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Get ready to belt along with the queen of covers! Join us as we celebrate Kelly Clarkson's most show-stopping performances from her beloved talk show segment "Kellyoke." From heart-wrenching ballads to powerhouse anthems, the original American Idol transforms every song into pure magic with her incredible vocal range and emotional delivery.
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00:00We had to sing a cry like the back of my head, but I just miss you and I just wish you were a better man.
00:09Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most unforgettable times the OG American Idol covered popular songs.
00:18She delivered these iconic performances on her talk show segment Kelly Oki and we just can't get enough.
00:30So call out my name when I kiss you so gently.
00:37Number 20. ABCDEFU by Gail.
00:41Get you and your friends that I'll never see again. Everybody but your dog, you can all get lost.
00:49This Grammy nominated song is a cathartic breakup anthem that ruled social media and the charts alike.
00:55Gail's pointed lyrics, raspy voice and subtly breathy delivery went viral.
01:01However, when Kelly covered it on Kelly Oki, it took on a different dimension.
01:06Her version is more mature and her clear vocals add a deliberate power to the track.
01:11As the chorus hits, she takes the song to a jaw-dropping crescendo and she does it all effortlessly.
01:16Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
01:20A B C T E forget she
01:24Fans have summarized that the songbird changed some lyrics to throw shade at her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
01:31Whether it's true or not, Kelly's performance was deeply passionate.
01:34Forget you and your friends that I'll never see again.
01:39Everybody but your dog, you can all get lost.
01:43Number 19. Survivor by Destiny's Child.
01:46Ever since this song came out in the aughts, it has had a chokehold on pop culture.
01:57Destiny's Child proudly sings of empowerment, and we feel it in our bones.
02:02Clarkson takes the legendary song and gives it a rock edge.
02:06Backed by two amazing supporting vocalists, she lets her soaring voice take center stage.
02:16Her expressions are on point, she looks as confident as an empress in her white dress, and she embodies the lyrics with genuine conviction.
02:28The cherry on the cake is her explosive ad-libbing. You won't be able to stop replaying this.
02:33I'm not gonna stop, I'm gonna work harder, I'm a survivor. I'm gonna make it, I will survive. Keep on surviving.
02:43Number 18. My Love Mine, All Mine by Mitski.
02:47Moon, a hole of light, through the bitter tints up high.
02:55No sad girl playlist is complete without this melancholic bop.
02:59Mitski has won hearts worldwide with her unique sonic identity.
03:04Her haunting vocals in My Love, All Mine have made us cry on many a sleepless night.
03:09Not everyone can do justice to its tenderness, unless you're Kelly Clarkson, that is.
03:14When she covered the viral hit on Kelly Oki, she didn't try to replicate the original.
03:19Instead, she made it her own.
03:21Nothing in the world belongs to me, but my love, mine, oh, mine, oh, mine.
03:31In place of Mitski's languid restraint was Kelly's ache-filled warmth and raw emotion.
03:38The masterstroke was singing the chorus at a higher pitch, almost as if it were now a power ballad.
03:43This cover has officially moved into our brains rent-free, and we have no plans of evicting it.
03:49Mine, oh, mine, oh, mine.
04:00Number 17.
04:01I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers.
04:03Hey, I hear the voice of a teacher from the back room
04:07Callin' my name and I follow just to find you
04:09It's an anthem of unflinching hope, and it went platinum in the US when it was released.
04:14Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff wrote the lyrics from his own experience with mental health issues,
04:21and it resonated with listeners all over the world.
04:24The high-octane alt-rock energy of the track adds to its appeal.
04:28However, Kelly Clarkson transformed it into a triumphant power-pop celebration.
04:33She served main character energy in the best way, and it swept us off our feet.
04:38Hey, I wanna get better.
04:39If the Bleachers version is what you listen to when you, well, wanna get better,
04:51the Kelly Oakey version is what you can jam out to when you've made it through the dark.
04:55I wanna get better.
04:57I wanna get better.
04:58I wanna get better.
05:00I wanna get better.
05:02Number 16.
05:05Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
05:07One of Mother Monster's signature dance pop songs became a rock and roll masterpiece on Kelly Oakey.
05:21The voice coach unleashed a powerful husky vocal tone as she belted like nobody's business.
05:27The vibe was immaculate, the audience was hyped, and Kelly was in her zone.
