Underneath the Tree

Production and composition

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". "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 provide 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 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, the song was written in the key of E♭ major, in which the vocal range spans from E♭₄ to G₅. Apart from the Wall of Sound, various other sounds, such as sleigh bells and bell chimes, are also prominently heard on the song, which features a saxophone solo on the bridge.

Release and reception

On October 18, 2013, Clarkson premiered "Underneath the Tree" on her Vevo channel. On November 5, 2013, RCA Records released it as a single on Adult Contemporary radio stations in the United States, while also planning to release it on Mainstream Pop stations. It was then released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2013, and in the United States on December 9, 2013. A digital EP containing remixes of the song was released internationally on December 17, 2013.

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 Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times's described it as a remarkably cheery single. In her review, Christina Vinson of Taste of Country remarked that the track "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" and said that Clarkson "shines", 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 "Underneath the Tree" 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". Jenna Hally Rubenstein of MTV News 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. 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;" while The Independent's Hugh Montgomery applauded it as having a sass, jingle and a sax solo, saying that it is "a winner on all fronts."

Chart performance

Upon the release of Wrapped in Red, "Underneath the Tree" entered the Billboard Holiday Digital Songs chart as an album cut at number four on the week ending November 16, 2013. Following its release as a single, it reached a peak position of number three on the week ending December 28, 2013. After being released as a single to Adult Contemporary radio, the song debuted at number 21 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for the week ending November 23, 2013, eventually topping the chart after three weeks, becoming her third Adult Contemporary number one song and her first since "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (2012). That same week, it also entered the Billboard Holiday 100 chart at number 34, making it her second entry at the Holiday Songs after "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (2011). The song entered the chart's top ten after two weeks at number 10. On the week ending December 21, 2013, the song entered the main Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 92, and peaked at number 78 on the week ending January 4, 2013. Brian Mansfield of USA Today reported that "Underneath the Tree" was radio's most-played new holiday song of 2013.

Internationally, "Underneath the Tree" became a top forty hit in four countries. After debuting at number 41 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 21, 2013, the song reached a peak of number 28 after a week. In the United Kingdom, it debuted on the Official UK Singles Chart at number 79 on the week ending December 14, 2013, eventually reaching at number 30 on the week ending December 28, 2013. In the Netherlands, "Underneath the Tree" debuted on the Mega Top 50 chart at number 38 on the week ending December 14, 2013, and peaked at number 34 on the week ending December 28, 2013. That same week, it entered the Mega Single Top 100 at number 85, and peaked at number 69. It "Underneath the Tree" entered the Dutch Top 40 chart at number 26, making it her first top forty hit in that region after four years since "I Do Not Hook Up" peaked at number 19 in 2009. It then peaked at number 25 after a week. In South Korea, the song debuted at number 2 on the Gaon Singles Chart on the week ending November 9, 2013. In Japan, it debuted on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart at number 84 on the week ending January 4, 2014, and spend two weeks on the chart.

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". Its accompanying music video premiered on December 3, 2013 on Vevo, featuring a live performance from the stage of her NBC television special Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale, which was directed by Hamish Hamilton, known for his concert films.

Live performances and usage in media

Clarkson has performed "Underneath the Tree" in various televised performances. She first performed "Underneath the Tree" in a live televised performance on The Today Show on November 26, 2013. Apart from being performed from the set of Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale featured in the song's accompanying music video, a different live performance was aired during the television special itself, in which Clarkson was accompanied by children while singing it. She also performed the song on the fifth season of the American singing competition The Voice on December 3, 2013. On December 5, 2013, she then performed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Wrapped in Red liner notes.

Recording

Personnel