August 14, 2012

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Alicia Keys is igniting the fire within. The Grammy-winning songstress has announced the official title of her fifth studio album.

Alicia took to her website to reveal the exciting news. “Girl on Fire is about new beginnings, new perspectives and fresh starts… stripping away all the bad energy in your life and taking full control of the reigns and how you want to live,” she said of the follow-up to 2009’s The Element of Freedom.

She has been in the studio with her husband Swizz Beatz, Babyface, Pop Wansel, Rico Love, and Sevyn, who co-wrote the single “New Day.” She will debut a new song off the album at the 2012 MTV Video MusicAwards in Los Angeles on September 6.

“The #girlonfire movement begins NOW!” tweeted Alicia. Read her full message below.

Hey…

I’m in the studio right now working away on my new albumand I am SO excited!!! I’m ignited!!! I’m like a match to a flame! I’ve had the title of this album in my mind for a long time….It’s been hard to hold it back and now I’m not holding it back anymore! It is called Girl on Fire!!! And that’s exactly how I feel!!! You’ll be learning more about it soon… but let me just say before making this record, in some ways I felt like a lion locked in a cage…I felt like a girl misunderstood that no one really knew, I felt like it was time to stop making excuses for any part of my life that I wanted to change. Once I made that choice I became a Girl on Fire, the lion broke free!!

During the recording process, I mostly stayed in NY but on some cool and memorable occasions, I traveled to different places, and worked with many collaborators, (some old friends, some new). I discovered so many beautiful sounds, and meanings and a lot about the power of a song. I can’t wait to share this album with you. I promise when you hear it, it’s a new me, I gave it my all: powerful, soulful, honesty and heart… With Girl on Fire, I want to move you and surprise you.

Girl on Fire is about new beginnings, new perspectives and fresh starts… stripping away all the bad energy in your life and taking full control of the reigns and how you want to live. There is something really empowering about finding yourself and your own inner strength. On one song, One of the lines I wrote says, “I’ll never be perfect, but at least now I’m brave!”

Here’s to finding your power! Your FIRE!! Stay tuned for more.

In the meantime, thank you for all your love, strength and support.

-Alicia

[Edited 10/1/12 2:14am]

Looks like someone's been reading 'The Hunger Games'.

evensarcasmshouldbegrammaticallycorrectedit

[Edited 8/15/12 7:18am]

New beginnings..........and old samples.

I'm willing to hear the new song to see what it will be about, but honestly, (with the exception of "Unthinkable") haven't been feeling her music since the "Diary" album.

She gets a lot of hate here on the org, but I love her music.

I think she gets better with each album, I loved The Element of freedom.

missfee said:

I'm willing to hear the new song to see what it will be about, but honestly, (with the exception of "Unthinkable") haven't been feeling her music since the "Diary" album.

same here! her first 2 albums were brilliant, after that it went down hill. everything started sounding the same and just tired. i hope this really this is a fresh new start but some how i doubt it. every artist says their new album will change music, etc and it's always the same out shit they've been spewing out for years. are they all delusional?

I've give her credit for not claiming to be on the verge of creating entire new genres. I'm looking at you Usher and Beyonce.

Identity said:

I've give her credit for not claiming to be on the verge of creating entire new genres. I'm looking at you Usher and Beyonce.

Same... Alicia has never been full of herself musically. And the funny thing is, her music is lightyears ahead of Usher and Beyonces.

Identity said:

I've give her credit for not claiming to be on the verge of creating entire new genres. I'm looking at you Usher and Beyonce.

Identity said:

I've give her credit for not claiming to be on the verge of creating entire new genres. I'm looking at you Usher and Beyonce.

Yeah, she's so humble, considering herself a kindred spirit of Bob Dylan while churning out the most trite lyrics and facsimile music since Mariah Carey. Mm-hmm.

Her songs are like some of Yeats' best poetry compared to the Auto-tuned crud saturating the radio waves across America. Have I encountered better singers? Yes, but I can't wait to hear her new cuts.

