Dark Side

"Dark Side" is the third single from Kelly Clarkson's fifth studio album Stronger, notable for being the song that helped Kelly tie the record for most number one hits on Jessica's Top 40, a record held by Madonna since the chart's 2003 debut and tied again by Lita Ford later in 2012.

Impressed by the songs on Kelly Clarkson's Stronger album, Kelly returned to core artist territory on my chart - and then some - as one of my favorite songs from the album, second single "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)", became her biggest hit on my chart by far. But that wasn't my favorite song on the album - the third single was.

While "Stronger" continued to dominate the airwaves, Kelly said in an interview with New York pop station Z100 that "Dark Side" would likely be a single from the album, and confirmed its release during a tour stop in Canada. The song, like her previous single, blends pop rock and dance-pop and contains uptempo beats in its choruses, but differs in its use of music box melodies in its sound. Lyrically, the song is about finding acceptance in someone's flaws.

The song was widely praised by critics for Kelly's vocal performance, as well as its similarities to her obscure 2007 album My December, which was a personal favorite of mine although it was considered a commercial flop. In my track-by-track review of the Stronger album posted to M4B Charts Central and Pulse Music Board, I said "Dark Side" was my favorite song on the album, adding the Stronger and My December albums are my favorite of Kelly's albums.

My strong support for "Dark Side" showed as it impacted on my chart immediately after Kelly confirmed the single release. Solely based on my love for the song, "Dark Side" debuted well ahead of its impending release to radio, entering at #27 the first week of March 2012. The following week it jumped straight into the top 5, becoming the biggest jumper in the top 40 since Rihanna's "Rehab" in October 2008. "Dark Side" spent one week at #1 on the last week of March, becoming Kelly's eighth chart topper and tying Madonna's record for most #1 hits. Due to my love for the song and its planned single release, its success on JT40 didn't end with its quick rise to #1.