The Trouble with Love Is

"The Trouble with Love Is" was written by Kelly Clarkson with its producers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. Sturken was also responsible for drum programming and keyboards, while Rogers provided background vocals with Cindy Mizelle. The song was recorded at four different studios: The Hit Factory, New York City; The Record Plant, Los Angeles; The Enterprise, Burbank, California; and The Loft Recording Studio, Bronxville, New York. Its strings were recorded at a different studio: The Studio, Philadelphia. The song features drums, violins, violas, cellos, keyboards and strings in its instrumentation. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Kobalt Music Group, the song is written in the key of F major with a tempo of 60 beats per minute in common time. The song follows a chord progression of F – A7 – B{{flat}} – D{{flat}} - B{{flat}}, and Clarkson's vocals span from the low-note of B{{flat}}₃ to the high note of F₅.{{cite web|title=Kelly Clarkson - "The Trouble With Love Is" - Digital Sheet Music| date=February 2, 2004 |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0046112|publisher=Musicnotes.com. Kobalt Music Group|id=MN0046112|access-date=June 24, 2016}} "The Trouble with Love Is" is an R&B{{cite news|last=Aicher|first=Bill|title=Shouldn't This Have Been a Big Deal?|url=http://www.music-critic.com/pop/clarksonkelly_thankful.htm|access-date=November 17, 2013|newspaper=Music-Critic|date=April 14, 2003}} and soul song, with elements of gospel throughout the chorus.{{cite web|title=Kelly Clarkson - Thankful (album review) - Sputnikmusic|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/7155/Kelly-Clarkson-Thankful/|access-date=November 18, 2013|website=Sputnikmusic|date=May 26, 2006}} Lyrically, it talks about the ups and downs of romance, with Clarkson singing, "Love may be a many splendored thing ... [But] it can tear you up inside/ Make your heart believe a lie."{{cite news|last=Waliszewski|first=Bob|title=Kelly Clarkson - Thankful - Plugged In|url=http://www.pluggedin.com/music/albums/2003/KellyClarkson-Thankful.aspx|access-date=November 18, 2013|website=Plugged In (publication)}}

Following the release of "Low", which maintained her strong-hold on stateside fans, "The Trouble with Love Is" was announced as the album's third and final single, though there were fans who pant for the ballad "Anytime" to be released. It was first serviced to US mainstream radio on November 10, 2003, in the United States, and later released as a double A-side single with "Low" in the United Kingdom on November 17, 2003. It was released in the remaining countries on January 12, 2004. The song was also featured on the soundtrack of the 2003 film Love Actually.

The song received positive reviews from most music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic picked the song as one of the best tracks on the album,{{cite news|last=Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=Thankful - Kelly Clarkson | Allmusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/thankful-mw0000662367|access-date=November 18, 2013|website=AllMusic|date=April 15, 2003}} while Heather Phares of the same publication praised the track for "manag[ing] to be romantic, sassy, and empowering all at once, with her vocals reflecting their urban ballad surroundings."{{cite web|title=Love Actually - Original Soundtrack | Allmusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-actually-mw0000326557|access-date=November 18, 2013|website=AllMusic|date=November 11, 2003}} Chuck Taylor of Billboard wrote a positive review, noting that Clarkson "mines her soulful side and riffs like a sista with the gospel-drenched [track]."{{cite magazine|last1=Taylor|first1=Chuck|title=Singles|magazine=Billboard|date=November 29, 2003|volume=115|issue=48|page=41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rg8EAAAAMBAJ&q=kelly+clarkson+the+trouble+with+love+is+review&pg=PA41|access-date=June 24, 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian praised the singer, writing that "[l]ike her fellow Texan Beyoncé, she has a background in the church, and it shows in the phrasing of the torchy song."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/aug/29/popandrock.shopping4|title=Kelly Clarkson: Thankful|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 28, 2003|access-date=November 18, 2012}} Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the song a "durable soul number reminiscent of Mariah Carey's 'Vision of Love'.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/kelly-clarkson-thankful/281|title=Kelly Clarkson: Thankful|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|magazine=Slant Magazine|date=April 17, 2003|access-date=2012-11-18}} A writer of the website Sputnikmusic named it a "swooning, soulful, radiant song, with gospel-esque background vocals in the chorus that stands out amongst most pop music that plagues the music scene today with mediocrity." Mike Wass of Idolator described it as "a bluesy ballad that is an early preview of the diva’s eventual flirtation with roots and blues."{{cite news|last=Wass|first=Mike|title=Kelly Clarkson's 'Thankful' Turns 10: Backtracking|url=http://www.idolator.com/7452489/kelly-clarkson-thankful-anniversary-10-years-backtracking|access-date=November 18, 2013|publisher=Idolator|date=April 15, 2013}}

While failing to match "Miss Independent" in the United States, "The Trouble with Love Is" performed considerably better internationally. In Australia, the song debuted at number 12 on February 22, 2004, while the next week it reached a peak of number 11 on the ARIA Charts week of February 29, 2004, remaining at the peak position for a further week. It matched the same peak position of the previous single, "Low", and ultimately, the song was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling over 35,000 copies. In Netherlands, the song peaked higher than her previous single, "Miss Independent", debuting at number 81, on December 27, 2003, and reaching number 26, on January 24, 2004. In Switzerland, the song became Clarkson's lowest charting-single of her career, peaking at number 62. In the United States, "The Trouble with Love Is" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but made its appearance on three Billboard component charts: the Top 40 Mainstream chart, where it peaked at number 22, the Adult Top 40, reaching number 31, and the Top 40 Tracks, where it reached number 36. On the Canadian Hot 100, the song performed significantly at number 25.

