Kelly Clarkson took it all the way back to third grade on Tuesday’s (Sept. 21) episode of her syndicated daily talk show with a cover of the 1990s Janet Jackson classic “Escapade.” The song from Jackson’s iconic Rhythm Nation 1814 album was release when Clarkson, 39, was just 8 years old, but Clarkson handled the tune’s bouncy, soulful vocals like the pro she is.
“As I was walkin’ by/ Saw you standin’ there with a smile/ Lookin’ shy you caught my eye/ Thought you’d want to hang for a while/ Well, I’d like to be with you/ And you know it’s Friday too/ I hope you can find the time this weekend/ To relax and unwind,” Clarkson sang with a powerful swagger. The snappy R&B pop tune was putty in Clarkson’s hands, as she scaled the chorus’ highs with ease, with her backing vocalists doubling her vocals to give the performance added heft.
The song from Jackson’s fourth album was written and produced by her longtime production collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and released as the third single from the collection and the follow up to the title track. It went on to be the third of a historic seven top five singles from Rhythm Nation.
Clarkson opened the week’s Kellyoke run on Monday with another throwback ’90s tune: the Spin Doctors’ signature 1993 No. 7 hit “Two Princes.”
Check out Kelly’s cover of Jackson’s “Escapade” cover below and watch The Kelly Clarkson Show on Peacock here.
