This is the final post of a 13 post long series about my favorite artists and their best music. To check out my previous entry in this series, click here.
His songs aren't playing on the radio 24/7. He may not be topping the Billboard Hot 100. Nor is he winning any Grammys anytime soon (though it's a crime and a shame, as his music is better than anyone else has to offer.) Despite this, Kris Allen stands head and shoulders above the rest of any musician I've ever listened to. Ever. From his personal writing style, musicality, smart lyrics, and sophistication to his swagger, charm and overall growth as a creative artist, Allen has made his mark on my life like no other.
You may not know the name Kris Allen very well. Heck, you may not even know he existed. Well, if you're reading this, you sure do now. If you give me a chance and - more importantly - give Kris a chance, by the end of this, I don't think you'll be disappointed you gave him a try.
Favorite Artists of All Time Series
Kris Allen
Ranking: #1
Genre: Alt. Rock
Sub-Genres: Pop-Rock; Blue Eyed Soul; Indie-Pop; Indie-Rock; Acoustic-Rock
Best Song: … All of them?
I had an interesting first opinion on Kris. My family didn't watch American Idol religiously, but we followed it almost avidly from seasons 4 through 9. Kris was a part of the eighth season in 2009. Our family always waited until the top 10 to begin really paying attention to the show. I remember taking notice of him during that week's show (the genre was Motown) and he performed "How Sweet It Is". I remember it like yesterday. Seeing him perform up there with the guitar, I said to myself, "Who does this guy think he is? He doesn't belong here. He won't last a week."
Yup. That's what I thought. By the end of Motown, the majority of my family and I were rooting for heavy weight Adam Lambert.
A few weeks go by and at this point I've forgotten about Kris. I didn't notice his performances at all. To me, Adam was the King and should be treated as such by America. We get to the top 4. I notice Kris is still there and I'm like, "Wait a minute. This guy is still here?" I was really observant back then apparently. Kris barely survived that week to progress to the top 3. Everyone knew Kris was the next man to walk out the door due to a not-so-great performance the week prior. The judges knew it, the contestants knew it, America knew it, and Kris knew it. He had to do something crazy to beat Danny Gokey (Lambert was a lock-in so Gokey was the one to take down) and have a chance to compete in the finale. Well, Kris pulled out every trick he had up his sleeve that night in desperation - and it paid off big time. Kris blew everyone away with his genius take on Kayne West's "Heartless" (the song choice alone was dangerous) and by the end of it, Simon Cowell said, "...after what I thought was a lame song choice for you...I had literally written you out of this competition. That, however, has all changed after that performance."
Kris performs "Heartless" by Kanye West on the acoustic. This performance is considered by many as one of the riskiest and greatest American Idol performances in history. It may in fact be the sole reason Kris survived and eventually won Idol. To this day, a great deal of listeners and writers believe Kris's take on "Heartless" to be the best version of the song ever - including the original.
Suddenly Kris was back in the race and inevitably beat Gokey for the second slot in the finale against Lambert. Allen was still the underdog, with every major company or publisher giving Lambert huge betting odds to win. And while Allen had gained some respect from me after "Heartless", it wasn't enough to garner a vote from me. After the two dueled it out on May 19th, all we had to do was just wait for Lambert's obvious win the forthcoming night... Right?
Wrong.
With a new world record of votes cast, we waited in anticipation. Lambert would reign supreme as he was destined to (at least I and the majority of my siblings thought so).
"And the winner of American Idol 2009 is..."
And then it happened. Kris' face is all you need to see in order to understand the shock that nearly 29 million people received when those two words rang loud and clear:
KRIS ALLEN
Kris Allen's face (middle) says it all as Adam Lambert (left) embraces him while host Ryan Seacrest (right) pronounces Allen the champion.
Yep. That happened. And needless to say, I was not a happy camper. I was pretty infuriated. This wasn't the first time the runner up was the true winner of Idol (nor would it be the last.)
