“They said I would never make it / But I was built to break the mold / The only dream that I’ve been chasing is my own.” Despite being the chief amongst underdogs, Alicia Keys, or rather the character she portrays in the song, “Underdog,” is incredibly optimistic and resolute. “Underdog” is an empowering R&B record that atones for the nameless, the homeless, and the underrated. Throughout this record, notably co-written by Ed Sheeran, Keys not only gives a ‘name’ and tells the story of the many underdogs of the world, she empowers, inspires, and uplifts them.
Besides elevating the worth and value of the undervalued, Alicia Keys makes it clear that to become better people, this is what we are all called upon to do. On the first verse, a woman meets a nameless, homeless man and acknowledges him with a conversation as opposed to ignoring him. On the second verse, in another scenario, the protagonist converses with a taxi driver, who’s “On the run from a country where they put you in prison / For being a woman and speaking your mind.” Ultimately, in both situations, Keys closes the verse singing:
“One conversation, a single moment
The things that change us if we notice
When we look up sometimes.”
Alicia Keys asking us as a society to become more ‘woke’ you might say. We are very self-centered, and more often than not, we look down upon/don’t open our eyes to others, particularly those who are disenfranchised and big-time underdogs. Instead, Keys seeks to be the champion of the underdog, encouraging them to ascend. This is best exemplified on the second half of the chorus:
“This goes out to the underdog
Keep on keeping at what you love
You’ll find that someday soon enough
You will rise up, rise up, yeah.”
Take a page out of Alicia Keys’ book. Become socially ‘woke,’ and encourage your dreams and the dreams of others to become a reality. Speak it into existence, underdogs all over the world!
You can learn more about Alicia Keys here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
