Love So Soft

"Love So Soft" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson, from her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life (2017). Accompanied by another track "Move You", it was released on September 7, 2017, by Atlantic Records as the lead single from the album. It was produced by Jesse Shatkin, who co-wrote the song with Maureen "Mozella" McDonald and Priscilla Renea. A brassy soul-trap R&B anthem, it was promulgated by Atlantic as her introductory record in the soul music genre. Lyrically, it is about wanting to get closer to someone, after challenging him to give respect and protection before giving him a love that is described as "so soft" in return.

"Love So Soft"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
from the album Meaning of Life
B-side"Move You"
ReleasedSeptember 7, 2017 (2017-09-07)
Recorded2017
StudioGlenwood Place Studios
(Burbank, California)
Genre
Length2:52
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jesse Shatkin
Kelly Clarkson singles chronology
"Softly and Tenderly"
(2016)		 "Love So Soft"
(2017)		 "Christmas Eve"
(2017)
Music video
"Love So Soft" on YouTube

Upon its release, "Love So Soft" has received a positive response from music pundits, some of whom praised Clarkson's vocal performance. Modestly successful in the charts, it charted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became her sixth song to reach the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and gold by Music Canada. It also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at its 60th annual presentation.

Produced by Nathan Scherrer and directed by Dave Meyers, the accompanying music video for "Love So Soft" features Clarkson singing the track in various settings of how love can come across, from explosive and defiant, to bold, sexy & sassy. She has also performed the song in multitude of televised live events to promote the release of Meaning of Life, and was included in the set list of her Meaning of Life concert tour.

Composition

"Love So Soft" was produced by Jesse Shatkin, whom Clarkson had previously collaborated on her studio albums Stronger and Piece by Piece. He co-wrote the song with Maureen "Mozella" McDonald and Priscilla Renea, both of whom also contributed to its vocal production.[2] A soul-trap R&B anthem,[3][1][4] the song sings about wanting to get closer to someone, after challenging him to give respect and protection before giving him a love that is described as "so soft" in return.[5] To emulate a soulful sound that gives tribute to classic R&B while still sounding contemporary, Atlantic Records Chairman Craig Kallman commissioned several members of the American soul band Earth, Wind & Fire, led by Verdine White and Gary Bias, to perform in the song's recording.[4][6]

Several music critics observed its music as a departure from Clarkson's previous releases.[7][1][8] Hugh McIntyre of Forbes described the song's trap verses as "odd" on its own, but is complementary harmonized "when the horns kick in and bring the soul the song needed".[1] Idolator's Mike Wass musically described it as "simultaneously of another era (the '1990s) and quintessentially 2017".[9]

Release and reception
Clarkson performing "Love So Soft" at the 2017 Invictus Games closing ceremony.[10]

"Love So Soft" was first released by Atlantic on September 7, 2017, on digital and streaming music platforms as the lead single to Meaning of Life, accompanied by another track "Move You" as its B-side.[11][12] The track was then sent to American radio stations from September 11–12, 2017.[13][14] Clarkson also recorded a performance of the song, which, along with a cover version of Prince's Kiss, was exclusively issued as a "Spotify Singles" release on the Spotify music streaming service on November 8, 2017.[15] A 45-rpm 7-inch single pressing was issued with Hallmark on January 30, 2018, as part of their Valentine's Day promotional campaign.[16]

Live performances

Clarkson has performed "Love So Soft" in a multitude of televised live events to promote the release of Meaning of Life. On September 8, 2017, a day after its release date, she debuted the song on The Today Show. She has also performed it on the television programs America's Got Talent, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, 'The Graham Norton Show, and The Voice of Germany; and during the broadcast of the festivities of the 2017 We Day and the 2017 Invictus Games.[10] At the live broadcast of the 2017 American Music Awards, she performed the song in a medley with her previous single "Miss Independent" (2003).[17] Clarkson also played a selection of the track in her guest appearance during the Carpool Karaoke segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden.[18] Throughout the first half of 2019, she included the song in her set-list of her Meaning of Life Tour.[19]

