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Chelsea Pannell

Professor Flores

ENG.1201.R05

13 October 2020

Since U Been Gone: A Comparison

In 2004, Kelly Clarkson released the song “Since U Been Gone.” This song became a hit quickly,

the ultimate breakup song. Around this time many alternative bands were beginning to emerge as well.

Once more established, one of those indie/alternative bands named A Day To Remember released their

version of “Since U Been Gone”. Both artists also released music videos to accompany their renditions of

the song. A Day To Remembers version of “Since U Been Gone” conveys the same message as Clarkson’s

video perfectly, almost better than the original.

The song “Since U Been Gone” was written by Max Martian, originally with the artist PINK in

mind (O’Keeffe). When Clarkson on the song and heard it for the first time, she didn’t like it, so she

suggested adding heavy drums and guitar to give it a rock edge. When listening to the audio of the song,

it proves that this was the right decision; during the heavier parts of the song, the drums and guitar add

to the stinging angst of the lyrics. (O’Keeffe). This song solidified Clarkson’s image of a pop icon. And,

Max Martin attributed this song as his comeback (Kailath). Martin and his coproducer made sure to

convey the songs message clearly: bitter heartbreak and retribution (O’Keeffe).

In Clarkson’s video for “Since U Been Gone”, the viewer can clearly see that the main character

has been through a rough heartbreak lining up with the lyrics of the song. The video begins by showing

her alone in an apartment, going through things in the bathroom and throwing them out behind her.

During this scene, Kelly is singing about how her ex put in the effort and time to be with her in the
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beginning but failed to continue these actions throughout the course of their relationship. The chorus

comes in with her singing to a crowded room of people, about how she has never felt better. She uses

the lyrics “I can breathe for the first time” illustrating how relieved she is to not be in a seemingly bad

relationship any longer. The video then shows Kelly going into the closet of the apartment and damaging

female clothing. In this moment it is clear to the viewer that this is not her apartment, she would not

destroy her own clothes. During this part of the video she says “how come I never hear you say, I just

want to be with you” showing the audience that she didn’t get treated well within her relationship.

Throughout the video Clarkson gets progressively more destructive to the apartment. Later it’s shown

that her ex is with someone else, at this point it’s safe for the audience to assume that he moved on

quickly kicking off Clarkson’s devastating reaction. Nearing the end of the song Clarkson starts throwing

items and ripping up fabric in the apartment, all the while singing that she is doing better now that she

has moved on. The destruction is a clear metaphor of how moving on can be revenge in itself. The song

ends with the chorus, talking about how she has never been happier and she gets what she wants now,

showing Clarkson walking out of the now destroyed apartment with a gratified smile on her face while

her ex and his significant other are walking in.

Kelly Clarkson’s video uses pathos rhetoric to get the viewer to feel what she is feeling. Pathos

symbolism can be seen clearly when Kelly is ripping up all the pillows in the apartment as well as

dancing around smashing things. Clarkson’s version is geared toward the dating population, typically in

their 20’s or 30’s.

When A Day To Remember released their version of “Since U Been Gone”, they changed nothing

of the song. They mirrored these actions with their music video for the song, which still fit perfectly with

the lyrics. The videos are eerily similar in nature, as in they’re almost the exact same videos. However

instead of Clarkson being the main character of the video is McKinnon, the lead singer of A Day To
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Remember. The video shows a large difference to Clarkson’s version, the entire band is with him, the

whole time. With that in consideration, the band adds a whole level of humor to the situation. The

viewer is still reminded of similar life experiences in life with the version of the video, however it adds

an extra layer, friends. The friends who most people have, those who are around in times of need.

During the second verse, McKinnon and his friends are in his ex’s closet trying on her clothes. This verse

is particularly powerful because McKinnon incorporates the genre Screamo into the song by screaming

most of the verse, in the video the audience see’s McKinnon screaming adding extra emotion to the

overall tone of the song (Devotta).

A Day To Remember also uploaded a video in relation to their music video called “The Making of

– ‘Since U Been Gone’”, in this video the viewer can see how much fun the band had while shooting.

There is a scene in the middle of the music video where the lead singer is sitting in the closet looking at

clothes around, while his bandmates are trying on his ex’s clothes with him to be funny. In the making

of this video it details that they had a good time filming this scene and that they often played pranks on

one another during the shoot. Viewers are left with a similar feeling to the original video at the end,

however with the more comedic approach that A Day To Remember it adds a touch of lightheartedness

mixed with real anger. In A Day To Remembers version, they also use pathos in two ways to grip their

audience. A Day To Remember used pathos when screaming certain lyrics to convey a message of pain

and anger, they also used pathos to convey humor through McKinnon’s bandmates always being by his

side trying to get him to smile. With the addition of humor in the video, it spices things up for the band

and overall feel of the song. This shows that it may be geared toward a younger audience, rather than

peoples in their 20’s and 30’s.

Both versions of this song are timeless in their own ways. They are the exact same song in

almost every way, however there are different feels to both versions. It’s also obvious that each version
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was attempting to reach different audiences within the same generation, nonetheless both artists are

trying to reach younger generations. Clarkson’s version conveyed a message of heartbreak and the

release of moving on. And, A Day To Remembers version is just that, with a little extra anger added. The

added anger in A Day To Remembers rendition, matching the actions of the band in the video pushes

their version above and beyond.

Works Cited

A Day To Remember. (2011 September 30). A Day To Remember – Since U Been Gone (Official Video).

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy4Uq86QbaE.

A Day To Remember. (2011 November 7). A Day To Remember – The Making of “Since U Been Gone”.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k-HI-05hG0.

Clarkson, K. [Kelly Clarkson]. Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone (VIDEO). YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrFYvl5TE.

Devotta, Sam. “(Un)Covered: Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson vs. A Day To Remember.” Idobi, 28 Sept.

2016. https://idobi.com/editorial/uncovered-since-u-been-gone/. Accessed 14 October 2020.

Kailath, R. (2014 December 2). Anatomy Of A Hit: Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’. NPR.

https://www.npr.org/2014/12/02/368013489/anatomy-of-a-hit-kelly-clarksons-since-u-been-

gone

O’Keeffe, Kevin. “Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone': The Best Pop Song in 10 Years.” The Atlantic, 4

Dec. 2014, https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/since-u-been-gone-is-

still-the-best-pop-song-of-the-decade/383263/. Accessed 14 October 2020.