"Stand Up", officially titled "Stand Up (from Harriet)", is a song performed by English singer

Cynthia Erivo Cynthia Erivo (; born 8 January 1987) is an English actress, singer, and songwriter. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Grammy Award and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Awa ...

and co-written by Erivo with Joshuah Brian Campbell. It was released on 25 October 2019, as the lead single from the soundtrack to the biographical film '' Harriet'', which also stars Erivo.

Background and composition

In 2017, English singer and actress

was cast to portray abolitionist and activist

Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 slaves, including family and friends, ...

in the biographical film eponymously titled ''Harriet''. Following the completion of filming, Erivo collaborated with composer Joshuah Brian Campbell to write the song for the end credits of the film. Written by Erivo and Campbell, "Stand Up" was produced by Will Wells and Gabe Fox-Peck. The song was described by ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its co ...

''s Jon Blistein as a "slow-burning, gospel-tinged ballad." Rania Aniftos of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' noted that it chronicles themes of "hope, overcoming obstacles and kindness for others." The song's lyrics also make use of Tubman's last words before her death in 1913: "I go to prepare a place for you."

Music video

The music video for "Stand Up" was released on 8 November 2019. It shows Erivo performing the song on an "empty but beautifully lit soundstage."

Accolades

Following its release, the song earned

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

and

Critics' Choice Movie Award The Critics' Choice Movie Awards (formerly known as the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award) is an awards show presented annually by the American-Canadian Critics Choice Association (CCA) to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Writ ...

nominations for Best Original Song and Best Song, respectively. It also garnered an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...

nomination for Best Original Song. The song was also nominated for the Best Song Written For Visual Media at the

63rd Annual Grammy Awards The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from September 1, 20 ...

, the Best Original Song at the 51st NAACP Image Awards, and the Best Original Song at the 13th Houston Film Critics Society Awards. It won the

Society of Composers & Lyricists The Society of Composers & Lyricists is an organization founded in 1983 to represent composers and lyricists working in visual media, such as television and film. It sought union status in 1984 after the dissolution of the Composers and Lyricists ...

Award for Outstanding Original Song for Visual Media.

Charts

Release history

References

External links

*{{YouTube, TNO40mDaOEY, "Stand Up (from Harriet)" (audio) 2019 singles 2019 songs 2010s ballads Back Lot Music singles Cynthia Erivo songs Songs written by Cynthia Erivo Songs written for films