Underneath Your Clothes
Encyclopedia
"Underneath Your Clothes" is a power ballad by Colombian
singer-songwriter
Shakira
- the second English language single
released from Laundry Service
(2001). It is a love song
with lyrics by Shakira and music by her and Lester Mendez
and tells the story of the unconditional love that a woman has for her boyfriend, which is referenced in the lyrics. To date, "Underneath Your Clothes" is Shakira's third most successful single worldwide, behind only "Whenever, Wherever
" (2001) and "Hips Don't Lie
" (2006). The song is listed as one of the twenty biggest-selling singles of the 2000 decade according to Yahoo! Music
with sales of over 5 million copies.
s "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" list. Lisa Oliver from Yahoo! Music
said that: "Fronting for the corkers you have 'Underneath Your Clothes' a Jewel
-esque ground swelling ode to the life-affirming power gained from the love of a good man (as well as "lamps hanging from the ceiling")".
for "Underneath Your Clothes" was directed
by American photographer Herb Ritts
and it was the second to last he directed before his death. It starts with a black-and-white
scene of a reporter asking Shakira how she feels about crossing over into the English-speaking music market, and the singer, ironically, answers him in Spanish. Shakira claimed in her "MTV Making the Video" of the song that the "Crossover" claims had been her daily bread, and that she heavily wished for this to be included into the video. The video illustrates her loneliness as a music artist when she goes on tour. Then, scenes of the singer performing the song live with her band and passionately hugging her boyfriend (played by her real-life then fiancé Antonio de la Rúa
) are shown.
"Underneath Your Clothes" was the second video by Shakira to retire on MTV
's TRL
on May 14, 2002, when it was at #3 on the countdown.
(ITV1
), Domingo Legal (SBT), Divas Live in Las Vegas (VH1
), Late Show with David Letterman
(CBS
), TRL (MTV), Party in the Park 2002
(ITV1), among others. The limited edition of the album, entitled Laundry Service: Washed & Dried (2002) presented an acoustic
version of the song as a bonus track
. The singer's second live album
, Live & Off the Record (2004), presented a live acoustic version of the song performed during an April 22, 2003 concert in Rotterdam
, Netherlands, which was part of the singer's Tour of the Mongoose
(2002–2003). Shakira performed the song live at the concerts for her Oral Fixation Tour
(2006–2007), however the song was not in the set-list of the Spanish and Latin American concerts. She also presented a piano mix of the song at the "Ein Herz für Kinder" and "Clinton Global Initiative", with only vocals and piano, and excluded the complete second half to the song.
CD maxi
CD single
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
- the second English language single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released from Laundry Service
Laundry Service
Some critics criticized the effectiveness of Shakira's lyrics, claiming that her English skills were too weak for her to write in that language, but nearly all agreed on her unique poetic imagery...
(2001). It is a love song
Love song
A love song is about falling in love and the feelings it brings. Anthologies of love songs often contain a mixture of both of these types of song. A bawdy song is both humorous and saucy, emphasizing the physical pleasure of love rather than the emotional joy...
with lyrics by Shakira and music by her and Lester Mendez
Lester Mendez
Lester Mendez is an American record producer and songwriter. His production/writing credits include a multitude of successful hits including Shakira's "Underneath Your Clothes" and "La Tortura", Jessica Simpson's "A Public Affair", and Nelly Furtado's "Te Busqué".Mendez worked with Carlos Santana...
and tells the story of the unconditional love that a woman has for her boyfriend, which is referenced in the lyrics. To date, "Underneath Your Clothes" is Shakira's third most successful single worldwide, behind only "Whenever, Wherever
Whenever, Wherever
"Whenever, Wherever" is a Latin pop song written by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, Gloria Estefan, and Tim Mitchell for Shakira's first English language album, Laundry Service. The track was produced by Shakira, and recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami as well as Compass Point Studios in...
" (2001) and "Hips Don't Lie
Hips Don't Lie
"Hips Don't Lie" is a Latin pop song based in a salsa and cumbia performed by Colombian singer Shakira and Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released in 2006 as the second single from Shakira's second English album Oral Fixation Vol. 2...
" (2006). The song is listed as one of the twenty biggest-selling singles of the 2000 decade according to Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
with sales of over 5 million copies.
Critical reception
"Underneath Your Clothes" is listed on #391 on BlenderBlender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
s "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" list. Lisa Oliver from Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
said that: "Fronting for the corkers you have 'Underneath Your Clothes' a Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
-esque ground swelling ode to the life-affirming power gained from the love of a good man (as well as "lamps hanging from the ceiling")".
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Underneath Your Clothes" was directed
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
by American photographer Herb Ritts
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
and it was the second to last he directed before his death. It starts with a black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
scene of a reporter asking Shakira how she feels about crossing over into the English-speaking music market, and the singer, ironically, answers him in Spanish. Shakira claimed in her "MTV Making the Video" of the song that the "Crossover" claims had been her daily bread, and that she heavily wished for this to be included into the video. The video illustrates her loneliness as a music artist when she goes on tour. Then, scenes of the singer performing the song live with her band and passionately hugging her boyfriend (played by her real-life then fiancé Antonio de la Rúa
Antonio de la Rúa
Antonio de la Rúa , is the oldest son of former Argentine president, Fernando de la Rúa and Inés Pertiné...
) are shown.
"Underneath Your Clothes" was the second video by Shakira to retire on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
on May 14, 2002, when it was at #3 on the countdown.
Live performances
To promote the single, Shakira went on to sing it live on the following television programs: CD:UKCD:UK
CD:UK was a British music television programme. Originally run in conjunction with SMTV Live, the programme was first aired on ITV on 29 August 1998 to rival the BBC's Live & Kicking and was the replacement for The Chart Show, which had been airing on the network for nine and a half years.In...
(ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
), Domingo Legal (SBT), Divas Live in Las Vegas (VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
), Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
(CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), TRL (MTV), Party in the Park 2002
Party in the Park
Party in the Park is the generic name given to music concerts organised by various radio stations and local authorities in England and Wales, typically in large parks during the summer.-Leeds' Party in the Park:...
(ITV1), among others. The limited edition of the album, entitled Laundry Service: Washed & Dried (2002) presented an acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
version of the song as a bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
. The singer's second live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, Live & Off the Record (2004), presented a live acoustic version of the song performed during an April 22, 2003 concert in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands, which was part of the singer's Tour of the Mongoose
Tour of the Mongoose
-Tour Dates:-Broadcast and recordings:The tour was shot in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on April 22, 2003.The tour was chronicled on Live & off the Record. The disc included the concert along with a documentary showing the performer preparing for the show, her song writing process and her ideas about...
(2002–2003). Shakira performed the song live at the concerts for her Oral Fixation Tour
Oral Fixation Tour
Oral Fixation Tour is the concert tour by Colombian singer-songwriter, Shakira, in support of her fourth and fifth studio albums, Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2...
(2006–2007), however the song was not in the set-list of the Spanish and Latin American concerts. She also presented a piano mix of the song at the "Ein Herz für Kinder" and "Clinton Global Initiative", with only vocals and piano, and excluded the complete second half to the song.
Cover versions
- Kieran GossKieran GossKieran Goss is a Northern Irish contemporary singer-songwriter.-Biography:Kieran Goss was born and raised in Mayobridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. He was just nine years old when he got his first guitar...
on Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 1Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 1Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 1 is an Irish charity album featuring a variety of artists performing acoustic cover versions of popular songs. It was released in 2003 by RMG Chart Entertainment Ltd. The songs on the album were recorded live and acoustic on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM.The...
. - Linda Steen on Idol (Norway) 2007.
- Amy DiamondAmy DiamondAmy Diamond is a Swedish pop singer, actress and television presenter. She is known for her single "What's in It for Me" and album This Is Me Now which were released when she was 12 years old. The song was a 2005 hit in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. It was the most-played song in Poland...
on Super Troupers' compilation album. - RougeRouge (pop group)Rouge was a commercially successful girl group, formed in the first season of the Brazilian reality show Popstars, broadcast by SBT in 2002...
with Portuguese Version made by Rouge girls called "Você Me Roubou" (You stole me, or better, You stole) - Diana, of Operación Triunfo Series 7Operación TriunfoOperación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their...
in the show 5. - Shakira performed it with the German band Big Soul on the finale of X Factor (Germany)X Factor (Germany season 1)The first Season of X Factor was started in 2010. The auditions were held in April 2010. The first show started on 20 August 2010. The Judges are Sarah Connor , George Glueck and Till Brönner .There are four phases:1. Auditions2. Bootcamp...
.
Track listings
There are the major formats for the release of "Underneath Your Clothes" :CD maxi
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (album version) — 3:44
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (acoustic version) — 3:55
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Mendez club radio edit) — 3:24
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderpuss club mix) — 6:52
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (video)
CD single
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (album version) — 3:44
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (acoustic version) — 3:55
Official remixes
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Acoustic Live Vox Version)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Bastone & Burnz Mix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Fairlite Remix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Lester Mendez Club Mix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Lester Mendez Club Mix Radio Edit)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Lester Mendez Dub Mix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (The Xquizit Dj X D&D Dub Mix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (The Xquizit Dj X D&D Vocal Remixes)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderpuss Club Mix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderpuss Club Radio Edit)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderpuss Club Video Edit Mix)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderpuss Radio Edit)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderdub)
- "Underneath Your Clothes" (Thunderpuss Tribe-A-Pella)
Personnel
- ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Shakira - Co-produced by Lester Mendez for Living Stereo
- Arranged by Shakira and Lester Mendez
- KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s: Lester Mendez - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s: Tim Pierce and Brian Ray - BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
: Paul Bushnell - Percussion: Richard Bravo
- DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s: Abraham Laboriel, Jr. - HornHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
arrangements: Lester Mendez - Horn charts and direction: Camilo Valencia
- TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
: Tony Concepción - Trumpet and piccolo trumpet: Jim Hacker
- BaritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
and tenor saxSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
: Ed Calle - Bass tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and tubaTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
: Joe Barati - Trombone and bass trombone: Dane Teboe
- Background vocals: Shakira and Rita QuinteroRita QuinteroRita Quintero is an American musician and singer.-Life and career:She was born Rita Marie Quintero on May 11, 1962 in Miami, Florida to Elena and Reinaldo Quintero....
- Recording engineers: Terry ManningTerry ManningTerry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
, Javier Garza and Gustavo Celis - Mixing engineer: Eric Schilling
- Additional engineers: Carlos Paucar, Mike Couzzi, Jorge González and Alfred Figueroa
- Assistant engineers: Jorge González, Tony Mardini, Ken Theis, Ed Williams, Chris Carroll, Christine Tramontano, Nicholas Marshall, Oswald Bowe and Alex Dixon
Peak positions
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|
- 1 Remixes
Year-end charts
| Chart (2002) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 12 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 5 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 18 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 15 |
| French Singles Chart | 29 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 13 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 14 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart | 41 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 66 |
Decade-end charts
| (2000–2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 88 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2 x Platinum | 2002 | 140,000 |
| Austria | Platinum | February 14, 2003 | 30,000 |
| Belgium | Platinum | September 21, 2002 | 50,000 |
| France | Gold | November 6, 2002 | 250,000 |
| Germany | Gold | 2002 | 150,000 |
| Switzerland | Platinum | 2002 | 40,000 |