Critical response

"Love So Soft" has received a positive response from music critics, some of whom praised Clarkson's vocal performance in the song. Time correspondent Raisa Bruner wrote that the song "works as a nice showpiece for Clarkson's voice",[20] while Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein described it as brassy, and along with "Move You", as galvanic.[21] Writing for NPR, Karen Gwee observed that Clarkson's performance on the chorus is more chanted than belted, but nevertheless praised her voice which pulls the track out of the "ubiquitous-anonymous, grocery aisle territory", and remarked that only a few others have her "easy confidence and her vocal ability" to flaunt fully on the bridge and final chorus.[8] In his report for Idolator, Wass compared the song as falling closer to the Back to Basics-era Christina Aguilera in its blend of old and new.[9] Reviewing for 'Forbes, McIntyre has initially expressed reservation for Clarkson venturing into trap territory, but remarked that the worry will be only momentary, as its horns aid to bring the soul the song needed.[1] Describing it as musical follow-up to Duffy's "Mercy" (2008), he also noticed that the song didn't have the immediate punch her previous lead singles "Since U Been Gone" and "My Life Would Suck Without You" did, but wrote that that appears to be the point—which is to present an older, wiser, and more experienced Clarkson.[1] Following its release, "Love So Soft" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 60th Annual ceremony.[22]

Chart performance

"Love So Soft" became a moderate hit in the United States, where it debuted at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending September 29, 2017,[23] and peaked at number 47 following the album's release on the week ending November 18, 2017.[24] It also became her sixth song to reach the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[25] In addition, "Love So Soft" attained a top ten position on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and has reached the top forty of the Billboard Adult Contemporary, Dance/Mix Show Airplay, and Mainstream Top 40 charts.[26] In 2019, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[27] Internationally, "Love So Soft" charted inside the top 100 of the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart, ARIA Singles Chart, and the Official UK Singles Chart.[28] In 2018, it was certified gold by Music Canada.[29]

Music video
Behind-the-scenes animation of making the music video "Love So Soft", In this scene, Clarkson and her backup singers, clad in green garments, are filmed using green screen and motion control photography, which were layered together using digital visual effects.[30] The final composite shots were then included in the final edit of the music video.[30] Various music critics have praised the use of visual effects to complement Clarkson's performance of the track.[8][9][20][31]

The accompanying music video for "Love So Soft" was released on the same day as the single.[8] Produced by Nathan Scherrer, it was filmed by Dave Meyers, who had previously directed Clarkson's previous music video for "Breakaway" (2004).[32] The video presents Clarkson and her background vocalists performing the track in various settings, including a whitened Southern cornfield and a mountaintop luxury abode.[33] Featuring special visual effects made by Timber VFX, its scenes depict Clarkson at different themes of how love can come across — from explosive and defiant, to bold, sexy & sassy.[31] Some of those setups involve a rotating body with the faces of Clarkson and her backup singers, another shows her singing in an exploding room, and ends with her singing in a field as a flock of yellow birds form a "murmuration" around her.[31]

Meyers originally intended the video to filmed on a single stage accompanied with a little piece of white shrubbery. Midway through its production, Timber extended the scene's settings to feature various setups, which required to be filmed using motion control and in front of a green screen. Though the main camera used for the shoot was a Red Digital Cinema at 90 frames per second (fps), its cutaway scenes were filmed using a Phantom camera at 25,000 fps, requiring Clarkson to record her scenes singing in limited portions and at double speed to aid in synchronizing to the audio track. This resulted to what Post magazine described as a "whimsical exposition of Clarkson in various settings, synchronized with the soulful, jazzy notion of the song".[30] Several music pundits praised the video as successful showpiece to the track, with some noting its '90s influence and its "psychedelic" visual effects.[8][9][20]

Track listing

Personnel

Credits lifted from master recording metadata.[2]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[62] Gold 40,000
United States (RIAA)[63] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
List of releases of "Love So Soft"
Region Date Format Version Label Catalog number Ref.
Various September 7, 2017 Digital download Meaning of Life pre-order Atlantic USAT21703569 [11][12]
Streaming Single [34]
United States September 11, 2017 Adult contemporary radio
  • Atlantic
  • RRP
 N/A [13]
September 12, 2017 Contemporary hit radio [14]
Various October 6, 2017 Streaming Cash Cash Remix Atlantic USAT21704062 [35]
Ryan Riback Remix USAT21704064 [36]
October 25, 2017 Mark Knight & Ben Remember Remix USAT21705003 [37]
Cedric Gervais Remix USAT21704703 [39]
Mr. Collipark Remix USAT21704748 [40]
Dave Audé Remix USAT21704704 [38]
Italy October 27, 2017 Contemporary hit radio Single Warner Music N/A [64]
Various November 8, 2017 Streaming Spotify Singles Atlantic USAT21704705 [15]
January 30, 2018 7" single Hallmark Vinyl Record Card
OPSV-9011 [16][41][65]

