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Written by Mitch Allan, Kara DioGuardi, Jason Evigan and Audra Mae

Produced by Greg Kurstin

Released January 2015 by RCA

Pros

• Kicks off with strong, pleasing vocals
• Uptempo rocking beat similar to past Kelly Clarkson hits
• Joyful, happy feeling of being in love

Cons

• Uncovers little new territory for Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson sounds like she is in a good place personally, and that's a very good thing on "Heartbeat Song." The new single, her first non-holiday release since "People Like Us" nearly two years ago, utilizes a driving beat that will remind fans of such past hits as "Since U Been Gone" and "My Life Would Suck Without You." However, it moves into contemporary territory when the beat drops in dubstep fashion on the chorus.

Working once again with Greg Kurstin, who produced the #1 smash "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson sings with the authority of one of the best voices in pop music. She knows her way around a soaring note, but it is her sense of control that makes "Heartbeat Song" such a pleasure for listening. The songwriting team here are among the best in the pop business. Mitch Allan recently worked on Fifth Harmony's debut "Miss Movin' On." Audra Mae is a rising songwriter and artist who worked recently with Avicii. Jason Evigan is coming off major success with Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty" and Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack," while Kara DioGuardi has a lengthy list of songwriting successes that date back over a decade.

Since the recording of her last non-holiday studio album Stronger, Kelly Clarkson has become a wife and a mother. This new place in life is celebrated in the lyrics of "Heartbeat Song." The words hit a peak moment with the lines, "Your hands on my hips, and my kiss on your lips." There is an aura of pure joy in life that comes through loud and clear in the recording.

Musically, "Heartbeat Song" is squarely in the pop arena. However, Kelly Clarkson's voice still maintains an edge that owes a debt to rock vocalists of the past.  The new record covers a lot of bases, and it would sound great remixed for the dance club.

"Heartbeat Song" is the first single from the upcoming Piece By Piece album. It is Kelly Clarkson's seventh studio collection. She began work on the new album back in early 2014 while pregnant with her first child.

Kelly Clarkson has been one of the most consistent hitmakers in pop music since she debuted on the charts back in 2002 with "A Moment Like This," her American Idol coronation song. She has followed that with nine more top 10 pop hits. Among those are the #1 smashes "My Life Would Suck Without You," and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)." In addition all of her studio albums have reached the top 3 on the album chart including the Christmas collection Wrapped In Red. Kelly Clarkson has also been acclaimed as possessing one of the most outstanding singing voices in contemporary pop music. She has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and twice won for Best Pop Vocal Album.

This all goes to say that Kelly Clarkson will have an eager audience waiting for "Heartbeat Song." It should be a no-brainer for pop radio programmers and easily translate into the artist's 11th top 10 pop hit.