I am of the belief that every talk show should have a karaoke segment.
Thankfully, Kelly Clarkson’s NBC talk show “The Kelly Clarkson Show” has a karaoke segment.
It’s called Kellyoke! Which only makes sense because Clarkson is a three-time Grammy winner after all.
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One of Clarkson’s latest karaoke renditions was a version of one of ABBA’s signature songs.
But this is a version of “Dancing Queen” that you’ve never heard.
The Europop song was released as a single ahead of ABBA’s fourth studio album Arrival.
It became ABBA’s only number one hit in the U.S. ABBA members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson wrote the song, which is said to be the “world’s Europop disco hit.”
“ABBA recorded this about a year before it was released. It was written and recorded around the same time as ‘Fernando,’ which was chosen as the single. They knew ‘Dancing Queen’ would also be a hit, so they held it until the album was released before issuing it as a single,” writes SongFacts.
Apparently, Queen Elizabeth puts on her dancing shoes when the song comes on.
“I always try to dance when this song comes on because I am the Queen and I like to dance,” she is reported to have said.
Chris Stein of Blondie says his band’s 1979 hit “Dreaming” is “pretty much a cop” of “Dancing Queen.”
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Clarkson’s version of the song isn’t as “fun” as the original.
But if you’re going to redo a great song you either have to do it better or different.
So, Clarkson did her version differently. Instead, of being an upbeat dance anthem Clarkson decides to sing it in a rather solemn fashion.
But some say that the meaning behind the original song isn’t as upbeat as one might think.
Vice reports that “Dancing Queen” is actually a sad song about a woman who the narrator believes is past her prime and no longer “sweet and 17.”
But that’s just Vice. Tim Jonze wrote in the Guardian that: “Dancing Queen is beautifully produced: catchy and euphoric, the perfect backdrop for a song that encapsulates the carefree bliss of youth.”
Apparently, Clarkson didn’t see the “pure joy” in the song and perceived it in a heavier tone. Clarkson’s version is slower with an exaggerated solemnity that Clarkson’s audience appreciated.
Clarkson sang while her musical director Jason Halbert played on piano. A video of the beautiful performance was posted on YouTube where it has been viewed over 552,000 times so far.
“Kelly’s ability to emote through her live performances just continues to prove how she’s one of the best singers of the generation!” said one commenter.
“I can actually hear all the words when she sings, which is unusual nowadays. She is such a ‘singing queen.’ One of the best no doubt,” said another.
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“I would give anything to have a full version of this song sung by Kelly. It’s absolute perfection and brings new life to an older song,” and another.
Watch the video below to see Kelly’s haunting performance of “Dancing Queen!”
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