Kelly Clarkson Goes Deep Into Her "Dark Side"

The original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson follows up her Billboard Music Awards performance of new single "Dark Side" with a nicely-timed premiere of the song's music video in that Clarkson lyrically delves into her own well of inner strength, and her soaring synthpop ballad defines what love's all about. The 30-year-old singer will be returning to TV as a judge on ABC's "Duets," started last night.
"Dark Side," the third single from Clarkson's fifth album, "Stronger," is a mid-tempo synthpop song that incorporates a vigorous music box melody with up-tempo beats in choruses, with its lyrics containing the theme of acceptance in spite of someone's flaws. "Everybody's got a dark side, do you love me; can you love mine?," she sings. Lyrically, "Dark Side" does a nice job of conveying difficult truths while trying to stay upbeat and positive. It's a punch to the stomach for anyone who's felt the same.
The video was directed by Shane Drake and shot in Downtown Los Angeles on April 28. It features Clarkson in a pink dress with light makeup and in another scene where she is wearing a funky black and green dress in a graffiti-filled parking structure. The video finds Clarkson revealing her vulnerable side as she tackles demons of sorts and captures an empathetic Clarkson softly gazing into the camera while sharing the screen as a montage captures different personal hardships and struggling with their problems.
Clarkson sings of how better days are to come. "Everybody's got a dark side. Do you love me? Can you love mine?" she belts on the inspirational track, and her powerhouse vocals bring the heartbreaking stories to life and transports the listener right into the middle of the action. As the video comes to a close, the songstress exchanges comforting hugs with those struggling with their problems; accepting each one of them despite their 'dark side.' The sun rises as the track picks up and the shots of drugs, alcohol and sadness are replaced by cheerful imagery.