05:32Her riffs and runs were not only flawless, which they always are, but also took the song to a whole new level, giving us goosebumps.
05:40I want your leather kisses starting to say, and I want your love, love, love, love, I want your love.
05:50The only thing wrong with this cover was how criminally short it was.
05:54Still, anyone who got to witness this performance live is unbelievably lucky, to say the least.
06:00I want your own man.
06:02I want your own man.
06:07Number 15, Falling by Harry Styles.
06:10I'm in my bed, and you're not here.
06:17The One Direction star brought fans to their knees with this beautifully tragic song.
06:22From the lyrics to the weeping piano, and of course, Styles' tormented vocals, Falling struck a chord with listeners.
06:28For Kelly Oakey, our resident songbird started off delicately, with a soft vibrato on the most heartbreaking words.
06:35There's a resignation in her voice that tugs at our heartstrings until she rings the chorus in with a liberating belt.
06:42The high note she then blesses our ears with is divine enough to touch the soul.
06:55Contrary to the gentle beginning of the cover, Kelly closes out with a rock flourish, flooring us.
07:01Number 14, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes.
07:13As one of the most recognizable rock records of the 2000s, this song has been covered by countless artists.
07:28Ranking each version would require a list of its own.
07:31However, one thing is for certain.
07:33When it comes to impact, Kelly Clarkson is second to none.
07:37The American Song Contest hostess brought the University of Southern California Trojan marching band on stage for her Kelly Oakey cover of Seven Nation Army.
07:48Boasting lush vocals, textured with falsettos and belts, she commands the stage like a queen.
07:54Rapping for the Lord
07:56All the words are gonna bleed from me
08:01And I will sing no more
08:04This is Kelly in her element, and we can't help but bow to her greatness.
08:20Number 13, Dream On by Aerosmith
08:23It is fascinating that a song over half a century old can still unite music lovers of all ages in a roaring sing-along.
08:43In Dream On, Aerosmith laments the inevitable passage of time, and yet it is one of the most timeless pieces of music in history.
08:51Kelly covers it with neither the grit nor the theatricality of Steven Tyler.
08:56She gives it her own touch.
08:58The first verse in her rendition is sung with understated sensuousness.
09:02However, the smolder grows steadily until the songstress launches into some of the most glass-shattering high notes for the final bridge.
09:10Dream On, Dream On, Dream On, Dream On, Aerosmith!
09:18What is even more impressive is how long she goes for the last note, showcasing her formidable vocal range.
09:34Number 12, The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
09:37This emo pop gem has soothed many weary hearts on gloomy days, so naturally there's undeniable nostalgia associated with it now.
09:55Kel Bell picked it up for Kelly Oakey and somehow made it even more emotional than it already was.
10:01Her band, Jarl, is extraordinary in this track, with a stellar guitar solo that will have you strumming imaginary strings in the air.
10:09Fun fact, Kelly is actually a Jimmy Eat World fan.
10:23The band even has a songwriting credit for her record Heartbeat Song, whose chords sound a lot like the middle.
10:29Critics initially suspected the similarity might be a plagiarism issue, but she denied the allegation.
10:35Either way, both songs are fan favorites.
10:38Little girl in the middle of her eye
10:41Everything, everything will be just fine
10:44Everything, everything will be for her
10:47Number 11, Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead
10:51A crack polystyrene man
10:56Few songs can pierce a thousand holes into our hearts like this one.
11:01Radiohead's iconic song, Fake Plastic Trees, is famous for its wistful tone and pained vocals.
11:07However, Kelly Oakey wouldn't be the wondrous feat it is if the woman of the hour didn't put her own spin on the original.
11:14She takes the pop route for her cover, opting for a more full-bodied, resolute delivery than Tom York's.
11:21There's courage and strength in her falsettos, not fragility.
11:36Eva, the powerhouse vocalist, she belts out the final verse before signing off with the forlorn chorus.
11:42This version is vastly different from the classic rock hymn, but it's hers, and fans loved it so much that she released a studio version for her Kelly Oakey EP.
11:52Number 10, She Used to Be Mine by Sara Bareilles
12:06Fans of The Waitress Musical know just how heart-wrenching She Used to Be Mine is.
12:11But even if you're not familiar with it, it doesn't take long for its deep power to become evident.
12:23Clarkson channels all the meaning it holds in her cover, bringing the story of a woman who's lost herself to life with steady yet emotional vocals.
