September 09





''The day I wrote this song, I was sitting in a circle of people of all ages and we were asked, “Why are you here.” Why am I here?? This really hit me on a deep level. I realized no one had ever asked me that question before.

As I prepare to give birth to a new child, I can't help and think about the world I'm bringing my baby into. No matter where we come from, when we see the state of the world today, we can all feel the growing frustration and desire to make a difference. And we all have a voice - we just need to know how to make it heard.

I have a vision that I believe is more than a dream, that I know can be our reality.
I believe in an empowered world community built on the true meaning of equality – where we are all considered one people, regardless of race, religion, gender, zip code, belief system or sexual orientation.

I believe all of our voices should be heard, so that our representation reflects our population. We need our leadership to reflect an equal balance of the gifts that both men and women have to offer.

I believe in a world where every child born receives a quality education – where their unique gifts are nurtured so that they may be a beneficial presence in this world.

I believe in mutual respect and cooperation among all peoples and all nations. It is time to end all forms of racial injustice for our black brothers and sisters and all people of color.

I believe in an end to the prison industrial complex in America and a renewed justice system that is based on fairness and truth.

I believe in universal global health care based on Integrative Medicine, so that our bodies are acknowledged and treated as one system, and we can help control the spread of diseases like AIDS, Malaria, TB and Ebola.
I believe we have an ability to end poverty, oppression, and hopelessness that often breeds despair, terror, and violence.

I believe in common sense gun laws that serve to protect children and families and society from unnecessary violence.
I believe in Peace & Love & Unity.
I believe that this vision can be a reality.
And, it’s not about me. It’s about WE.

Together we can give birth to a kinder and more peaceful world for ALL children.

Our souls were brought together so that we can love each other sister, brother. We Are Here. We are here for all of us. That's why‪#‎WeAreHere‬.''

Sent with Light,
Alicia Keys

[Edited 9/27/14 21:35pm]

Can I just ask what happened to her music?? It used to be so soulful. What happened? Her first two albums were so good and had a classic sound. Now her music sounds like some watered down poppy, piano jams with a cheap hip hop groove. People will praise her though because she plays an instrument, keeps her clothes on and seems humble, which is all great. It says a lot though about the times we're living in. I still think her music is whack though. Just my opionion. I wish she would go back to basics.

dancerella said:

Can I just ask what happened to her music?? It used to be so soulful. What happened? Her first two albums were so good and had a classic sound. Now her music sounds like some watered down poppy, piano jams with a cheap hip hop groove. People will praise her though because she plays an instrument, keeps her clothes on and seems humble, which is all great. It says a lot though about the times we're living in. I still think her music is whack though. Just my opionion. I wish she would go back to basics.

She has been overrated from day 1.

Her best project was her 1st, just like Mariah Carey.

Graycap23 said:

dancerella said:

Can I just ask what happened to her music?? It used to be so soulful. What happened? Her first two albums were so good and had a classic sound. Now her music sounds like some watered down poppy, piano jams with a cheap hip hop groove. People will praise her though because she plays an instrument, keeps her clothes on and seems humble, which is all great. It says a lot though about the times we're living in. I still think her music is whack though. Just my opionion. I wish she would go back to basics.

She has been overrated from day 1.

Her best project was her 1st, just like Mariah Carey.

I think she is totally overrated. She showed a lot of potential early on in her career and I think based on her earlier work, she will continue to be respected in the music industry but her music is very bland to me now. She's like this generations Barry Manilow.

I always liked her, but she never lived up the the second coming of Stevie hype Clive Davis was hyping. She has had flashes of greatness on her cds, particularly with her self-produced songs. But she just never came close to Stevie Wonder or Donny Hathaway.

로비? why lol?

The song is very average Alicia. :l

Identity said:

September 09





''The day I wrote this song, I was sitting in a circle of people of all ages and we were asked, “Why are you here.” Why am I here?? This really hit me on a deep level. I realized no one had ever asked me that question before.

As I prepare to give birth to a new child, I can't help and think about the world I'm bringing my baby into. No matter where we come from, when we see the state of the world today, we can all feel the growing frustration and desire to make a difference. And we all have a voice - we just need to know how to make it heard.

I have a vision that I believe is more than a dream, that I know can be our reality.
I believe in an empowered world community built on the true meaning of equality – where we are all considered one people, regardless of race, religion, gender, zip code, belief system or sexual orientation.

I believe all of our voices should be heard, so that our representation reflects our population. We need our leadership to reflect an equal balance of the gifts that both men and women have to offer.

I believe in a world where every child born receives a quality education – where their unique gifts are nurtured so that they may be a beneficial presence in this world.

I believe in mutual respect and cooperation among all peoples and all nations. It is time to end all forms of racial injustice for our black brothers and sisters and all people of color.

I believe in an end to the prison industrial complex in America and a renewed justice system that is based on fairness and truth.