I moved on. Whatever, right? I forgot Kris even existed until one day my sister and I were driving somewhere and I noticed an album sitting under the CD player in the car. I pulled it out and there was Kris Allen.
"Oh yea. Some one gave me that. It's that guy who beat Adam Lambert if you remember him at all. Haven't touched it and probably won't. It's all yours if you want it though."
Meh. I'll give it a try I thought. Can't be terrible.
The next morning I started washing dishes (the sisters and I took turns on kitchen duty every morning and thus had the music of choice). I saw the Kris Allen album lying on the counter and tossed it in.
I was hooked after five seconds.
"Live Like We're Dying" took my life by storm. That along with the sequential 13 songs on the album turned me from hater to his greatest fan.
"Oh, c'mon Merrick, everyone says they are (fill-in-the-blank)'s greatest fan."
I don't know about you, but I listened to that album, and that album only. Every. Single. Morning. And afternoon. And night when I was allowed to have the radio (we had to share and I didn't have a phone or MP3 player of any kind.)
No longer was I the guy who thought "Kris Allen didn't belong." I was now his biggest fan.
And I haven't looked back ever since.
Fast forward nine and a half years, and Kris Allen has released four more albums (including the greatest album in history, aka Letting You In), two EP's, and multiple perfectly written singles. His writing, vocals, producing, and overall master of the craft has improved with each release while his confidence and swagger has grown exponentially - but so has his humility along side the respect from everyone that comes with it. Mesh that all together and you've got an artist that's rolling with the punches and successes life throws at him, coming out on top seemingly every time and, honestly, he's impossible not to like. And I say that from a completely unbiased perspective. He may not be close to your favorite, but to say "I dislike Kris Allen" is to say "I dislike ice cream." It's just not happening.
But why is Kris number one? Is it just that I like his music more than everyone else?
Sure. But it is so much more than that.
Thanks to a genuine personality, consistently great music, loyal fanbase, and a passion for his work, Allen has not allowed any obstacle to stop him from churning out high quality music at a frenetic pace. His songwriting, performance, and overall maturity has grown and improved with each release, giving a sense of confidence to his listeners that we can always count on him.
Kris is someone I can look up to in times of need. His music has gotten me through every tough day, every tough moment. When I need help, I turn to him. And he always pulls through. I literally thank God for him, as no other artist actually lifts me up, encourages me, and drives me to get out of that bed and give it my all every morning (I have his music set for my alarm even).
If I had to do a ranking of greatest days of my life, I can't think of a better one than the day I spent with Kris. Yes. I met him. And he didn't disappoint. Many artists hide behind their fame and at times it seems who they are compared to their music are two different entities. They will at some point say or do something that shocks and disappoints their fan base, almost betraying them, revealing their true colors in the process: people who aren't exactly great role models. Am I saying we should be perfect? No. Many times that is what draws us to an artist. We relate to their imperfection. That said, sometimes actions and words said are inexcusable, and that has happened with celebrities time and again. While I know Kris isn't God, my "idol" or even perfect, he doesn't hide his true character either, and the man I met is the same man I've seen perform, write, and post on social media every day from a distance since 2009.
I love a great deal of musicians, but who Kris is as a man of character is what separates him. It bleeds through in his songwriting. The genuine emotion is so apparent, especially in Letting You In and Horizons. He has adapted over time as all great artists do. His first and most recent album's would make you think they were two different people. Maybe they are. We as people change, Kris is no different. But his change was a good one.
Kris sets himself apart from other artists with his fresh and unique style that's true to himself and simultaneously reveals a man of great character. His music has touched my life along side many others, and now, Allen has built up an avid fan base that - while not large - will stand by him no matter the cause.
I can't really say what I just said of Kris about any other artist. Sure there are plenty of great songs that can get us through hard times, but when I've researched to see who these people were, I've found most celebrities are disappointing and not ones we should put our hope in. And while my hope is in Jesus, Kris himself is a man of God who displays it through his actions and words without coming off as prideful or great. He's humble, writing music that at the end of the day is true to himself and his thoughts instead of trying to please the public.
