I’ve begun prepping my list of the Top 100 Tracks of 2011, an annual undertaking that always leaves me with a least one Sophie’s Choice moment. I’m already a little torn as to whether to include Kelly Clarkson‘s “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” on the tally.

As soon as Kelly released her Stronger album in October, the title(ish) song became a fast fave on my iPod, easily surpassing first single, “Mr. Know It All.” But though “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” is clearly the superior tune, and has technically been available for about a month, the song’s just now climbing the Billboard charts as an official single (it’s at #99 on the Hot 100 this week).

So I’ll likely leave it “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” for 2012’s list, as the single’s campaign is really just getting started. Kelly officially kicked things off last night, opening The X Factor with her debut TV performance of the song that’s destined to best “Mr. Know It All,” which topped out at #10 last week.

As for that opening graphics package, someone missed Coldplay’s memo about every teardrop being a waterfall. Here the tear grows into some sort of unrecognizable tree which then transforms into a woman who looks absolutely nothing like Kelly Clarkson. Weak.

Purchase Kelly Clarkson – “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.