Kelly Clarkson Performs 'Perfect' Ed Sheeran Rendition

Oct 02, 2020 by apost team

Kelly Clarkson has one of those voices that is instantly recognizable. Whether you have been a fan of hers from the beginning or have just recently gotten into her music, the power and beauty of her voice are hard to deny. Just last week, she released a cover of Ed Sheeran's Perfect.

However, Kelly Clarkson is more than just a singer.

Over recent years, she has expanded her empire to include a television show as well. Her daytime show "The Kelly Clarkson Show" has been a huge success for the singer, with hundreds of thousands of devoted followers tuning in every day. One of the most popular recurring segment is "Kellyoke", where Clarkson returns to her roots and sings a cover of a popular song.

Most of the time, the cover she performs is of an older tune. This has included Sweet Music Man by Kenny Rogers, Kokomo by the Beach Boys (with John Stamos!), and countless TV theme jingles. Yet, Kelly Clarkson has always been known as a singer with an incredible range both vocally and stylistically. It seems there isn't a style or era that she isn't willing to cover. Thus, it was no surprise when she jumped forward a few decades with her latest cover of the 2017 smash hit Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

The original version is unquestionably the song that put Ed Sheeran on the map. His original version overflowed with a gentle tenderness that is hard to replicate outside of the context of true love. But one of the hallmarks of Clarkson's career is that she rarely does a simple cover. Rather, she always prefers to put her own spin on a song whenever possible. Perfect was no exception.

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As opposed to the purposefully simple and tender original vocals of Perfect, Clarkson gave the song an almost Sarah McLachlan-esque quality. There is a soulfulness that is missing from the original, and it gives the entire song a new direction. Clarkson's powerful vocals elevate the song from "whispering sweet nothings" to "declaring an overpowering feeling of love." It is, to say the least, a powerful performance.

As with almost all other studio-filmed shows, The Kelly Clarkson Show has been impacted by the ongoing COVID situation. Several episodes were filmed entirely remotely. In fact, her tribute to Kenny Rogers was filmed in her home bathroom. However, Clarkson was able to venture back into her studio on September 21 to resume a somewhat normal taping schedule.

The show still lacks an in-person studio audience, with fans instead able to attend the show's live tapings virtually. Her crew has also had to make changes, with several protocols implemented and Clarkson remaining socially distanced from her band and crew. However, being the consummate professional, she has taken it all in stride.

Since returning to the studio and having contact with her band, Clarkson has continued to keep the music flowing. Beyond her cover of Perfect, she has recorded equally impactful versions of Chris Stapleton's Tennessee Whiskey, and Demi Lovato's Confident. With each track added to her discography, the true depth of Clarkson's talent becomes even more apparent.

This is likely not the last time she will perform a Sheeran cover, as Clarkson has been very open about her admiration and affection towards the ginger-topped singer. She mentioned in a 2015 interview that "He is just this amazingly talented guy, and he's only like, 23 ... He's like the Meryl Streep of artists in the musical sense."

What's your favorite tune in Kelly Clarkson's repertoire? Talk about it in the comments, and don't forget to post this article for all of your friends.