Song Review: Kelly Clarkson Encourages All to Choose Love on "I Dare You" Single

   One second... still playing Meaning of Life, the eighth studio album from our original American Idol Kelly Clarkson. "Heat", "Medicine", "Would You Call That Love" -- all still so good.

   ...

   Following her 2017 album release, Clarkson jumped on collaboration efforts with the likes of Dan + Shay and John Legend, and contributed to the film soundtracks of The Greatest Showman and UglyDolls. They were all commendable appetizers, however, fans truly wanted an official update on an expected ninth studio album.

   We may have gotten a taste of said upcoming album today. Clarkson shares "I Dare You", a soaring ballad released just as tensions boil across the country in the midst of COVID-19 uncertainty.

   "I Dare You", written alongside Natalie Hemby (Little Big Town, Lady Gaga) and produced by Jesse Shatkin (Sia, Jennifer Lopez), was also released in five additional international languages. Zaz, Faouzia, Blas Cantó, duo Glasperlenspiel, and Maya Bouskilla respectively provide vocal support for French, Arabic, Spanish, German and Hebrew versions.

   Instead of resorting to hatred and anger, Clarkson chooses to love. She encourages the world to follow her lead. During an unprecedented crisis, it's time to put all differences aside and focus on defeating a greater, common threat. An uptempo progression and ballad structure effectively carry Clarkson's trademark powerhouse vocals high enough to get the message across to all.

   "There's a wolf that preys, on a world that strays, so far from the garden, and just like your own, every heart you know, seems cold and hardened," the artist somberly sings on the track's opening.

   Doubling as her call to action, Clarkson enforces the notion that we can all make a positive difference, if we wanted to. "I Dare You" acknowledges not everyone has a platform to make change, nor the loudest voice in the crowd. However, if we continue to emphasize the need to support our neighbors, strength and money are not insurmountable obstacles.

   The new single does pull Clarkson away from the authentic and alluring R&B/soul inspirations of her previous album. Here, she sticks to the rousing, pop ballad anthem formula that has delivered the artist tremendous chart success in the past. Let's hope "I Dare You" can mimic that success. It's certainly deserving.