Gig review: Kelly Clarkson, Glasgow Braehead Arena

Published on 17/10/2012 02:40

THE kind of dressed-down, regular-sized, bubbly, all-American gal who peppers just about every sentence with an “awesome”, “totally” or “just sayin’”, Kelly Clarkson’s enduring appeal ten years after winning the inaugural American Idol isn’t tricky to pinpoint.

Kelly Clarkson

Glasgow Braehead Arena

Star rating; * * * *

She’s the kind of pop star every young fan and their mum wishes was their best pal – coupled with a super-sized and versatile voice.

Able to cherry-pick big-hitting songs from high-end writers, the now 30-year-old Texan continues to grow an always recognisable repertoire that threw in a little bit of everything stylistically across a tight 90-minute set, fleshed out by the full-bodied backing of a five-piece all-male band and a trio of female vocalists.

Speedy, bounce-along opener My Life Would Suck Without You typified a lyrical approach always accessibly pitched somewhere between angsty and emphatic. Covers of We Are Young by Fun – sung from the middle of the room after a high-fiving sprint through the crowd – and Walking On Broken Glass – “I’m a big Annie Lennox fan,” Clarkson had earlier shared – were a reminder of why she remains one of TV karaoke’s better finds.

It was sway-along time come Because of You, Clarkson’s first big single and still her most consummate dewy-eyed ballad. A fuzz-bass-led pre-encore Since You’ve Been Gone proved air-punching, get-over-him pop-rock remains Clarkson’s strongest suit. Back after the break in a figure-hugging black dress, she rounded off rousingly with her recent five million-selling disco-flavoured variation on that theme, Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).