The music video for the song was directed by Bryan Barber and premiered on November 7, 2003, on TRL.{{cite news|last=Moss|first=Corey|title=Kelly Clarkson Hits The Roof For New Clip, Plans DVD|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480236/kelly-clarkson-hits-roof-clip.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108001353/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480236/kelly-clarkson-hits-roof-clip.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2012|access-date=November 18, 2013|newspaper=MTV News|date=November 6, 2003}} The video features Clarkson performing the track on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles, with people watching Love Actually on a rooftop adjacent to the one Clarkson's on. As noted by MTV News' Corey Moss, "along with the high-altitude shots, Barber also created several vignettes showing kids dealing with troubled relationships, which [were] interspersed with the performance footage. The scenes [took] place in the rooms of the building Kelly is performing on and include[s] a girl fighting for attention from her video-game addict boyfriend and another girl climbing on the fire escape after arguing with her mother."

Clarkson promoted the song with a handful of live performances, including The Ellen Show,{{cite news|title=Kelly Clarkson - The Trouble With Love Is (Live) 2003|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBmLT9jmyIA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402151157/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBmLT9jmyIA&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date=April 2, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=November 18, 2013|via=YouTube|date=October 29, 2011}} Pop Idol,{{cite web|title=Kelly Clarkson The trouble with love is live U.K. Pop Idol|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKzpOBj6YKs|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/uKzpOBj6YKs|archive-date=December 13, 2021|url-status=live|work=Pop Idol| date=September 14, 2008 |via=YouTube|access-date=November 18, 2013}}{{cbignore}} Today{{cite web|title=Kelly Clarkson The Trouble With Love Is Live Today|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zv5lChPpo|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/o-zv5lChPpo|archive-date=December 13, 2021|url-status=live|work=Today| date=March 19, 2011 |via=YouTube|access-date=November 18, 2013}}{{cbignore}} Live on Air, AOL Music, Smile and Popworld. Clarkson also performed the track on her Independent Tour (2004), Behind These Hazel Eyes Tour and last on The Breakaway Tour (2005–2006). In 2012, on her Stronger Tour, Clarkson performed the track on a medley with "Walk Away", "How I Feel" and "I Want You".{{cite news|last1=McSheffrey|first1=Kevin|title=Kelly Clarkson gives strong performance in Boston|url=http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/reviews-kelly-clarkson-wang-theatre-boston-january-26-2012/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306001930/http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/reviews-kelly-clarkson-wang-theatre-boston-january-26-2012/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 6, 2012|access-date=July 19, 2016|publisher=Boston Music Spotlight|date=January 31, 2012}}

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UK CD single ("Low" / "The Trouble with Love Is")

1. "Low" (video mix) – 3:29
2. "The Trouble with Love Is" – 3:42
3. "Respect" – 2:15
4. "Low" (music video) – 3:28

European CD single

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" – 3:42
2. "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" – 2:26
3. "A Moment Like This" – 3:49

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=The Trouble with Love Is|others=Kelly Clarkson|year=2004|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=RCA Records, 19 Recordings, S Records|id=82876 585612}}

1. "The Trouble with Love Is" – 3:42
2. "The Trouble with Love Is" (MaUVe classic vocal mix) – 8:27
3. "The Trouble with Love Is" (Bimbo Jones dub) – 6:06

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Thankful.{{cite AV media notes|title=Thankful|title-link=Thankful (Kelly Clarkson album)|others=Kelly Clarkson|date=2003|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=RCA Records, 19 Recordings, S Records|id=07863 68159-2}}

Recording

• Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York City; The Record Plant, Los Angeles; The Enterprise, Burbank, California; The Loft Recording Studio, Bronxville, New York.
• Strings recorded at The Studio, Philadelphia.
• Mixed at The Hit Factory, New York City.

Personnel

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• Kelly Clarkson – vocals, writing
• Carl Sturken – writing, production, drum programming, keyboards
• Evan Rogers – writing, production, background vocals
• Larry Gold – strings arrangement, conductor
• Steve Ferrera – drums
• Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
• James Cooper, III – cellos
• Jennie Lorenzo – cellos
• Andrea Derby – production coordination
• Al Hemberger – engineering
• J.D. Andrew – engineering
• Rich Balmer – engineering
• Dan Bucchi – engineering assistant

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• Jun Ishizeki – engineering assistant
• Gordon Goss – engineering assistant
• Jeff Chestek – strings engineering
• Tony Maserati – mixing
• Brendan Kuntz – mixing assistant
• Matt Snedecor – mixing assistant
• Alexandra Leem – viola
• Peter Nocella – viola
• Charlene Kwas – violin
• Charles Parker Jr. – violin
• Emma Kummrow – violin
• Gregory Teperman – violin
• Igor Szwec – violin

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{{Reflist}}

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Category:19 Recordings singles

Category:2000s ballads

Category:2003 singles

Category:2003 songs

Category:Kelly Clarkson songs

Category:Music videos directed by Bryan Barber

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Songs about heartache

Category:Songs about loneliness

Category:Songs written by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers

Category:Songs written by Kelly Clarkson

Category:Soul ballads

Category:Syco Music singles