chemistry’s release, my favorite song from the album has changed almost every time. Tracks like “Down to You” and “Favorite Kind of High” are very catchy and were definitely early faves of mine. Emotional ballads like “Lighthouse” and “Skip This Part” show off Kelly’s vocals, and also made great first impressions on me.
But in the past week or so, “Magic” crept up slowly but surely to the top of my list. It has become my absolute favorite.
On first listen, “Magic” almost sounds like a filler track. (Some people who went to Birthday at the Belasco even said that they couldn’t remember the song after the concert.) But I quickly found myself humming the song when I’m not listening to the album. Magically, the song just started being embedded in my head almost 24/7.
So… what is it about “Magic” that’s spectacular?
For one, all the feels. The song captures that optimistic, hopeful and lovely feeling of meeting someone special and having the potential of creating something magical. When Kelly sings “you are worth the road to maybe”? I really feel what she means.
Just like many songs in Chemistry, Magic really shines in the post-chorus, which is super catchy because of Kelly’s “talk-singing.” (She said in one podcast interview that this is her way of channeling Annie Lennox.) Against a backdrop of ethereal instrumentation, Kelly sings, “With your eyes on me, I start to tremble / Always you, has been forever / Blurring lines I can't remember / Fighting words I wanna tell ya.”
My fave line from the song is also from the post-chorus: “I don’t mind your lips on my skin.” A stan would know that this line is very personal because Kelly has mentioned on The Kelly Clarkson Show in the past that she doesn’t like having people’s lips touch her skin. Clearly, she’s willing to make exceptions though. 😜
Finally, I think the placement of “Magic” in the album really helps it a lot. It’s the end of the Chemistry-Favorite Kind of High-Magic trio—the part of the album that’s more about the initial stages of falling in love rather than the heartbreak of a divorce. By the time you get to “Magic,” you are ready to risk it all and give love another try.
Jessi Collins, Vocal Director at The Kelly Clarkson Show and background singer for Kelly, has revealed on Miss Indepodcast that “Magic” is her favorite—a sentiment that many members of My Band Y’all share. Honestly I’m not surprised!
Let me end with a disclaimer: it’s possible my favorite from Chemistry will change again soon. It’s that good of an album. But for now, “Magic” has me totally entranced and believing in love again.
WHAT’S NEW, CLARKSON?
Notable mentions and news about our queen.
Jeremy and Pam from Miss Indepodcast interview Jessi Collins and Kyle Whalum after the Birthday and the Belasco concert
Kelly Clarkson talks preparing for Las Vegas “Chemistry” residency with Ryan Seacrest
The Recording Academy includes “Chemistry” on a feature article on albums on divorce and heartache
Demi Lovato teases “high possibility” of a collaboration with their idol Kelly Clarkson
Chemistry album promo
The Chemistry promo blitz has been insane, so I decided to keep a running list of some of Kelly’s major appearances and mentions below. This is updated every week. For real-time updates, follow me on Twitter at @nbclarkson!
Kelly Clarkson Chemistry promotion
PODCASTS:
PODCRUSHED: Kelly Clarkson
LAS CULTURISTAS: Kelly Clarkson visits Las Culturistas!
BILLBOARD POP SHOP PODCAST: Kelly Clarkson Promises Hits & Nightly Surprises at Las Vegas Residency
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL (WITH LAWRENCE ZARIAN): Kelly Clarkson
ARMCHAIR EXPERT: Kelly Clarkson
MISS INDEPODCAST: Miss Indepodcast interviews Kelly Clarkson
CONAN O’BRIEN NEEDS A FRIEND: Kelly Clarkson
WE CAN DO HARD THINGS (WITH GLENNON DOYLE): Kelly Clarkson: Red flags, divorce & starting oveR
ZANE LOWE: Kelly Clarkson: 'chemistry', Divorce & Heartbreak
REVIEWS:
CBC (Canada): Kelly Clarkson marries fun melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics on her new album Chemistry
THE NEW YORKER: Kelly Clarkson’s captivating divorce album
VULTURE: Kelly Clarkson finally succumbs to the spotlight
ROLLINGSTONE: Kelly Clarkson Turns the Messiness of Divorce into Showstopping Pop Spectacle on ‘Chemistry’
THE LINE OF BEST FIT: Chemistry cements Kelly Clarkson’s pop icon status
PAGE SIX: Kelly Clarkson trashes ex-husband on biting divorce album ‘Chemistry’: review
SLANT: Kelly Clarkson Chemistry review: Distilling heartbreak down to a science
NOTHING BUT CLARKSON: Chemistry is Kelly Clarkson's most personal (and best!) album yet
RADIO, TV AND STREAMING INTERVIEWS:
THE TERRELL SHOW: KELLY CLARKSON Sings Aretha Franklin and Talks American Idol and New Album, “Chemistry”
THE PROJECT NZ: Kelly Clarkson is back and more personal than ever
Z100 NEW YORK: Kelly Clarkson on moving her show to New York
PANDORA: Afterglow takeover
SUNRISE (AUSTRALIA): Kelly Clarkson on parenting, divorce, writing new music and her popular talk show
THE PROJECT (AUSTRALIA): Kelly Clarkson on what red flags she looks out for in life
BREAKFAST TELEVISION (CANADA): Kelly Clarkson’s new album ‘Chemistry’ is out today – and we have the details
HOWARD STERN: Kelly Clarkson SiriusXM interview
TODAY WITH HODA AND JENNA: Kelly Clarkson on divorce: ‘I want better for my ex’
SiriusXM: Kelly Clarkson Town Hall 2023
AUDACY: Audacy check-in with Kelly Clarkson
AUDACY: This or that with Kelly Clarkson
NPR: Kelly Clarkson's latest album, 'Chemistry,' is more than just a divorce album
E! NEWS: Kelly Clarkson Reveals Her Dating Red Flags After Divorce
ARTICLES:
AMERICAN SONGWRITER: July/August Cover Story: Kelly Clarkson—Pieced Together
AMERICAN SONGWRITER: Kelly Clarkson on writing from emotion, her future on ‘The Voice,’ and the itch to make a country album
TIDAL: Kelly Clarkson: Pop’s folksy, virtuosic heroine
GRAMMY.COM: Kelly Clarkson's Road To 'Chemistry': How Her Post-Divorce Album Completes A Journey Of Resilience & Musical Freedom
JUST JARED: Who is Rock Hudson? Did you know Kelly Clarkson's new song is inspired by an old Hollywood legend?
VARIETY: Kelly Clarkson on her candid new post-divorce album, ‘Chemistry’
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Kelly Clarkson on talk show drama, her love/hate relationship with ‘The Notebook’ and divorce album
USA TODAY: Kelly Clarkson on her ‘horrible’ divorce, working with Steve Martin and talk show drama
MISCELLANEOUS:
Reddit: AMA with Kelly Clarkson
WHAT I’M LIKING
An awesome post from social media, but without the $1000 cheque. 😉
Mr. Pop on Twitter asks, “what music genre is this?” (My answers: A LEGENDARY one. 😀)
ONE LAST THING…
Go stream Chemistry using this link from Atlantic Records!