Kelly Clarkson Hit Single – Because of You
The hit single “Because of You” was written by pop rock music artist Kelly Clarkson together with Ben Moody and David Hodges. It was produced by Moody and Hodges who were former band members of Evanescence. This is the 4th single from her 2nd album Breakaway in 2004.
During 2007, Clarkson revert the song to a duet with country singer Reba McEntire for the album Reba: Duets. As MCA Nashville released this in summer of 2007, its recognition has made Clarkson’s initial appearance on Billboard Hot Country charts wherein it peaked at the 2nd spot.
Throughout January 31, 2008, RIAA certified the single as platinum for having more than 1, 500, 000 singles in all kinds of formats sold in US. During summer of 2008, “Because of You” became the 2nd most played throughout the past 5 years on radio, TV, online and on live spots altogether in UK.
In 2009, it was the highest single from the American Idol album having sales of 7 million singles throughout the globe.
Similar to “Behind these Hazel Eyes, Clarkson wrote the action for the video on her own. Vadim Perelman directed the music video for this song. It is based on the real story of Clarkson’s disturbed childhood. Due to the video’s nature, she requested for permission from her parents before the filming was done. The young girl who is playing the young Clarkson in the video is Kennedy Noel. She is the daughter of Clarkson’s keyboardist and musical director, Jason Halbert. Noel showed at the 2006 Grammy Awards together with Clarkson as well as to accompany Clarkson in her “Because of You” performance on piano without formal piano training. She learned the song in just as short as two weeks.
The video begins at Clarkson’s home where she is having a fiery argument with her partner. There was an instance where he attempted to smash their family picture. Time freezes then her husband was immobilized, Clarkson was immune to this scene though. Looking all over her home, she saw her younger self. Together with her younger version, they reminisced the distressed childhood she went through. There were several painful memories that drove her mother to take pills and cried in front of her younger version.
The verge of collapse is noticed when Clarkson’s folks have a physical brawl with each other and throwing objects at one another. As her father set his bags and leaves, even she tried to make him stay, still his father departs. Her older version goes back to the present time and the time unfreezes, rather continue fighting, they make up. In the video, her daughter approached them and together they embraced each other.
On October 3, 2005 the music video for “Because of You” was officially seen on Total Request Live. The video won the “Best Female Video” at MTV Video Music Award and was also nominated for “Viewer’s Choice Award”. This marked the 2nd time that a female music artist gathered 2 consecutive awards for “Best Female Video”.