wrapped in red

when i heard kelly was working on a holiday album, i knew it was going to be fab. from new instant classic "underneath the tree" to renditions of classics, kelly delivers. there's country - "run run rudolph." there's pop - "4 carat." christmas is officially here.

my american idol

best first concert at radio city: kelly clarkson.  the reason why shar hasn't had the pleasure of seeing a gig at the famed radio city is largely due the hefty price tags.  i did fork it over when matt nathanson was announced as her opener.  matt and i go back, way back to my younger years in sf.  he was a local troubadour and i, one of his street team members.  i even once unintentionally forced him to give me a hug at starbucks.  true story, ask jackie.  his set largely took from his latest this modern love with a sprinkling from some mad hope.  not much from his older albums and a little disappointed that kelly didn't come out to duet on "run", which originally was recorded with jennifer nettles of sugarland.  it could have been magic.

for the main attraction, kelly did not disappoint.  are you surprised?  this coming from a super fan, but my pal rachel was witnessing her first dose of kelly live and was thoroughly loving it.  she opened up with "dark side", then followed up with hits "behind these hazel eyes" and "since u been gone".  i was surprised she busted out quite a few covers:  florence and the machine's "heavy in your arms", "my man" (babs) and a timely cover of etta james' "i'd rather go blind".  the later was perfection and probably made etta proud. kelly did a medley of tunes for her five albums.  a great way to cover people's favs.  she pretty much got all of mine except she didn't play my favorite oldie "beautiful disaster".  ahhh, you can't have it all.  here's the set list in case you wanted the complete play by play.  i know i'm harping now but i would have liked matt to step in for jason aldean on "don't you wanna stay", instead we got a huge hologram of jason.  all i wanna say is radio city was bumpin' saturday night and kelly still and always will be my american idol. 

kelly clarkson on gma

proof why shar hearts kelly: not only getting up at 5am to get to her gig at rumsfield park, but also standing through not one but two crazy downpours. shar hearts her some kelly even if she has to endure the baneful chatter for prepubescent girls. i saw her first back in september 2005 where her performance wasn't up to par but then she did this. she had me as a fan forever and so a little rain and an early morning wake up call is the least i could do. here's a little video of kelly sound checking here latest single "already gone" and some choice snaps.

kelly performed "already gone", "walk away" and "if i can't have you". she also tossed in an abridged "since u been gone".

guy fieri, enjoying soundcheck between his segment makinga smore pizza

the lady next to me won an autographed guitar

my american idol

best american idol: kelly clarkson. okay, i was weary about a single entitled "my life would suck without you", but that tune is darn catchy. the video is pretty cute too in a pg way.



the other single "i do not hook up", which she performed on snl saturday also has a horrible song name, but surprisingly catchy too. they both make me wanna go karaoke. that's what i call a good pop song.