It’s interesting to note when writing this particular single review that Kelly Clarkson had a brief career as a vacuum cleaner salesperson. You have to wonder if she wrote My Life Would Suck Without You with her old job in mind…

After all the rumours that Kelly was heading for a career in country music, it’s refreshing to see that she’s actually returned to her musical roots. My Life Would Suck is a slab of power pop/rock that many reviewers are comparing to classic Clarkson songs like Since U Been Gone.

But this is what Kelly does best – huge sounding tunes with that quiet verse, massive chorus dynamic. Perfect for another video full of overexcited people jumping up and down while Kelly tears up the stage.

To be honest, the release of this tune has been the biggest tease of the last few months. We’ve been drip-fed details. We still haven’t seen the video! All that will be put to rest as the video apparently gets it’s premiere on American Idol tonight, which will give it another massive publicity boost.

If you were one of those naysayers who was declaring Kelly Clarkson dead in the water a few months ago, you might be kicking yourself about now. This will be one of the most astonishing comebacks of 2009. Wait and see.

The only downside I can see is actually with the single cover – Kelly, heavily airbrushed and with her mouth open looks for all the world like a blow-up doll. And what is she wearing?

Anyway, if you’re one of the lucky Americans who got to view the video tonight on American Idol – tell us what you thought of it below!

The original Idol is returning in March with her new album, All I Ever Wanted.

It’s been a bumpy ride for Kelly Clarkson, but this is a milestone for her – the fourth album she’s released. Kelly’s fought record company boss Clive Davis for the right to write her own songs, she’s had concerts cancelled due to low ticket sales and has toyed with the idea of going Country which is selling well in the USA.

The lead single from the album is My Life Would Suck Without You, which should be filtering its way onto the web any day now. Unfortunately, just snippets are available right now. And unlike Dr Dre’s camp, this sucker isn’t leaking for love or money!

For me, I’m looking forward to Kelly’s comeback. The music scene would suck without her, and it’s nice to see any reality TV winner making it to their fourth album. More news on the single when we get it!

Ms Clarkson pulls out all the stops in the video for her new single, Don’t Waste Your Time. Taking the role of a rockin’ Sleeping Beauty, walled into a fantasy castle surrounded by thorns, our Kelly belts out another of her pounding femme-rock anthems.

The problem when Kelly goes all rawk like this is that she’s just too damned chirpy. I don’t feel her angst. Drop the act, Clarkson, we all know you’re a wee cutie…

…who, by the way, looks pretty hot in that big red dress. Yumm.

Pop star leching aside, there’s nothing remarkable about Don’t Waste Your Time for the song to stand out in the charts. It’s got all the right elements for pop-rock success, but somewhere along the line, it falls short of the mark. Compare it to the career highlight of Since U Been Gone and you’ll understand what I mean.

The thing is, Kelly’s one of my favourite female artists. I’ve heard that she’s considering a change of style, given her recent work with Reba McIntyre, to a more country sound. I’m all behind that, because I think Kelly’s taken the rock thing about as far as it can go. It would be nice to see her explore other genres and I think she has the talent and personality to do it.

Here’s the video, complete with idiot white knight who hasn’t got the wit to go out and buy a chainsaw for those thorny briars. If you wanted her that badly, you’d find a way mate!

Yes, possessed by the ghost of Alanis herself, Kelly launches another anti-male missile. Yes, very much in the same vein as You Oughta Know, as the opening line will attest:

I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green
I hope when you’re in bed with her, you think of me

The video for Never Again is tied pretty closely to the song, and features an apparently psychotic Kelly stalking the lover who jilted her. In his car. At the airport. In the toilet.

The beauty of it all is that Kelly is brutally brilliant in the video, and her singing is just as aggressive on the track. It’s a great track, destined to be a big hit among the teen set, who want to hate guys but feel inexplicably drawn to them at the same time. Ah, the joys of hormones…..

A great rock tune from Ms Clarkson. I’m genuinely sad that things aren’t going her way at the moment. Hopefully the first American Idol will be back at full strength again soon.

Never Again is from Kelly Clarkson’s new album My December.