Underneath (Alanis Morissette song)

2008 single by Alanis Morissette

"Underneath"

Single by Alanis Morissette
from the album  Flavors of Entanglement
B-side| "20/20"
Released| April 15, 2008
Recorded| 2007
Studio|

* The Village Recorder (Los Angeles, CA)
* Frou Frou Central (London, UK)

Length| 4:10 (Album/Single Version)
Label| Maverick
Songwriter(s)|

* Alanis Morissette
* Guy Sigsworth

Producer(s)| Guy Sigsworth
Alanis Morissette singles chronology
| "Crazy"
(2005)  | "Underneath"
(2008)  | "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man"
(2008)

|
|

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]

## Music video

[edit]

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."

## Critical reception

[edit]

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]

## Track listings

[edit]

2-track CD-single

1. "Underneath" (album version) - 4:07
2. "20/20" - 4:17

3-track CD-single

1. "Underneath" (album version) - 4:07
2. "20/20" - 4:17
3. "Underneath" (Josh Harris remix) - 7:19

UK/Ireland iTunes Digital Single

1. "Underneath" (album version) - 4:07
2. "Underneath" (Josh Harris remix) - 7:19

US Promotional Remix CD

1. "Underneath" (Josh Harris Remix) - 7:18
2. "Underneath" (Josh Harris Radio Edit) - 3:39
3. "Underneath" (Morgan Page Vox Mix) - 7:45
4. "Underneath" (Morgan Page Mixshow Edit) - 5:20
5. "Underneath" (RedTop Main Mix) - 6:33
6. "Underneath" (RedTop Mix Show Edit) - 4:49

US Digital Promotional Remixes

1. "Underneath" (Josh Harris Club Mix)
2. "Underneath" (Morgan Page Vox Mix)
3. "Underneath" (RedTop Main Mix)
4. "Underneath" (Lost Daze Extended Mix)
5. "Underneath" (John Dahlbäck Remix)
6. "Underneath" (Dave Armstrong & Redroche Remix)
7. "Underneath" (The Whatever/Whatever Remix)
8. "Underneath" (Zoned Out Remix)

Digital Remixes[13]

1. "Underneath" (Dave Armstrong & Redroche Remix)
2. "Underneath" (John Dahlbäck Remix)
3. "Underneath" (Josh Harris Club)
4. "Underneath" (Lost Daze Extended)
5. "Underneath" (Morgan Page Vox Mix)
6. "Underneath" (RedTop Main)
7. "Underneath" (The Whatever/Whatever Remix)

Digital Remix EP[14]

1. "Underneath" (Josh Harris Edit) - 3:39
2. "Underneath" (Morgan Page Radio Edit) - 4:08
3. "Underneath" (RedTop Radio Edit) - 3:40
4. "Underneath" (Lost Daze Radio) - 3:49
5. "Underneath" (John Dahlbäck Remix Edit) - 4:57
6. "Underneath" (Dave Armstrong & Redroche Remix) - 4:52
7. "Underneath" (Zoned Out Remix) - 4:16

As of December 2008, "Underneath" had already sold 76,000 downloads in the US alone, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

## Charts

[edit]

| Chart (2008)  | Peak
position

|

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] | 20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] | 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] | 17
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] | 15
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[19] | 34
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[20] | 7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[21] | 85
Germany (Official German Charts)[22] | 46
Italy (FIMI)[23] | 8
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[24] | 30
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] | 16
UK Singles (OCC)[26] | 99
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] | 17
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[28] | 27
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[29] | 45

## Certifications

[edit]

| Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[30] | Diamond  | 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date

|

United States  | April 15, 2008
Europe  | May 16, 2008
United Kingdom  | May 26, 2008

