Surrendering (song)
Encyclopedia
"Surrendering" is a pop rock
song written by Alanis Morissette
, and produced by her for her sixth album, Under Rug Swept
(2002).
The song was the last Morissette wrote for the album. According to her, it is "about the gratitude that I feel for someone tapping into the courage that it takes to allow themselves to be loved and to ... listen to [their fears] and still move through them. And how thrilling it is for me to be able to be let in in that kind of way. And how healing it is ultimately for both the person I'm singing about and myself." She has described it as "a very peaceful, joyful song". The subject of "Surrendering" is a man Morissette was dating as of March 2002.
cited the line "I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces that I represent" as an example of "some of the clumsiest lyrics to be heard on a pop record in years ... [it] may be an appropriate assessment of a relationship, but it's not a chorus." The Village Voice
named it the best song on Under Rug Swept, saying it shows Morissette's "gift for the all-time pop melody". NME
wrote that "Surrendering" and "Hands Clean
", another track on the album, were "overwrought folk-rock [that is] destined for a thousand
organic juice bars."
"Surrendering" was released to radio as the album's third single
in Canada
in September 2002 (see 2002 in music
). By March 2003 it had reached the top ten on the playlists of radio stations such as Mix 96 and Énergie
. No music video
was released.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
song written by Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, and produced by her for her sixth album, Under Rug Swept
Under Rug Swept
Under Rug Swept is the fifth album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. Released by Maverick Records in the United States on February 26, 2002 and in the United Kingdom a day earlier , it was the first album Morissette had written and produced on her own...
(2002).
The song was the last Morissette wrote for the album. According to her, it is "about the gratitude that I feel for someone tapping into the courage that it takes to allow themselves to be loved and to ... listen to [their fears] and still move through them. And how thrilling it is for me to be able to be let in in that kind of way. And how healing it is ultimately for both the person I'm singing about and myself." She has described it as "a very peaceful, joyful song". The subject of "Surrendering" is a man Morissette was dating as of March 2002.
Release and reception
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
cited the line "I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces that I represent" as an example of "some of the clumsiest lyrics to be heard on a pop record in years ... [it] may be an appropriate assessment of a relationship, but it's not a chorus." The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
named it the best song on Under Rug Swept, saying it shows Morissette's "gift for the all-time pop melody". NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
wrote that "Surrendering" and "Hands Clean
Hands Clean
"Hands Clean" is a song by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette for her fifth studio album Under Rug Swept . It was released as the lead single of the album. The song was written and produced by Morissette herself...
", another track on the album, were "overwrought folk-rock [that is] destined for a thousand
organic juice bars."
"Surrendering" was released to radio as the album's third 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...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in September 2002 (see 2002 in music
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
). By March 2003 it had reached the top ten on the playlists of radio stations such as Mix 96 and Énergie
Énergie
NRJ is a network of French-language contemporary hit radio outlets broadcasting throughout the province of Quebec and portions of eastern Ontario, in Eastern Canada. They offer a personality-driven mix of francophone and anglophone pop hits and cutting-edge programs, catering to a young adult...
. No music video
Music 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...
was released.