See also
  • List of Billboard number-one dance singles of 2017

References
  1. McIntyre, Hugh (September 7, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Reappears With A Pair Of New Singles, 'Love So Soft' And 'Move You'". Forbes. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  2. Love So Soft (metadata). Kelly Clarkson. Atlantic Records/WEA International. 2017. USAT21703569.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Cook-Wilson, Winston (September 7, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Releases Singles "Love So Soft" and "Move You", Announces New Album Meaning of Life". Spin. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  4. Feeney, Nolan (September 15, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Is (Still!) Our Idol In EW's Fall Music Preview". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. (1481). ISSN 1049-0434. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  5. Reuter, Annie (September 7, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson's 'Love So Soft' isn't Country, but it is a Jam". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  6. Johnston, Maura (October 26, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson: 'I Am a Whole Lot of Woman, and That's OK'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  7. Whitaker, Alexandra (September 7, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson's 2 New Songs Are a Total Departure from Her Usual Music". InStyle. Meredith. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  8. Gwee, Karen (September 7, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Returns With 'Love So Soft'". NPR. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  9. Wass, Mike (September 7, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Reinvents Herself With "Love So Soft" & "Move You"". Idolator. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  10. Citations concerning televised performances of "Love So Soft" for:
  11. "Grammy-winning Superstar Kelly Clarkson reveals highly anticipated new album – Meaning of Life" (Press release). Australia: Warner Music Group. September 7, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  12. "New Music Friday: Kelly Clarkson, Kevin Gates, Charlotte Cardin, & more!". Atlantic Records. September 7, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  13. "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  14. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  15. "Spotify Singles by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. November 8, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  16. "Hallmark Introduces New Vinyl Record Greeting Cards This Valentine's Day Featuring Legendary Warner Music Group Artists" (Press release). Kansas: Hallmark. January 30, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  17. Havens, Lindsey (November 19, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Soars Through 'Miss Independent,' 'Love So Soft' at the 2017 AMAs". Billboard. Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Group. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  18. Blistein, Jon (November 30, 2017). "'Carpool Karaoke': See Kelly Clarkson Belt Hits, Rekindle Romance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  19. Quinn, Dave (January 25, 2019). "Kelly Clarkson Kicks Off First Tour in 3 Years with Acoustic 'A Moment Like This' Performance". People. Meredith. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
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  25. Murray, Gordon (November 9, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson's 'Love So Soft' Hits No. 1 on Dance Club Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  26. Citations concerning Billboard chart entries of "Love So Soft":
    • Billboard Adult Top 40: "Adult Top 40". Billboard. December 23, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
    • Billboard Adult Contemporary: "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. January 6, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
    • Billboard Dance Mix/Show Airplay: "Dance Mix/Show Airplay". Billboard. November 25, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
    • Billboard Mainstream Top 40: "Mainstream Top 40". Billboard. November 25, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
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  28. Citations concerning international chart entries of "Love So Soft":
  29. "Canadian single certifications – Kelly Clarkson – Love So Soft". Music Canada. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  30. "Timber Unravels World of Fantasy for New Kelly Clarkson Music Video". Post. COP Communications. 32 (10): 6. October 2017. ISSN 0891-5628. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
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  35. "Love So Soft (Cash Cash Remix) by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. October 6, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  36. "Love So Soft (Ryan Riback Remix) by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. October 6, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  37. "Love So Soft (Mark Knight & Ben Remember Remix) by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  38. "Love So Soft (Dave Audé Remix) by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  39. "Love So Soft (Cedric Gervais Remix) by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  40. "Love So Soft (Mr. Collipark Remix) by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  41. "Hallmark Valentine's Day Card with vinyl record Kelly Clarkson (Real 45 Record plays Love So Soft and Meaning of Life)". Canada: Amazon.com. January 30, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
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  48. "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  49. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
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  55. "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  56. "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
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  59. "Top 20 Anglo Venezuela" (in Spanish). Record Report. October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
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  63. "American single certifications – Kelly Clarkson – Love So Soft". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 14, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  64. "Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft Radio Date". Italy: Airplay Control. October 27, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  65. "Kelly Clarkson Love So Soft Hallmark Valentine's Day Card". 45cat - Vinyl Database. January 30, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
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