American Idol Kelly Clarkson kicked off her Australian tour, and first tour out of the US, with a strong performance in Perth.
Clarkson stormed onto the stage to the sound of AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long, which was not just a tribute to one of Australia’s rock legends, but a motivational song used by Kelly before every performance.
“It’s my favourite song ever - I always listen to it before going on,” Clarkson told the crowd at a sold out Challenge Stadium.
However, her exposure to Australian culture has clearly been limited, as she wondered aloud what a placard with ‘G’Day Kel’ on it meant.
As more than 4,000 teenage girls and a smattering of boys and parents, chanted “Kelly, Kelly,” she launched straight into her first offering, Walk Away.
The song is from her second album Breakaway and Clarkson co-wrote the song, as she did a handful of others on the new album.
Clarkson says the album leans more towards the rock genre, which she says is more fun to sing live.
One of the rockier songs is Come Over Here which an energetic Clarkson belted out.
A collection of ballads, from both her first and second albums, were crowd pleasers, with an unaccompanied Beautiful Disaster testament to Clarkson’s vocals that saw her win American Idol.
Beautiful Disaster was released on both records, with a less synthetic sound making the cut for Breakaway.
“When it was released on my first record, the label wanted all the production that was on it and I just hated it,” she said.
“We wanted to do it the way I did it on tour, with just a piano and my voice.”
Annie Lennox, of Eurythmics fame, is an idol to Clarkson and she delivered a smooth version of Why.
A highlight of the evening was the standout hit Since U Been Gone, bringing much of the crowd to their feet.
For another hit single, Behind These Hazel Eyes, Clarkson donned a wedding dress, as seen in the single’s film clip.
Clarkson relished the live concert, stopping midway through songs to chat to the young crowd, labelling the whole endeavour a “kick butt show”.
One fan said the performance was natural and showcased Clarkson’s strong voice.
“I have been a fan since she won Idol,” said Kerry Naumoff, 27.
“Seeing her live was fantastic and really showed off her talent.”
Australian band, The Rogue Traders kicked off proceedings, fronted by Natalie Bassingthwaite, who plays the manipulative Issy of Channel Ten soapie Neighbours.
The Breakaway tour can be caught at Adelaide, Melbourne, Geelong, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Newcastle during November.
