I Don't Think About You

"I Don't Think About You" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson, from her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life (2017). It was written and produced by the production duo The Monarch, with co-writing by American singer Harlœ and pianist Michael Pollack. The song was issued by Atlantic Records as the album's second single on February 9, 2018.

"I Don't Think About You"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
from the album Meaning of Life
Released	February 9, 2018
Recorded	2017
Length	3:44
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Andre Davidson Sean Davidson Jessica Ashley Karpov Michael Pollack
Producer(s)	The Monarch Michael Pollack (add.)
Kelly Clarkson singles chronology
"Christmas Eve" (2017) "I Don't Think About You" (2018) "Heat" (2018)
Music video
"I Don't Think About You" on YouTube

Composition

"I Don't Think About You" is written by Sean & Andre Davidson of the production duo The Monarch, singer Jessica Ashley (professionally known as Harlœ), and Vanderbilt pianist Michael Pollack.[1][2] Lyrically, the song is about emerging from a failed relationship, and was primarily based on Harlœ's past. Harlœ, who travelled to Nashville, Tennessee in 2016 to collaborate with Clarkson, told her that the song was inspired by a situation in her life where she was old enough to finally realize and conclude that the relationship 'didn't work out, and you're kind of a douche, but thank you for making me a stronger human. Let's just move on. I wish you well, but I wish you not near me.'"[3] Prior to finishing the track, Clarkson had asked Harlœ to pen it like a Whitney-esque ballad to showcase her range, which led to an arrangement emphasizing on her vocals. Music critics also observed that the song's content may also haven alluded to Clarkson's relationship to her former label, RCA Records as wells as her detractors.[4][5]

"I Don't Think About You" features a piano-backed melody performed by Pollack and a key-change towards the end of the song.[6] It also features string arrangements conducted by Paul Buckmaster, and is one of his final studio recordings prior to his death.[7][8] The song is written in the key of A♭ major with a moderately slow tempo, Clarkson's voice spans two octaves from C₄ to C₆.[9]

Critical reception

Glenn Gamboa of Newsday complimentary compared the song to Mariah Carey's debut material and that she showcases her multi-octave range and walks the line between vulnerability and defiance in a way that is as timeless as Carey's debut.[10] Idolator's Mike Nied wrote that the ballad lets her voice soar through some intricate gymnastics on what could be one of her most challenging arrangements, and remarked that "Unsurprisingly, she misses no steps and delivers something truly commendable for both the vocal excellence and personal growth she displays."[11] Ariana Davis of Refinery29 noted that the glass-shattering soprano notes and passion behind each lyric of the song seem to be sending the listener a very clear message: that she is, indeed, proud of the woman she has become.[12]

Live performances

To promote "I Don't Think About You", Clarkson has performed the song live on several television shows. On February 26, 2018, Clarkson performed the song live on Today.[13] On February 28, she performed the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers.[14] She performed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 26, and on the fourteenth season of The Voice on May 7, 2018.

Music video

The accompanying music video premiered on Clarkson's official YouTube on March 20, 2018.[15] In a press release, Clarkson describes the song as "the moment you realize something has no power over you anymore... We all have people and/or situations in life that mold us and sometimes those situations can feel like they're about the break us, but this song is about that morning you wake up and you don't even think about it anymore. It holds no power, no weight in your world, and consumes your thoughts no longer. It's a song about freedom, honestly."[16]

In the video, Clarkson is singing on a platform and there are scenes interspersed of younger versions of Clarkson, as Billboard's Abby Jones describes as, "including a rocky family situation during her childhood, a troubling boyfriend in her teen years and battling management as she entered the early stages of her career."[17]

Track listing

Digital streaming[18]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Don't Think About You"	3:44

Digital streaming – Remixes EP[19]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Don't Think About You" (Luca Schreiner Remix)	3:44
2.	"I Don't Think About You" (Tep No Remix)	3:16
3.	"I Don't Think About You" (Gil Glaze x Lanna Remix)	3:48
4.	"I Don't Think About You" (DJ Lazslo Remix)	3:59

Personnel

Credits from Tidal.[20]

