"Superwoman" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album As I Am (2007). Written by Keys, Linda Perry, and Steve Mostyn, it was released as the fourth and final single from As I Am on July 29, 2008, by J Records.
Critically acclaimed, "Superwoman" earned Keys her second consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, at the 2009 ceremony, and was also nominated for Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song at the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
Song information Keys stated in an interview with MTV that "Superwoman" is her favorite track of the album, saying: "Every time I sing it, it makes me feel inspired to be however I am that day." "Superwoman" is also the opening song on the WNBA games which features a video of Keys performing the song in one of her concerts along with shot of women playing in the WNBA. The song debuted in the U.S. on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart week of August 14, 2008, at number fifty-five, eventually peaking at number twelve. Keys performed the song with Queen Latifah and Kathleen Battle at the 2008 American Music Awards on November 23.
Music video The music video for "Superwoman" was filmed on June 9–10, 2008 at Quixote Studios and Center Studios in Los Angeles. It was directed by Chris Robinson, who had previously worked on other videos with Keys, like her MTV Video Music Award-winning video "Karma" and her previous single "Teenage Love Affair".
Keys plays many roles of women at their best strength and effort. Throughout the course of the video, she embodies a young mother applying for a university, an African woman, a businesswoman, a Cleopatra-like pharaoh, and an astronaut. Jada Pinkett Smith was also in the video, along with her son Jaden. The music video premiered exclusively on July 15, 2008 on Keys' official website. It was ranked number seventy-one on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008.
Track listings US promotional CD single "Superwoman" (Radio Edit) – 4:04 "Superwoman" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10
European / Australian CD single "Superwoman" (Radio Version) – 4:04 "Superwoman" (Live Version) – 4:02
European CD Maxi-single "Superwoman" (Radio Version) – 4:04 "Superwoman" (Live) – 4:02 "Teenage Love Affair" (Part II) (featuring LL Cool J) – 4:11 "Superwoman" (Video)
Credits and personnel Musicians
Alicia Keys – vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Moog, bass synthesizer, virtual synthesizers Mark Batson – Hammond B3, Moog bass Steve Mostyn – bass guitar Trevor Lawrence Jr. – live drums Mark Robohm – live drums Jumaane Smith – trumpet lead
Duane Eubanks – trumpet #2 Ryan Keberle – tenor trombone Michael Dease – tenor trombone, bass trombone David Watson – tenor saxophone Darryl Dixon – alto saxophone Carl Maraghi – baritone saxophone Jason Sugata – French horn
Production
Alicia Keys – producer, horn arrangements Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – producer, drum programming Ray Chew – horn arrangements Ann Mincieli – engineer Stuart White – assistant engineer
Zach Hancock – assistant engineer Seth Waldmann – assistant engineer Seamus Tyson – assistant engineer Manny Marroquin – mixing Jared Robbins – mix assistant
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2008) Peakposition Australia (ARIA) 57 Japan (Japan Hot 100) 27 UK Singles (OCC) 128
Year-end charts Chart (2008) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 70
Certifications
Release history + Release dates and formats for "Superwoman" Region Date Format(s) Label(s) United States July 29, 2008 J August 26, 2008 Contemporary hit radio Australia September 1, 2008 CD Sony BMG September 15, 2008 Digital download Germany September 19, 2008
References