Kelly Clarkson’s first musical release of the year, “I Dare You”, is an empowering, infectious, and dynamic tune that prioritizes emotion over technique.

Whereas those most pop compositions rely on a fairly standard structure, Clarkson decides to absolutely transform the rhythm in the chorus. The tune begins on a robust beat that’s reminiscent of Clark’s earlier rock-tinged setlists, and most features could continue along that same fast-paced tempo. But right at the chorus, Clarkson pulls the beat down and drags through the notes, so her words hit you like a slow-moving car crash: jarring but immediately powerful. And when the chorus is done with, her upbeat vocals return with the same energy as can be expected from this award-winning star. 

Clarkson’s vocal range is second to none at this point, and she definitely gets to yield her sharp, impressive voice like a sword through the notes. Following the second chorus, the song really takes off to a whole new level, and you only have to hear it to properly absorb the enormity of Clarkson’s herculean vocal range. Even if it’s just the one phrase recurring over and over again, that is, “I dare you to love me”;  Kelly makes sure that each line abounds in its own magic. The production team should also be given the credit because they’re giving Kelly’s voice just as much room to soar as they’re highlighting the bass and percussion that keep the track flowing. It’s a tough balance, especially Kelly’s vocals have enough spirit to surpass every other detail in the song itself. 

The singer has been keeping herself busy in the past year but for totally unexpected reasons. She’s the host and star of The Kelly Clarkson Show, her daytime television chat show where she interviews other celebrities, sings karaoke for the audiences, and sheds light on important stories in the community. Her show’s been a massive hit, so many are wondering if her return to music was going to stick the landing. Safe to say, this song establishes that Kelly has nothing to worry about — her voice is going to do the work for her. 

 Singer-songwriter     Pop 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.