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Clarkson Entertains Sold-Out Crowd By Just Being Herself

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By CURTIS ROSS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2007

CLEARWATER - Considering the overall somber mood of this year's "My December" album, Kelly Clarkson's Saturday night set was a regular laugh riot.

The sold-out Ruth Eckerd Hall show was the next-to-last date of the tour, and Clarkson's tour mates provided some surprises: A member of her band leapt onstage as she concluded "Because of You," giving her a start as well as something to laugh about for the rest of the show.
Opening act Jon McLaughlin and his band joined in the merriment. During a set change with the curtains drawn, they took the stage clad only in black shorts with "KELLY" spelled out across their chests. When the curtains parted, they marched up to either side of Clarkson before exiting.

"Naked boys, not usually part of the show," Clarkson deadpanned afterward.

End-of-tour hijinks used to be standard stuff but are pretty rare with so many shows choreographed and timed to the second. That Clarkson's show could allow for a little tomfoolery shows why she's a lot more fun than your typical 2007 pop star.

Sure Clarkson's got a great voice, but she's also got an anti-diva personality that flies in the face of everything commercial pop means right now.

So she feels free to toss in a Patty Griffin song ("Up to the Mountain") midset, or follow the somber ballad "Sober" with an ode to "Chivas." She's already gone up against industry legend Clive Davis, who berated the rock-oriented "My December."

Her instincts have proven correct before - she told the crowd that "Because of You" was rejected for her first album and only included on her second when she insisted. It became one of her biggest hits.

The crowd was happy to let Kelly be Kelly. She bounced merrily through the choruses, belting out song after song about bad relationships and maybe gaining some catharsis in the process.

Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568 or cross@tampatrib.com.

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