Marion Hall formerly Lady Saw, becomes the first Jamaican female dancehall artist to be featured on a platinum single in the US. The digital release of the single “Underneath It All” by No Doubt in which she is the featured artist becomes certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA).
This makes the former Queen Of The Dancehall, who has two gold records, the first hardcore female dancehall artist to go Platinum in the US. The milestone achievement was announced by the RIAA on Friday (July 7, 2023) as the single earns 1,000,000 units of sales and streams in the US.
“Underneath It All” released almost 21 years ago on July 22, 2002, is the third single from the ska band’s their fourth studio album, Rock Steady. The reggae fusion track features the iconic production duo Sly and Robbie, along with guest vocals from Lady Saw.
The inspiration for “Underneath It All” struck Stefani during a visit to London with her then-boyfriend, Gavin Rossdale. Utilizing backward string samples, she along with writer David Stewart completed the song in just ten minutes. Lady Saw is also noted to have written her verse on the spot after being called by Sly and Robbie to add her touch to the rock song.
“Underneath It All” which has 77,854,600 streams on Spotify struck a chord with audiences worldwide and is the groups fourth song to reach that milestone and Marion Hall’s first. In the United States, it became No Doubt’s highest-charting single, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 46th Grammy Awards. Its popularity extended beyond the US, topping the charts on Top 40 Mainstream and making appearances on various international music charts.
The song’s accompanying music video, directed by Sophie Muller and Logan, embraced a visually striking aesthetic. It featured Stefani in various settings, gradually shedding layers of clothing to contrast with the song’s innocent lyrics. The video incorporated vibrant colors and post-production enhancements to create a captivating visual experience. “Underneath It All” received significant airplay on MTV’s Total Request Live and earned nominations for Best Pop Video and Best Cinematography at the MTV Video Music Awards.
(Read more on lady Saw’s legacy)
