Underdog (Alicia Keys song)
"Underdog" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. It was written by Keys, Johnny McDaid, Ed Sheeran, Amy Wadge, Jonny Coffer and Foy Vance, and produced by Keys and McDaid for her seventh studio album "Alicia" (2020). Released on January 9, 2020, as the album's third single, "Underdog" became a top 40 hit in many countries and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicating 1,000,000 units recorded in the US. Background and release. "Underdog" was recorded for Alicia Keys' seventh studio album "Alicia" (2020). Speaking on the meaning behind  the song, Keys told "Rolling Stone": "Underdog" was released on January 9, 2020, as the third single from "Alicia". A corresponding music video directed by Wendy Morgan was released the same day. Thematizing the idea of overcoming challenging situations, the video captures ordinary people hustling to improve their circumstances and is intercut with a dynamic performance from Keys. Meg Bishop from "Minnesota Daily" wrote that on the song, Keys "implores listeners to view people in their true context, below the surface of one glance". On March 27, 2020, the song was remixed by Keys and featured reggae singers Protoje and  Chronixx. On May 14, 2021, 16 months after the song's original release date, another remix of the song was released featuring American singer Nicky Jam and Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro. In November 2021, Keys released a lullaby version of the song on "Sweet Dreams" extended play. Critical reception. Reviewing for "NME", Nick Levine called "Underdog" a "slick pop-R&B single" with "unpretentious and affecting" lyrics. "USA Today"s Gary Dinges named it among the songs from "Alicia" that "take on new meaning when you listen to them within the scope of the pandemic and social strife plaguing the country . Adi Mehta from Entertainment Voice" wrote that the song's "main melody is hopelessly trite" but "Keys manages to sound so sleek and modest". Konstantinos Pappis from "Our Culture Mag" wrote that the “uplifting” song is “anchored by Keys’ ability to sell everyday stories about perseverance” and named it one of the album’s highlights. Live performances. Keys performed "Underdog" with Brittany Howard backing the performance on acoustic guitar at the "62nd Annual Grammy Awards" and on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on January 29, 2020. Keys performed "Underdog" at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on February 6, 2020. Keys performed  the song at a concert to promote the "Alicia" album held at Bush Hall in London as well as on "The Graham Norton Show" on February 7, 2020. In March, Keys performed an acoustic rendition of the song in "iHeart Living Room Concert for America" on the 29th and in "#KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall" on the 30th. Keys performed "Underdog" at fundraising concert "From Milan with Love" on May 3, at a Salesforce virtual event "Leading Through Change" on May 21, and "Front Row From Home" on radio station 106.1 BLI on May 28, 2020. Keys performed the song  on "Super Soul Sunday" on March 29, 2020. On June 7, 2020, Keys performed the song on "Dear Class of 2020". In June 2020, Keys performed the song on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts. Keys performed the song during her Verzuz battle with John Legend on June 19, 2020. Keys performed the song on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" on September 25, 2020. Keys performed the song during the "Alicia Keys Rocks New Year's Eve" concert on BBC One on December 31, 2020. Commercial performance. On February 7, 2020, "Underdog" debuted on the "Billboard" Hot 100 at  position 93, making it the second single from "Alicia" to chart on the Hot 100. "Underdog" later peaked at number 69.