"Underneath" | ||||
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Single by Alanis Morissette | ||||
from the album Flavors of Entanglement | ||||
B-side | "20/20" | |||
Released | April 15, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2007 | |||
Length | 4:10(Album/Single Version) | |||
Label | Maverick | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Guy Sigsworth | |||
Alanis Morissette singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Underneath" on YouTube |
"Underneath" is a song recorded for Alanis Morissette's seventh studio album, Flavors of Entanglement , which was produced by Guy Sigsworth. [1] It is the album's first single. [2] The song was digitally released on April 15, 2008 after originally being scheduled for March 25. According to Morissette, "'Underneath' is about how you can only change the world after you change yourself." [3]
A music video for "Underneath" was premiered on September 15, 2007 in Los Angeles, as part of the Elevate Film Festival. [4] [5] The video was directed by Matt Docter and Ric Frazier [6] and produced by the Docter Twins. [7] The purpose of the festival was to create documentaries, music videos, narratives and shorts regarding subjects to raise the level of human consciousness on the earth. [8] Morissette submitted the song, and then (as with the other fourteen videos) had the music video written, directed, shot and edited in two days. It was released on the internet in January 2008. [9]
An official music video, directed by Sanji, was released on in May 2008. [10] The video is two parallel stories in which a protagonist (both represented by Morissette) tries to change the world. The first vignette follows Alanis as she attempts to hand out fliers promoting positivity and openness. She is rejected by passers by at each turn. Frustrated, she notices a missed call on her cell phone from an apparent ex-love interest. She angrily texts him, "I said don't call me." Inside her heart, another Alanis (dressed in red), replays scenes of being frustrated with the love interest, keeping her distance in bed and literally pushing him away when he reaches for her.
During the chorus of the song, the real Alanis seems to realize that the grudges she harbors and the attitudes she holds prevent her from making the world a better place. In essence, she realizes that change "starts in [her] living room," and that "what we're doing in [our heart] shows up as bigger symptoms out [in the world]." In accordance with the meaning of the video as a short film, she finds that before she can save the world, she must save herself. She returns home to her apartment, where the walls are covered with hundreds and hundreds of fliers and reminders of the big-picture events she has hypocritically supported without supporting herself. As she tears them off the walls, her heart-bound alias is shown tearing posters off of the heart's walls, but instead of motivational slogans and promises to better the planet, the posters in the heart read, "I'm fat," "I'm lonely," "I avoid taking responsibility," and more. Symbolically, Morissette tears away the personal insecurities that she has hidden under the guise of major world issues.
At the close of the video, the only poster remaining on the wall of her apartment reads, "Save the Earth." As she opens the door and embraces her newly reunited boyfriend, the heart parallel embraces him, too, and the poster reads "Save the Heart."
In January 2008, New York magazine named "Underneath" "the best song we've heard all day", [11] and About.com said the video is "well worth watching and is a great reminder of the talents of Alanis", and that the song's lyrics are "classic Alanis". [9] Blender magazine gave the video two stars, writing, "[the song] features a bunch of weak, tentative and already dated beats — Madonna tried this same strategy (and pulled it off with significant aplomb) exactly 10 years ago. So while her voice sounds even a bit harsher when set against the track's popping, mechanical drums, the video just confuses [...] Not a lot of "comeback of the year" potential here." [1] "Underneath" has been certificated Diamond by ABPD for selling 500,000 digital copies on Brazil. Morissette is the only female artist of all time to have a diamond certificated song in that country. [12]
As of December 2008, "Underneath" had already sold 76,000 downloads in the US alone, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
| Certifications
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Region | Date |
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United States | April 15, 2008 |
Europe | May 16, 2008 |
United Kingdom | May 26, 2008 |
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two dance-pop albums. In 1995, she released Jagged Little Pill, an alternative rock-oriented album with elements of post-grunge, which sold more than 33 million copies globally and is her most critically acclaimed work to date. It earned her the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1996 and has been made into a rock musical of the same name in 2017, which earned fifteen Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. The album was also listed in the 2003 and 2020 editions of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time Guide. The lead single, "You Oughta Know", was also included at #103 in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. A highly anticipated, more experimental follow-up, electronic-infused album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in 1998.