His music may be my favorite, but what Kris has done for my life runs so much deeper than that...
...although I do like (or love) literally every single song he's ever released, so that doesn't hurt his status either.
And now, after some of the hardest hours of thinking, mulling, and debate, I present my top 12 Kris Allen songs, along side a perfectly crafted playlist to your liking (hint - it's the 12 songs you're about to see):
*I'm skipping honorable mentions as I plan to make at least one (if not two) more best Kris Allen songs list
12. Baby It Ain't Christmas Without You (2014)
I was torn between this and another Christmas original for the twelfth spot on the list, and while the other may have some slight edge in lyrical originality, this one is catchy and therefore more repeatable. With the classic sleigh bells opening up the song followed by a smooth electric lead, this groovy and light Christmas tune will have you hooked in no time. Kris has too many stellar Christmas songs (that's a good thing), but this one has to take the cake.
11. It's Always You - Horizons (2014)
It pains me to have this ballad at the near bottom of the list, but it's placement is a testament to how many great Kris Allen songs there are. Kris's vocals and guitar skills shine through here (when don't they?) as he pours out his heart in this indie love song that tugs at the heart strings more than most love songs do.
Due to the emotional attachment I have to this song, I can't listen to it on repeat as often as I'd like, but it's an absolute must listen to for all nonetheless.
10. Faster Shoes - Letting You In (2016)
iTunes really says it best:
"'Faster Shoes' is piano-propelled and acerbic (meaning sharp and forthright) in a way that recalls Billy Joel..."
All that to say, this upbeat and grand song puts a sense of urgency on the mind that gets you going. It's simple but genius and a song that many of my friends point out they enjoy.
And Allen's acoustic version that he released in 2017? #bosslevel
9. Lost - Horizons (2014)
Let's put this in perspective:
Out of 70 plus tracks, "Lost" is ninth. That's pretty awesome. Here's the thing: most other fans I know would have it in the top five, if not top three.
So why is it ninth? Well, I feel out of the twelve songs here, "Lost" didn't live up to it's full potential. It's awesome enough to make it incredibly high up, but I think with a couple (slight) changes, this is top five for sure.
All that to say: the piano, lyrics, vocals and emotion are awesome and stand apart from Allen's more usual tracks (not that there's a "usual" Kris Allen song.)
8. If We Keep Doing Nothing - Letting You In (2016)
There's definitely a hint political thought in this song... and I love it. Allen drives the ball home in this jazzy, chill song, that comes out off the heels of the shootings and general uneasiness that our country was (and still is) in during late 2015 and early 2016. Using real stringed instruments along side a perfectly toned organ-like electric piano that I can groove to at any moment of the week, "If We Keep Doing Nothing" will be a regular for years to come.
7. I Remember You - Letting You In (2016)
The lyrics in this finale to Allen's greatest album are arguably his finest. Each verse is poetically written as Kris doesn't waste a single word, telling us of the special relationship between he and his significant other. The stories are so real. I feel as if I'm there in NYC, or at the graduation, or the wedding he mentions. He doesn't even use that many words to describe those events. In fact he uses half a stanza for each. But the word choices are so good, a few words are all we need to be whisked away to the multiple settings Kris brings us to. It all culminates to his best ending in a song.
Ever.
6. Venice - Letting You In: Acoustic Tapes (2017)
"Venice" is summer. "Venice" is raw beauty. "Venice" is Kris at his most vulnerable. Telling a song of love in a way that hasn't been done before, Allen and his guitar playing steal your attention and bring your mind into four minutes and eleven seconds of pure bliss.
Oh, by the way, Kris literally sat in his living room with his computer when recording this, released it without telling anyone he was going to, just to have it reach #1 on the iTunes albums charts. Still don't think Allen has a loyal following? We literally sit around waiting for him to release his next amazing song, EP, or album, and in this case he didn't even give a heads up or promotion.
5. Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen (2009)
Okay. I can't have this list without THE Kris Allen Song. It would be a crime. You haven't heard of Kris Allen? Well you definitely have heard this song play on the radio. I haven't found a single person under the age of 30 and over the age of 16 who hasn't. It may not have won any awards, but this top 20 hit single was getting serious air time in 2009 and 2010. And I still hear it from time to time ten years later.
Let's be honest though, it really is a great song that hits all the right notes. Allen has done much better since, but we have to give credit where credit is due.
4. My Weakness - Thank You Camellia (2012)
This is my guilty pleasure song. Before Letting You In, this was my favorite song... of all time. It's short, sweet, and those whistles are down right cheesy but you love em' anyways. It's almost the most repeatable Kris Allen song for every reason imaginable. I can always get my friends bobbing their heads to this pop song. It may be by the numbers for classic pop, but "My Weakness" is better than every pop hit the rest of the world has to offer.
Fun fact: the day I fell in love with "My Weakness" I was at my sister's house. I listened to it on repeat to the tune of 50 times (that's 136 minutes.) #noshame
3. Feeling This Way - Letting You In (2016)
This is the most repeatable Kris Allen song for me. It has no faults, it is perfect in every way and for a while, was my favorite song. It's at least in my top ten.
Every human who walked planet earth can relate to the lyrics of this song. It's groovy feel (with some dope bass skillz on display) gets me filled with confidence, which is ironic because the song is about having bad luck, but it does and it's my go to song.
Fun Fact: "Feeling This Way" is my alarm for everything. So I literally have listened to this song at least once a day since March 2016. #noshame
2. Waves - Letting You In (2016)
For many people now, "Waves" is THE Kris Allen song, having dethroned "Live Like We're Dying." I can't really argue that, and in part I agree having the former above the latter. And it came so close to first.
I've gotten at least 100 people to listen to Letting You In, and about 90% have come back telling me "Waves" was easily the best of the album.
It's not only the best song from the album, but it's produced in a way that helps it break through to the general public, becoming a dark horse hit in the process.
Kris hits a new high for his vocal performance, going into his falsetto in ways he has never done. It's his most beautifully sung piece to date, and along side the well executed indie-pop sound that echoes strong and gives a unique vibe, "Waves" is a song that will stand the test of time.
I still remember the first day I heard this lead single a month before the album's release. I knew from this song alone that Kris's best was still to come. Over time, "Waves" has climbed my list of favorites. Going from the middle of the pack (40's) in 2016, to the 20's, and then 13th. Thanks to the events of this past semester however, "Waves" made the jump from 13th to second, and it's staying put.
1. When All The Stars Have Died (2018)
This is it. Kris Allen's ninth symphony. His Mona Lisa. His Sistine Chapel. Or whatever comparison you want to make.
I knew the second after hearing it for the first time that Kris had done it. "You sly dog," I thought to myself with a smile. You know I had waited nine years for this song? After all the amazing music Allen had produced, I was still waiting for "that song." Well here she is everyone.
The song is indescribable. Transcendent. Ingenious. Absolute. Matchless.
Part of me says don't want to put a lock on it in case Kris somehow manages to out do this... I just don't see it happening. And not because I don't have faith in his talent. I think whatever release he has next will be awesome. Just not this awesome.
It has everything I could ever ask for in a song, from the intimacy to the grand sound of genre mixings and, of course, Kris's vocal range help put this song in a place of it's own. It's impossible to label. And no one should try to. We should leave it alone at the top where no song will ever come close to reaching the heights "When All The Stars Have Died" has already reached in it's young life.
And there you have it. After long months of sluggishly getting through my favorite artists of all time, we've arrived at the end. That said, opinions are subject to change, and already new artists have emerged in recent days. They just may move their way onto my list down the road. And when that happens, I'll certainly do a REDUX, as time always gives us a new perspective on life.
I can promise you this: Kris Allen will forever be the King in my eyes. Agree or not, that is for you to decide, but you heard it here...
...and now you know.
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