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Is Alanis Morissette Still Famous?". Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2008-01-19. "Is Alanis Morissette Still Famous?"]. Blender.
2. ^ Seven-Time Grammy Winner Alanis Morissette to Release "FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT" May 20 on Maverick/Reprise
3. ^ Kreps, Daniel. "Alanis Morissette Gets Dancey and Personal on Next Record". RollingStone.com. November 1, 2007.
4. ^ MusicMan. "Alanis Morissette 'Underneath' Video At Elevate Film Festival". Popdirt.com. September 19, 2007.
5. ^ "New Alanis Morissette Live Video - 'Underneath'". stereogum. September 24, 2007.
6. ^ Ric Frazier official website
7. ^ Docter twins official website
8. ^ Official Elevate Film Festival website Archived 2006-06-03 at the Wayback Machine. September 15, 2007.
9. ^ a b Lamb, Bill. "Alanis Morissette's "Underneath" Video" Archived 2008-03-27 at the Wayback Machine. About.com. January 16, 2008.
10. ^ Official music video at Alanis' YouTube channel on YouTube
11. ^ Gresehover, Ehren. "Alanis Morissette Returns!". New York. January 14, 2008.
12. ^ "Certifications in Brazil" Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
13. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player".
14. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player".
15. ^ "Alanis Morissette – Underneath" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
16. ^ "Alanis Morissette – Underneath" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
17. ^ "Alanis Morissette – Underneath" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
18. ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
19. ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
20. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 31. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
21. ^ [1]"Alanis Morissette"]. billboard.com. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
22. ^ "Alanis Morissette - Underneath worldwide chart positions and trajectories". aCharts.co. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
23. ^ "Alanis Morissette – Underneath". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
24. ^ Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales
25. ^ "Alanis Morissette – Underneath". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
27. ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
28. ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
29. ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
30. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Underneath" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.

* v
* t
* e

Alanis Morissette

* Awards and nominations
* Discography
* Songs

Studio albums|

* Alanis
* Now Is the Time
* Jagged Little Pill
* Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
* Under Rug Swept
* So-Called Chaos
* Flavors of Entanglement
* Havoc and Bright Lights
* Such Pretty Forks in the Road
* The Storm Before the Calm

Compilation albums|

* Feast on Scraps
* iTunes Originals
* The Collection

Other releases|

* Space Cakes
* The Singles Box

Live releases|

* Jagged Little Pill, Live
* MTV Unplugged
* Live in the Navajo Nation
* Feast on Scraps
* Jagged Little Pill Acoustic
* Live at Montreux 2012

Concert tours|

* Junkie Tour
* 5 ½ Weeks Tour
* One Tour
* Au Naturale Tour
* The Diamond Wink Tour
* Flavors of Entanglement Tour
* Guardian Angel Tour
* Intimate and Acoustic

Musicals|

Jagged Little Pill

Related articles|

* Wade Morissette (brother)
* Jagged (documentary film)

* v
* t
* e

Alanis Morissette songs

Discography

Alanis|

* "Feel Your Love"
* "Too Hot"
* "Walk Away"

Now Is the Time|

* "An Emotion Away"
* "No Apologies"

Jagged Little Pill|

* "All I Really Want"
* "You Oughta Know"
* "Hand in My Pocket"
* "You Learn"
* "Head over Feet"
* "Ironic"

Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie|

* "Thank U"
* "That I Would Be Good"
* "Unsent"
* "So Pure"
* "Joining You"

MTV Unplugged|

* "King of Pain"

Under Rug Swept|

* "21 Things I Want in a Lover"
* "Hands Clean"
* "Flinch"
* "So Unsexy"
* "Precious Illusions"
* "Surrendering"
* "Utopia"

So-Called Chaos|

* "Eight Easy Steps"
* "Out Is Through"
* "Everything"

The Collection|

* "Crazy"

Flavors of Entanglement|

* "Underneath"
* "Not as We"
* "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man"

Havoc and Bright Lights|

* "Guardian"
* "Lens"
* "Receive"

Such Pretty Forks in the Road|

* "Reasons I Drink"
* "Smiling"

Soundtrack songs|

* "Still"
* "Uninvited"
* "Wunderkind"

Other songs|

* "My Humps"

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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