I'm getting it just for the cover art. Didn't dig her last outing, but I always liked her. As I Am is still my favorite from her.

JoeBala said:

I'm getting it just for the cover art. Didn't dig her last outing, but I always liked her. As I Am is still my favorite from her.

Same. I didn't dig Element of Freedom. But As I Am is definitely one of my favorite albums of the 00s.

Not sure why she is naming her album after a famous and timely book and movie. Kinda cheap, IMO.

mjscarousal said:

Identity said:

I've give her credit for not claiming to be on the verge of creating entire new genres. I'm looking at you Usher and Beyonce.

Same... Alicia has never been full of herself musically. And the funny thing is, her music is lightyears ahead of Usher and Beyonces.

It is kind of hard 2 be "full of herself musically" when most of her material is based on other people's work.

Identity said:

Alicia took to her website to reveal the exciting news. “Girl on Fire is about new beginnings, new perspectives and fresh starts…

Uh, Alicia, you're Ivy League. Unlike others in your industry who feint intelligence, you should know using all three of those phrases is redundancy at best.

^^But who's music isn't it? New and old steal, err borrow. Or better INFLUENCE.

JoeBala said:

^^But who's music isn't it? New and old steal, err borrow. Or better INFLUENCE.

When I listen 2 so called new music and I can clearly hear the reference material, that is WACK in my opinion.

You obviously haven't visited Timmy's New Music Thread for quite some time, GC.

Identity said:

You obviously haven't visited Timmy's New Music Thread for quite some time, GC.

Note sure how I missed that but thanks 4 the reminder.

i agree if only for the cover art! man, she's come a long way from the foul mouthed butch acting chick from her debut album, and child birth has definitely brought in the curves! SOMETHING on there should resonate given the roster of producers.

[Edited 8/16/12 8:29am]

Graycap23 said:

JoeBala said:

^^But who's music isn't it? New and old steal, err borrow. Or better INFLUENCE.

When I listen 2 so called new music and I can clearly hear the reference material, that is WACK in my opinion.

Not everything has to sound groundbreaking new to be good...Sade's albums all sound the same, but it's still good music. Besides, all music has it's reference material.

robertlove said:

Graycap23 said:

When I listen 2 so called new music and I can clearly hear the reference material, that is WACK in my opinion.

Not everything has to sound groundbreaking new to be good...Sade's albums all sound the same, but it's still good music. Besides, all music has it's reference material.

No mention of ground breaking on my part. Very few artist are in that category.

I just don't appreciate straight rip offs claiming 2 be original.

2 each his own

robertlove said:

Graycap23 said:

When I listen 2 so called new music and I can clearly hear the reference material, that is WACK in my opinion.

Not everything has to sound groundbreaking new to be good...Sade's albums all sound the same, but it's still good music. Besides, all music has it's reference material.

No they don't.

Alicia Keys features fans in "New Day" music video.

Graycap23 said:

New beginnings..........and old samples.

WaterInYourBath said:

robertlove said:

Not everything has to sound groundbreaking new to be good...Sade's albums all sound the same, but it's still good music. Besides, all music has it's reference material.

No they don't.

yes they do

But hey, why change it when it's this good??

Graycap23 said:

mjscarousal said:

Same... Alicia has never been full of herself musically. And the funny thing is, her music is lightyears ahead of Usher and Beyonces.

It is kind of hard 2 be "full of herself musically" when most of her material is based on other people's work.

Likewise with HER peers... so whats your point? NOBODY out NOW is 100% original

Im just saying that although she isnt innovative or original her music for the most part is better and despite her success she seems to be more humble and low key... Usher and Beyonce have both claimed to be the next... such and such or claim to be creating a new genre every time they release an album... Im not a huge Alicia fan but she has NEVER done that... Im just complimenting her on that aspect.

When I read she had 14 grammys I couldnt believe it because she never brags about it or talk about it like Beyonce for instance... its a difference. Shes FAR from being stuck up or full of herself

[Edited 8/18/12 15:11pm]