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''Piece by Piece'' is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson. It was released on February 27, 2015, through RCA Records. The follow-up to her first Christmas album, ''Wrapped in Red'' (2013), it is her first studio album to completely contain original material since ''Stronger'' (2011) and her final studio album under her recording contract after winning the inaugural season of the television singing competition series ''American Idol'' in 2002. ''Piece by Piece'' sees Clarkson reuniting with frequent collaborators Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin, Jason Halbert, Eric Olson, and Chris DeStefano. Her pregnancy hurdled her efforts to write more than five songs for the album. As such, she gathered material from songwriters such as Sia, Matthew Koma, MoZella, Bonnie McKee, David Jost, Semi Precious Weapons lead singer Justin Tranter, and former Cobra Starship member Ryland Blackinton, among others. Inspired by the orchestral production on ''Wrapped in Red'', Clarkson wanted for all the songs on ''Piece by Piece'' to resonate like its own film soundtrack, taking a cue from the soundtracks of the feature motion pictures ''Cruel Intentions'' (1999) and ''Love Actually'' (2003) and commissioning orchestral arrangements by Joseph Trapanese. The album is illustrated as a concept record telling a single story, using themes of heartbreak, personal struggles, peace, and empowerment. The music of ''Piece by Piece'' consists of electropop, orchestral pop, power pop and electronic dance music, marking a departure from the predominant pop rock sound of her previous studio albums. It also features guest vocals by John Legend. ''Piece by Piece'' was released to positive reception by music critics, who applauded Clarkson's vocal performances. Criticism mainly targeted the album's production, as well as its belaboring on midtempo arrangements. Commercially, it became her third album to debut at the top of the ''Billboard'' 200 chart with 97,000 units sold. The album was preceded by the release of its lead single "Heartbeat Song" in January 2015, which became a top 30 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The record's second single, "Invincible" was released in May 2015, while its supporting tour, the Piece by Piece Tour, began on July 11, 2015. ==Background and recording== In 2013, Clarkson released her first Christmas album, ''Wrapped in Red'', which to her represented a beginning for a second phase for her career.〔 In the midst of recording it, she also collaborated with recording artists Robbie Williams, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood in their respective albums ''Swings Both Ways'' (2013), ''Everlasting'' (2014) and ''PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit'' (2014).〔〔 In an interview with ''Billboard'' magazine, she announced intentions to release a set of pop and country records, as well as a potential Broadway album, as a follow-up to ''Wrapped in Red''.〔 RCA Records chief executive Peter Edge also revealed in their 2014 mid-year assessment that they were in a process of finding new music and directions for some of the their established acts — primarily with Clarkson.〔 Early stages of development for a follow-up studio album began as early as June 2012, with Clarkson commissioning Rodney Jerkins in recording a potential track.〔 She remarked, "We're already working. I'm constantly like that because you never know when you're going to find a song and so we're always working on the next thing."〔 The follow-up album would complete the terms of her recording contract with RCA Records and 19 Recordings, which was signed following her win on the inaugural season of the television competition ''American Idol'' in 2002.〔 Recording sessions for ''Piece by Piece'' began in while Clarkson is in the midst of the 2013 Honda Civic Tour with Maroon 5 and continuing on while being pregnant with her first child.〔 During its production, Clarkson had amassed over twenty songs for her to record.〔 Some of production team behind ''Wrapped in Red'' also returned on ''Piece by Piece'', led by Greg Kurstin, whom Clarkson had first commissioned since ''Stronger''.〔 Jesse Shatkin, who had first worked as an engineer under Kurstin on her last two studio albums, revealed that he had produced a couple tracks on the record. He described the transition into a more creative role as "especially poignant".〔 Sia, who was also a frequent collaborator of Kurstin and Shatkin, have announced intentions to submit recording materials to Clarkson.〔 Joseph Trapanese, who conducted arrangements in ''Wrapped in Red'', confirmed that he had finished arranging and recording five of the album's songs with a full philharmonic orchestra.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Piece by Piece (Kelly Clarkson album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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