12:31We're gripped from the second she starts singing and just keeps taking our breath away as the ballad goes on.
12:37What used to be mine
12:40Of course, the set and dances further add to that.
12:51By the end, we realise we weren't just given a performance, we were given a touching experience.
12:56She's gone, but she used to be mine
13:03Number 9, The One That Got Away by Katy Perry
13:09The acoustic version of Katy Perry's The One That Got Away is one of her most compelling releases.
13:14I would be your girl
13:17We'd keep all our promises
13:22Be us against the world
13:25And in Clarkson's hand, the ballad is even more captivating.
13:30The singer takes her time, letting us really soak up the significance of the lyrics as she immerses herself into the number.
13:46Even if you don't have someone you think of as a lost love, her rendition will make you feel like you do.
13:51That's just how impactful it is. It's not the only amazing Katy Perry cover Clarkson has cooked up.
13:57Louder, louder than a lion
14:00Cause I am a champion
14:03And you're gonna hear me roar
14:07But it has to be our favourite, and we're never letting it get away.
14:11The one that got away
14:18Number 8, Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
14:21Remember that rolling in the deep, Kelly O'Keefe?
14:33It's amazing, to put it mildly.
14:36We never expected Clarkson to outdo herself with another Adele cover.
14:40But she's done just that with her magnetic take on Set Fire to the Rain.
14:45But there's a sign to you
14:47That I never knew, never knew
14:49All the things
14:50You'd say
14:51They were never true, never true
14:53The singer embraces the immensity of the power pop ballad in a spectacular fashion, never once letting its production outshine her.
15:01Let's not forget that this is an intense track to tackle, and not just from a technical standpoint.
15:16After all, it contains a lot of raw emotion.
15:18But if there's one thing Clarkson isn't going to shy away from, it's precisely that.
15:23To say she has us mesmerised would be an understatement.
15:36Number 7, Seven Rings by Ariana Grande
15:39Sometimes, a cover comes around that stops you dead in your tracks and leaves you speechless.
15:44Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines, buy myself all of my favourite things.
15:51That's what's happened here.
15:53This performance has everything you could ask for, from stunning vocals to the perfect amount of attitude.
15:58Ariana Grande's Seven Rings is complex and incredibly fast-paced in places.
16:03Big deposits, my gloves is popping
16:06You like my hair, she thinks, just bought it
16:09I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it
16:12Hitting every note, lyric and beat isn't something anybody can do.
16:16Of course, Kelly Clarkson isn't just anybody.
16:19She's a star who knocks the number out of the park.
16:22She's rap singing in one instance and belting the next.
16:35We're out of breath watching her, but it doesn't seem like she's breaking a sweat.
16:39To say we're impressed would be an understatement.
16:51Number 6, You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin
16:56If you've been following Clarkson since her American Idol days, you probably remember the time she performed Aretha Franklin's Natural Woman.
17:03Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like a natural woman.
17:15She absolutely killed it.
17:17So, we were pleasantly surprised to see her sing the tune once more on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
17:22And, well, this cover is giving the older one a serious run for its money.
17:27Before the day I met you, life was so unkind, but you're the key to my peace of mind.
17:38The singer's voice and overall style has obviously matured in the years since her time on the competition series.
17:44That maturity adds something incredibly special on this rendition, infusing it with a rich energy and passion.
17:50Oh, to you, you make me feel so, oh, oh, oh, you make me feel...
17:58There's no need for bells or whistles.
18:00Clarkson's precise, striking vocals are more than enough.
18:03You make me feel like a natural woman.
18:10Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
18:15Number 5.
18:16Nine to Five by Dolly Parton.
18:18Let's go back to the beginning and revisit the very first Kelly Oki Clarkson treated us to.
18:23Tumbled out of bed and I stumbled to the kitchen.
18:25Pour myself a cup of ambition and yarn and stretch and try to come alive.
18:30Part pre-tape segment and part live rendition, this version of Dolly Parton's Nine To Five is one for the books.
18:37She's selling every word and has us in the palm of her hand.
18:49She honestly could have stopped there, but then she wouldn't be Kelly Clarkson.
18:54A few years later, she got part in herself to join her in singing the country pop hit.
19:07Their duet is more fun and fabulous than we could have dreamed, with their iconic sounds working incredibly well together.
19:14There's just something about Clarkson singing Dolly Parton songs that always makes us happy.
