USA – In the middle of a pandemic, Kelly Clarkson dares you to love, to care and to let others know what — and who — you value most. That’s the central theme in her latest single, “I Dare You,” which dropped Thursday. The music video debuted during Clarkson’s syndicated talk show, airing on stations across the country.
On NBC’s “Today,” Clarkson said the song was in the works for more than a year, well before COVID-19 essentially shut the world down. The message, though, is perhaps more relevant than ever.
The lyrics, like most of Clarkson’s songs, are positive and uplifting: “You may not have a stage, but you still have a voice // You may not have the strength but if you have a choice, I dare you to love // Oh … I dare you to love // Even if you’re hurt and you can only see the worst // Even if you think it’s not enough // Oh … I dare you to love.”
In addition to English, “I Dare You” was recorded in five languages, with duet partners that include Zaz (French), Faouzia (Arabic), Blas Cantó (Spanish 2020 Eurovision representative), Glasperlenspiel (German) and Maya Buskila (2019 Israeli shortlisted for Eurovision).
“This is my favourite/hardest project that I’ve ever worked on” Clarkson said in a press release. “It has always been a dream of mine, as I grew up singing in different languages, to find that perfect song, with the perfect message, to connect us all globally and then record that song with several other artists around the world in their native languages.”
While Clarkson says she initially considered delaying the song’s release, something a number of artists have done in recent weeks due to the coronavirus, she ultimately opted to move ahead.
“We have put a lot of work into this as a team and decided to continue with our release date of this project because we feel like we all couldn’t be more connected right now across the world, and maybe this message will bring a little hope in this sometimes dark, and isolating time,” she said.
In addition to her latest single and her talk show, Clarkson is keeping busy, with a role on NBC’s “The Voice,” plans to host the Billboard Music Awards (which were postponed to a yet-to-be-announced date) and a recently announced Las Vegas residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
