Kelly Clarkson - “Tie It Up“ (Single Review)

Kelly Clarkson – “Tie It Up“ (Single Review)

Released June 25, 2013

Writers: Ashley Arrison, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne

Label - RCA Records

Total Time: 2:47

Rating (out of 100): 72



Kelly Clarkson
Single artwork (Amazon)

The “Miss Independent” Fort Worth Texas 31-year-old hitmaker is throwing down big-time with her triumphal anthem and latest single, "Tie It Up," It's the follow-up to her soulful single "Don't Rush" (featuring Vince Gill on backing vocals), which made the Top 30 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs chart.

She continues in the vien of balancing both her pop and country side.

In 2007, her co-write "Because Of You" was recorded by Reba McEntire as a duet with Clarkson, which appeared as a lead single for McEntire's album Reba "Duets". In November 2010 Jason Aldean and Kelly released what was to become a huge crossover smash with “Don't You Wanna Stay” garnering the Musical Event of the Year at the 2011 CMA Awards. Kelly has re-cut her song “Mr. Know It All” for Country radio with Dann Huff and in 2012 she received a surprise CMA Female Vocalist nomination.

Inching closer to becoming a bona fide country music star despite her allegiance to the Lone Star State she found love and announced plans to become a Music City resident.

Kelly has admitted that she would dabble in country music when the material felt right whilst continuing to release pop songs. In 2012 Kelly speaking to The Huffington Post spilled: “I’m not ever gonna be one thing, I want great music. I don’t care what it is. I’m not gonna record a country song just to be on country radio. I want it to be something I’d legitimately have on my album, if I’m having a pop, R&B, whatever album...I don’t want to be pigeonholed” 

Here on the countrified song RCA Columbia released "Tie It Up" (written by Ashley Arrison, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne) Clarkson feels at home on a track replete with gritty twangy guitar and includes a banjo solo!

Given that the "Tie It Up" subject matter (free of the whipped cream) is about getting hitched and this bouncy upbeat ditty could find its way to being a fun DJ favourite at weddings.

She premiered the song at the 2013 CMA Music Festival, the studio version of the track hit was sent to radio June 24th.

On the country song that boasts electric and acoustic guitar, hand claps and a driving kick-drum, Clarkson sings about a love-at-first sight encounter that quickly progressed to marriage -

First date first kiss, we were checkin’ off the list/ Then you were gettin’ down on your knee

Something borrowed, something blue? Well there are hints of Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" in the wedding cake mix.

On this rather wordy and rocky ballsy number which is full of hand-on-the-hip sass Kelly shows no Bridezilla tendencies as she happily sings, with a big strident and powerful voice about the joys of planning her special day -

Let's set the date/let's hire a band/let's cut the cake/tie up the cans Kelly cheerily sings. "

It seems the "Mr. Know It All" pop-crooner is seriously hearing wedding bells already, share her life and tie up those loose ends as she chimes:

I love the ring of your name/ You're the ying to my yang/ Oh baby let's give it a shot."

"Every wall needs a frame/ Every ball needs a chain/ I'm talkin bout tying the knot/ Tie It Up

Kelly & Brandon
at the 2013 ACM's

According to reports, Kelly and Brandon Blackstock (son of Kelly’s manager, Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire’s husband) are scheduled to wed on October 20th in Nashville. Kelly announced the engagement last December. Blackstock proposed to Clarkson about a year after they began dating.

The bride-to-be and Brandan had known each other for six years but he was married and luckily for her, later became suddenly single.

For the Season One American Idol winner her 20 to 30 years has been a who-am-I-and-what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life decade.

She has been picked apart for being too fat, too thin, too normal and it took her 10 years to say: ‘I’m just me – take it or leave it!’

I'm sure come the Wedding day Brandon will be eager to hitch a ride with Reba's NASCAR racing son Shelby and race to the church to say "YES"!

Country Radio Programmers if asked will "Tie It Up" make their playlists, will hopefully respond - "I Will"! Let's set that ADD date.

It may not "alter" the opinions of the country traditionalists but the more open-minded country-ish fans will want to raise a glass, lock it on down because it's a lotta fun, love it! Tyin' the knot feels so good!

"Tie It Up" (w/ Lyrics) >>  YouTube

Available on Amazon UK - Amazon.com - UK iTunes

US iTunes - SPOTIFY

Related News:

On the Billboard Country Airplay Chart (Week of July 6, 2013) it claimed the “Hot Shot Debut” of the week at No.52 receiving 76 fresh plays.

Amazon UK Country Download Chart Screenshots (July 8, 2013) :

Reba McEntire doesn't have a huge role in the upcoming wedding of her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, and his bride-to-be, Kelly Clarkson, but she does have to look the part. Speaking with Country Weekly, she admitted she didn't have a dress yet. However, she also revealed, "Kelly is a huge fan of Jane Austen so I may surprise her and come with a period piece."

Are Brandon and Kelly experiencing any pre-marital stress? No way, according to Reba. "They're really excited and still madly in love and just silly giddy," she says. "Kelly's doing her Christmas album right now, so she's in L.A. and working hard on that, so we've been going out to dinner with them and hanging out."