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"Underneath the Tree" is a song by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson, from her sixth studio album and first Christmas album Wrapped in Red (2013). Written by Clarkson along with Greg Kurstin, who handled the song's production, it sings of seeking and being grateful for companionship during the Christmas season, in which the beloved is being refereed as the only present needed "underneath the tree". Accompanied by various instrumental sounds, "Underneath the Tree" prominently incorporates a Wall of Sound treatment along with sleigh bells and bell chimes to resonate a holiday atmosphere. It is set to be released on November 5, 2013 by RCA Records as the lead single from the album.
"Underneath the Tree" has been praised by music critics, who considered it as the main highlight of Wrapped in Red and lauded it's potential to be Holiday classic. They also complimentary compared it to the 1994 modern Christmas standard "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey. RCA Records also announced plans to film a music video for the song.
Background
After recording tracks for her greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits – Chapter One, Clarkson began discussing with her record label RCA Records about plans for her sixth studio album being a Christmas release in late 2012, during which she also began to write original Christmas material. Greg Kurstin, whom she had previously collaborated with, was approached by Clarkson to produce the album; and together, they co-wrote the tracks "Underneath the Tree" and "4 Carats". On October 18, 2013, Clarkson premiered the song on her Vevo channel. RCA Records is set to release "Underneath the Tree" on Adult Contemporary radio stations in the United States on November 5, 2013, while also planning to release it on Mainstream Pop stations.
Recording and composition
"Underneath the Tree" was produced by Kurstin, who also played most of the instruments, including a mellotron and a Chamberlin, to evoke a Phil Spector's Wall of Sound treatment—a sound that Billboard and HitFix noticed upon hearing the song. He also had Clarkson provided all the voices in it, including all its backing vocals. She recalled the experience as new, stating, "I've never had to do anything like this before—doing all my backup vocals, essentially being my own choir."
"Underneath the Tree" is an uptempo big band-style Christmas jazz and pop song written by Clarkson and Kurstin. It is one of the five original songs recorded for Wrapped in Red. According to the sheet notes at Musicnotes published by EMI Music Publishing, it was written in the key of E♭ major, in which Clarkson's vocal range spans from E♭4 to G5. Apart from the Wall of Sound, various other souns, such as sleigh bells and bell chimes, are also prominently heard on the song, which features a saxophone solo on the bridge. Lyrically, it sings about companionship, primarily of someone wanting to be with her beloved on the Christmas season. The first verse laments about loneliness on Christmas which gradually changes with the arrival of her beloved, with the chorus centering about singer being grateful for being with him, whom she also describes as the only thing she needs "underneath the tree", which acts as a symbolism for a Christmas present.
Critical response
"Underneath the Tree" has received critical acclaim from various music critics on its release, who lauded it as main highlight of Wrapped in Red and a prospective Christmas standard. Billboard's Marisa Fox called it as the album's "biggest surprise", and described it as an optimistic tune that has Clarkson powering through Darlene Love-style vocals. While the Los Angeles Times's Mikael Wood described it as "a remarkably cheery new single." Christina Vinson of Taste of Country remarked, "has everything a Christmas song could want: a jazzy, big band sound, saxophone and bells ringing, all bottled up in an optimistic and catchy holiday track. Clarkson shines in this song, as her strong vocals are needed to offset the snazzy production and chorus." In his review, Idolator's Carl Williott wrote that the song "sounds instantly familiar — sleigh bells, laments about a lonely Christmas day, a sax solo — but with a tightly coiled hook and Clarkson’s transcendent voice, the whole thing is kind of invigorating." Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe called it as "bouncy, cooing number tailor-made to soundtrack sleigh rides," and named it as the best track on the album.
Critics also approvingly compared it to Mariah Carey's modern Christmas classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1994), a track that RCA chief executive Peter Edge described as the song's inspiration. Williot added that "This one is strong enough that it could enter the pantheon of modern Christmas staples like Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and 'N Sync's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays". Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush wrote, "It’s an upbeat, jingle-and-sleigh-bell-fueled jam, complete with some saxophone. It reminds us a bit of Carey's modern classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You", with a dose of girl group harmonizing." MTV's Jenna Hally Rubenstein remarked, "if we may be so bold, it is definitely on par with other impeccable Christmas originals — namely Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine noted the similar themes of two songs, and that "Underneath the Tree" is "likely to become Clarkson's very own contemporary standard." While Melinda Newman of HitFix wrote, "It's a finger-popping, bell-ringing pleaser that could achieve that rare feat of becoming a new Christmas standard. That hasn't happened since Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" in 1994."
Music video
On the eve of Wrapped in Red's release, RCA Records released an animated lyric video for "Underneath the Tree", featuring shots of ice skating, a snow-covered town, and copious Christmas trees. The lyric video was released to positive reviews, with Idolator's Sam Lansky describing it as "a nice visual accompaniment to the song that just lends an extra high-octane Yuletide cheer to its already-effervescent spirit". The label also announced plans to release music video for the song.
Radio and release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05) | Adult Contemporary radio | RCA Records |
References
- ^ Clarkson, Kelly; Kurstin, Greg (2013). "Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree Sheet Music (Digital Download)" (sheet music). Musicnotes.com. EMI April Music. Retrieved October 29, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^
Vinson, Christina (October 18, 2013). "Hear Kelly Clarkson's 'Underneath the Tree'". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - ^ "R&R: Going For Adds: Adult Contemporary". Radio & Records. Radio & Records, Inc. October 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ Fox, Marisa. "Clarkson in the Red zone". Billboard. 125 (41). Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013. (subscription required)
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Wrapped in Red (booklet). RCA Records. 2013.
{{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter|artist=ignored (|others=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|publisherid=ignored (help) - "Kelly Clarkson premieres Christmas song 'Underneath the Tree'". Digital Spy. United Kingdom: Hearst Corporation. October 18, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ Newman, Melinda (October 28, 2013). "Kelly Clarkson sparkles on 'Wrapped In Red' holiday album". HitFix. HitFix, Inc. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ Williott, Carl (October 18, 2013). "Kelly Clarkson Premieres New Christmas Classic "Underneath The Tree": Listen". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^
Sciarretto, Amy (October 18, 2013). "Listen to Kelly Clarkson 'Underneath the Tree' Christmas Single". PopCrush. Townsquare Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - Wood, Mikael (October 18, 2013). "Listen to Kelly Clarkson's new Christmas song 'Underneath the Tree'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- Rodman, Sarah (October 28, 2013). "Album Review: Kelly Clarkson's 'Wrapped in Red' - Music". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- Hampp, Andrew (October 22, 2013). "Q4 Label Special: RCA's Tom Corson and Peter Edge on Miley, Britney & JT, the Adult Xmas Market, 'Focusing on Hip-Hop & Rock' (From the Magazine)". Billboard. 125 (41). Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
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Rubenstein, Jenna Hally (October 18, 2013). "Listen To Kelly Clarkson's Insta-Christmas Classic: 'Underneath The Tree'". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - Cinquemani, Sal (October 23, 2013). "Kelly Clarkson: Wrapped in Red — Music Review — Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ "'Underneath The Tree' Lyric Video Has Kelly Clarkson Getting Festive". The Huffington Post. AOL. October 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- Lansky, Sam (October 28, 2013). "Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath The Tree" Gets A Cute Lyric Video: Watch". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