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick. It was her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her first two albums, Alanis (1991) and Now Is the Time (1992). Morissette began work on the album after moving from her hometown Ottawa to Los Angeles, where she met producer Glen Ballard. Morissette and Ballard had an instant connection and began co-writing and experimenting with sounds. The experimentation resulted in an alternative rock album that takes influence from post-grunge and pop rock, and features guitars, keyboards, drum machines, and harmonica. The lyrics touch upon themes of aggression and unsuccessful relationships, while Ballard introduced a pop sensibility to Morissette's angst. The title of the album is taken from a line in the first verse of the song "You Learn".
"Ironic" is a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette. It was released in February 1996 as the third single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, and was produced by him. "Ironic" is a song written in the key of B major, and includes a moderate tempo of eighty-five beats per minute. The lyrics present several situations that are described as "ironic"; this has led to debate as to whether any of these actually match the accepted meaning of irony.
"Uninvited" is a song by Canadian-American recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as a single from the soundtrack of City of Angels in February 1998, becoming Morissette's first new recording since her international debut album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). Morissette wrote the song and co-produced it with Rob Cavallo. "Uninvited" is driven by four piano notes and builds to an instrumental climax, and haunting atmosphere accompanied by cryptic lyrics.
Under Rug Swept is the fifth studio album and third internationally released album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. Released by Maverick Records in the United States on February 26, 2002, and in the United Kingdom a day earlier, it was the first album Morissette had written and produced all on her own. It debuted at number one on charts in 12 countries, including the United States and Canada, and produced the singles "Hands Clean" and "Precious Illusions". Sales, however, did not match those of Morissette's previous two studio albums.
"You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995), on July 6, 1995. After releasing two studio albums, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and was introduced to manager Scott Welch. Morissette began working on new music after moving from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto, but made little progress. In Los Angeles, she met producer Glen Ballard, with whom she wrote songs including "You Oughta Know".
"Head over Feet" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, taken from her third studio album Jagged Little Pill (1995). Written by Alanis and Glen Ballard, and produced by Ballard, it was released as the album's fifth single in July 1996 and presented a softer sound than the previous singles from the album. "Head over Feet" talks about being best friends and lovers with someone at the same time, with Alanis thanking them for their manners, love and devotion.
"Thank U" is a song by Canadian-American recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). The song was written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, who produced her previous album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). Morissette wrote the song after she came back from a trip to India. Maverick and Reprise Records released the song as a single on October 12, 1998.
"Hands Clean" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, for her fifth studio album, Under Rug Swept (2002). It was written, composed, and produced by Morissette and released as the album's lead single in January 2002. It features a shuffling, largely acoustic-rock framework. Lyrically, "Hands Clean" caused controversy, since it is reportedly the singer's recollection of a forbidden sexual relationship she shared with a much older man when she was approximately 14 years of age.
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"Crazy" is a song written by the English singer Seal and British songwriter Guy Sigsworth. It was produced by Trevor Horn and released in November 1990 on Seal's debut album, Seal (1991). The song became his first commercial hit, reaching the top five in the United Kingdom, while becoming his first top ten single in the United States. It has since been covered by several artists, including Alanis Morissette, whose version was released as a single from her 2005 compilation album, The Collection.
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The discography of Alanis Morissette, a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, comprises ten studio albums, three live albums, six compilation albums, two extended plays, 43 singles, twelve promotional singles, six video albums, and 33 music videos. She has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.
MTV Asia Hitlist is an Asian chart show or countdown on MTV Asia, produced by MTV Asia and hosted by MTV VJs, which first aired in 1996. It resembles the MTV US show TRL, which also featured music videos in a countdown. From 1996 to 1999, the show presented the Top 20 videos in Asia, lasting for two hours with advertisements. However, in 2000, it was reduced to the Top 10, now consuming only one hour. A year later, the Top 20 was brought back this time lasting only one hour as not all the videos were shown. "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men was the first single to top the charts.
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