What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” – Stronger – Kelly Clarkson.  You know Kelly Clarkson’s name, but you more than likely have never heard of Ali Tamposi.  Ali is a singer/songwriter from Long Beach California and in September of 2010 she was in David Gamson’s studio in Long Beach, California and in the worst mood she had ever been in.  In typical young lovers issues, her boyfriend had been seen out with another woman and her friend had told her about it.  She had been up all night worrying, had her Mom in town and really just didn’t want to do the songwriting session she had the next day at David’s.  During her drive with her Mom seated next to her in the car she told her Mom “I’m turning around, I can’t do it, I need to go!” and her Mom turned to her and said  “Ali, what doesn’t kill you is going to make you stronger and it’s not going to kill you.”  Ali quickly jotted down what she said in her Notes app on her phone as she headed into the studio.  

Walking in, David is in a free spirited mood and asks “So what’s your concept?” They went through a few things and finally Ali came out with “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and her co-writer Jorgen exclaimed “THAT’S IT!”  The song became one of Kelly Clarkson’s biggest hits, certainly surpassing the previously released “Mr. Know It All.”  There are songs that become empowering songs, songs that move you to action and drive you to change.  Ali’s Mom’s original concepts clearly became one of those songs for not just Ali, but the world over.

Ironically, the lyric that became the hook of the song isn’t Ali’s favorite from it.  Her favorite lyric from the song is “Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone.”  I think that one we will save for a possible future #LyricsToLiveLifeBy.