19:28Number 4. Strong Enough by Cher
19:31Is there any music icon whose discography Kelly Clarkson can't slay?
19:37We're pretty sure the answer is no.
19:49We'd be remiss not to mention her fierce version of If I Could Turn Back Time, which always knocks our socks off.
19:54If I could turn back time
19:57If I could turn back time
20:02But if we're talking about Clarkson's best Cher cover, we have to go with Strong Enough.
20:09It's as strong as it can be.
20:12Punt very much intended.
20:13Now I'm strong enough
20:15To live without you
20:17Strong enough
20:19I quit crying
20:21Strong enough
20:23Now I'm strong enough
20:24She embodies the disco classic
20:26Starting off with a slow and affecting delivery
20:29Before ramping things up and going all in on the passion
20:32It's impossible not to lose yourself in the spirited showing
20:36We don't think we'd be strong enough to live in a world where this Kelly Oki doesn't exist
20:41Why I hear you say
20:43I'm strong enough
20:45You know
20:46You're gonna go
20:49Number 3
20:51Sisters
20:52By Rosemary Clooney
20:53And Trudy Stephens
20:55Kelly Clarkson is very skilled at bringing numbers from movie musicals to life
21:00Who could forget her take on Hopelessly Devoted to You?
21:04Hopelessly Devoted to You
21:07As outstanding as that was, it's edged out by her cover of Sisters, a tune most people
21:14recognize from White Christmas.
21:17She joined forces with Jessie Collins, the vocal director and a member of the house band
21:22on the talk show, for the duet.
21:23When a certain gentleman arrived from Rome
21:27She wore the dress and I stayed home
21:30All kinds of weather, we stick together
21:34Magnificent doesn't even begin to describe what they accomplish
21:37Everything from the harmonizing to the storytelling
21:40to the way their voices practically become one
21:43has us awestruck
21:44Lord help the mister
21:46Who comes between me and my sister
21:50And don't even get us started on their outfits
21:53which look like they're straight out of the 1954 film
21:56The Kelly Oki transports us to a grand winter wonderland
21:59And we're obsessed
22:01Lord help the sister
22:03Who comes between me and my man
22:06Sister don't come between me and my man
22:10Number 2
22:12Alone by Heart
22:13Originally released by iTen
22:15Alone is a remarkable ballad that has been recorded by several groups and artists
22:19including Heart
22:20It's this band's version that Clarkson seems to be covering
22:30And there aren't enough words to describe the sublime job she does
22:34She sings each lyric with so much feeling that we can't help but want to belt our hearts out alongside her
22:39Not just that she puts her vocal chops on full display showing everyone how supremely talented she is
22:55Not that there was any doubt
22:57Plus she keeps the audience and those of us watching at home totally engaged
23:01Perhaps most importantly she captures the essence of what makes Heart's version magic while still making the tune her own
23:12That's a mark of a first-rate cover and artist
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23:42Number one happier than ever by Billie Eilish
23:47This kelioki set the bar for all those that would come after and will never tire of it
23:53I'm happier than ever
23:57Wish I could explain it better
24:01Clarkson draws us in with her slow evocative delivery at the beginning
24:05We then proceed to get chills all over as she adds in the drama and anger the lyrics demand
24:10Commanding our attention the whole way through
24:22By the time she hits that final note we're completely spellbound
24:26The whole thing is hauntingly beautiful and more than does the Billie Eilish track justice
24:31Our only complaint is that it isn't long enough
24:33Thankfully Clarkson fixed that problem when she gave us a full studio version of the tune on her kelioki EP
24:40When I asked you to be cool about what I was telling you
24:47Excuse us while we go listen to both covers on loop forever
24:51Made all my moments your own
24:55Just leave me alone
25:03Which song do you want Kelly Clarkson to cover next?
25:06Tell us in the comments
25:08Obviously I know there's like that joke of you know once she covers your song like you can never do it again
25:14Cause she outdoes it
25:15Have a nice day
25:16It's honestly
25:17Weird
25:18Weird
25:19Weird
25:20Sounds
25:21Weird
25:22Too
25:23Good
25:24Weird
25:25Weird
25:26Weird
25:27Weird
25:28Weird
25:28Weird
25:30Weird
25:30Weird
25:31Weird
25:31Warm
25:32Weird
25:33Weird
25:33Street
25:34Weird
25:35eman
25:37Weird
25:37colon
25:38ér
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