Madison Meeks – Opinion Editor

mvm7037@psu.edu

Kelly Clarkson, an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality, started her career in 2002. She began her career after winning the first season of the television singing competition “American Idol.” 

After winning, she received a record deal and debuted her single “A Moment Like This” which became the country’s best selling single in 2002. The song was featured on her first album. Throughout her career, she has released a total of nine studio albums. Out of all of Clarkson’s albums, by far I believe that her best album is her 2004 album “Breakaway”. 

Clarkson’s second album “Breakaway” was her first album after breaking away from “American Idol” management before her album was released. Her second album is a pursuit in the pop-rock direction of music. 

The pop-rock direction of this album is what makes this so incredible. I believe that not only the pop-rock direction, but also the hint of soul is what makes this album the best out of her nine albums. She steps away from the R&B sound of her first album to create an entirely new sound for this album. 

The lyrics of this album explore heartbreak, love, and escapism which was the first of her albums to do so. This album takes the listener through the aspects of love and heartbreak which is an aspect that I love to listen to in an album. I love when artists make their listeners feel emotions through their songs. Not only does “Breakaway” bring the emotions but also the songs on the album are bops. 

Clarkson had released two singles for the album before the actual album was released in November of 2004 and three singles after the album was released. 

The song titled “Breakaway” which was featured in “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement “ soundtrack, is one of the most popular songs on the 2004 album. The song follows the journey of a small town girl who ends up following her dreams of self improvement. 

I love this song because of the song having the listener follow the story of the small town girl. The album has other incredible songs as well including “Since U Been Gone”, “ Behind These Hazel Eyes”, and “Because of You”, which is about the pain that Clarkson felt during her parents divorce. 

However, the song that I believe is one of the most underrated songs on the album is “Walk Away”. “Walk Away” is the song that is about a relationship that does not work out which is a reality for a people. People can connect to the song. The track and composition of the song is one of the best on the album. 

In my opinion, Kelly Clarkson’s second album “Breakaway” is her best album released to date. The songs lyrics and composition have something that is not in any of her other albums. No shade to any of her other songs or albums because they are incredible, but the songs on “Breakaway” are clearly more superior than the songs on any of the other albums.