Lead vocals – Kelly Clarkson Background vocals – Nicole Hurst, Bridget Sarai Songwriters – Andre Davidson, Sean Davidson, Jessica Ashley Karpov, Michael Pollack Producers – The Monarch, Additional producer – Michael Pollack Mixing engineer – John Hanes Mastering engineers – Chris Gehringer, Will Quinnell Engineers – Todd Tidwell, Steve Churchyard Cello – Jacob Braun, Erika Duke, Armen Ksajikian, Tim Landauer. Victor Lawrence, Dane Little

Conductor and string arranger – Paul Buckmaster Contractor – Suzie Katayama Drums and drum programmers – Andre Davidson, Sean Davidson Mixer – Serban Ghenea Piano – Michael Pollack Programmers – Andre Davidson, Sean Davidson Viola – Zach Dellinger, Andrew Duckles, Darrin McCann, David Walther Violin – Charlie Bisharat, Mario De Leon, Joel Derouin, Bruce Dukov, Neel Hammond, Gerry Hilera, Songa Lee, Natalie Leggett, Serena McKinney, Lucia Micarelli, Sara Parkins, Michele Richards, Tereza Stanislav, John Wittenberg

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017–18) Peak position Canada AC (Billboard)[21] 31 South Korea BGM (Gaon)[22] 86 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 28 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[24] 14 US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[25] 32

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 42

Release history

List of releases showing region, date, format, record label, catalog number and reference

Region	Date	Format	Label	Catalog number	Ref.
Various	February 9, 2018	Streaming	Atlantic	USAT21703618	[18]
United States	February 26, 2018	Hot adult contemporary radio	Atlantic RRP	N/A	[27]
Various	March 23, 2018	Streaming – Remixes EP	Atlantic	075679874801	[19]

References

1. Smith, Sydney (July 24, 2017). "Rising Singer-Producer Harloe on Upcoming EP, Working as a Female in the Industry". Variance. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
2. Gamboa, Glenn (August 2, 2013). "Michael Pollack, Rosyln pianist who dueted with Billy Joel, has first big gig". Newsday. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
3. Feeney, Nolan (September 13, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson played us her new album, Meaning of Life. Here are 7 songs you'll love". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
4. Wood, Michael (October 26, 2017). "Review: Has Kelly Clarkson found the 'Meaning of Life'?". Los Angeles Times. Tronc. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
5. Bruner, Raisa (October 26, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Delivers Soul and Sass to 'Meaning of Life'". Time. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
6. Davies, Hannah (October 26, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson: Meaning of Life review – a classier soul diva emerges". The Guardian. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
7. Aswad, Jem (November 8, 2017). "Paul Buckmaster, Grammy-Winning Arranger on 'Space Oddity,' 'Tiny Dancer' and More, Dies at 71". Variety. Los Angeles: PMC. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
8. "PAUL BUCKMASTER, 1946-2017". Hits Digital Ventures. November 8, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
9. "Kelly Clarkson "I Don't Think About You: Music Sheet". Kobalt Music Group. 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
10. Gamboa, Glenn (October 25, 2017). "'Meaning of Life' review: Kelly Clarkson's soulful stunner". New York: Newsday. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
11. Nied, Mike (October 27, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson's 'Meaning Of Life:' Album Review". Idolator. Hive Media. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
12. Davis, Ariana (October 27, 2017). "This Simple Advice From Kelly Clarkson Will Blow Your Mind". Refinery29. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
13. "See Kelly Clarkson perform 'I Don't Think About You' live on TODAY". TODAY.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
14. "Watch: Kelly Clarkson performs new single on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'". axs. 2018-02-28. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
15. "Kelly Clarkson Debuts Powerful 'I Don't Think About You' Music Video – Watch Now!". Celebrities Report. 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
16. "KELLY CLARKSON PREMIERES STUNNING NEW VIDEO FOR "I DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU" -". ventsmagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
17. "Kelly Clarkson Sings Away Her Past Hardships in Evocative 'I Don't Think About You' Video". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
18. "Kelly Clarkson – I Don't Think About You". Spotify. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
19. "Kelly Clarkson – I Don't Think About You (Remixes)". Spotify. March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
20. "Meaning of Life by Kelly Clarkson". Tidal. October 27, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
21. "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
22. "2018년 17주차 BGM Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. April 28, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
23. "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
24. "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
25. "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
26. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
27. "Hot/Modern/AC: Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.