I believe in universal global health care based on Integrative Medicine, so that our bodies are acknowledged and treated as one system, and we can help control the spread of diseases like AIDS, Malaria, TB and Ebola.
I believe we have an ability to end poverty, oppression, and hopelessness that often breeds despair, terror, and violence.

I believe in common sense gun laws that serve to protect children and families and society from unnecessary violence.
I believe in Peace & Love & Unity.
I believe that this vision can be a reality.
And, it’s not about me. It’s about WE.

Together we can give birth to a kinder and more peaceful world for ALL children.

Our souls were brought together so that we can love each other sister, brother. We Are Here. We are here for all of us. That's why‪#‎WeAreHere‬.''

Sent with Light,
Alicia Keys

[Edited 9/10/14 12:01pm]

Scale of 1 to 10? #1.

Hmmm.... I want to like it because it has a good message, but it doesn't do anything for me. I like her retro look though.

dancerella said:

Can I just ask what happened to her music?? It used to be so soulful. What happened? Her first two albums were so good and had a classic sound. Now her music sounds like some watered down poppy, piano jams with a cheap hip hop groove. People will praise her though because she plays an instrument, keeps her clothes on and seems humble, which is all great. It says a lot though about the times we're living in. I still think her music is whack though. Just my opionion. I wish she would go back to basics.

Agree. Alicia had so much potential. I don't know what happened. Her first two albums are great R&B albums. Fallen is still her best song in my opinion. Her voice is not what it use to be. She use to be so soulful when she sung but now she is a below average singer. Her music is boring and average now. I think people respect her because she plays an instrument and keeps her clothes (which I do respect) but that doesn't mean she deserves praises for her mediocre music.

It'll be a smash though...

mjscarousal said:

dancerella said:

Can I just ask what happened to her music?? It used to be so soulful. What happened? Her first two albums were so good and had a classic sound. Now her music sounds like some watered down poppy, piano jams with a cheap hip hop groove. People will praise her though because she plays an instrument, keeps her clothes on and seems humble, which is all great. It says a lot though about the times we're living in. I still think her music is whack though. Just my opionion. I wish she would go back to basics.

Agree. Alicia had so much potential. I don't know what happened. Her first two albums are great R&B albums. Fallen is still her best song in my opinion. Her voice is not what it use to be. She use to be so soulful when she sung but now she is a below average singer. Her music is boring and average now. I think people respect her because she plays an instrument and keeps her clothes (which I do respect) but that doesn't mean she deserves praises for her mediocre music.

Beyond playing chords I question her piano skills.

Graycap23 said:

mjscarousal said:

Agree. Alicia had so much potential. I don't know what happened. Her first two albums are great R&B albums. Fallen is still her best song in my opinion. Her voice is not what it use to be. She use to be so soulful when she sung but now she is a below average singer. Her music is boring and average now. I think people respect her because she plays an instrument and keeps her clothes (which I do respect) but that doesn't mean she deserves praises for her mediocre music.

Beyond playing chords I question her piano skills.

She's no Tori.

mjscarousal said:

dancerella said:

Can I just ask what happened to her music?? It used to be so soulful. What happened? Her first two albums were so good and had a classic sound. Now her music sounds like some watered down poppy, piano jams with a cheap hip hop groove. People will praise her though because she plays an instrument, keeps her clothes on and seems humble, which is all great. It says a lot though about the times we're living in. I still think her music is whack though. Just my opionion. I wish she would go back to basics.

Agree. Alicia had so much potential. I don't know what happened. Her first two albums are great R&B albums. Fallen is still her best song in my opinion. Her voice is not what it use to be. She use to be so soulful when she sung but now she is a below average singer. Her music is boring and average now. I think people respect her because she plays an instrument and keeps her clothes (which I do respect) but that doesn't mean she deserves praises for her mediocre music.

I agree with her voice not being as strong as it used to be.. I dunno if she's been smoking or what, but it's pretty noticable. The last time I heard her she sounded pitchy and just kind of weak in her voice. But I still want to see her succeed because she has a good heart.

[Edited 9/10/14 18:47pm]

Identity said:

Sounds like some of the mediocre stuff she's done previously.

phunkdaddy said:

Sounds like some of the mediocre stuff she's done previously.

I never..........ever want 2 hear that song again.

phunkdaddy said:

Graycap23 said:

mjscarousal said:

Agree. Alicia had so much potential. I don't know what happened. Her first two albums are great R&B albums. Fallen is still her best song in my opinion. Her voice is not what it use to be. She use to be so soulful when she sung but now she is a below average singer. Her music is boring and average now. I think people respect her because she plays an instrument and keeps her clothes (which I do respect) but that doesn't mean she deserves praises for her mediocre music.

Beyond playing chords I question her piano skills.

Welcome back!! .... Yea Alicia is not a Stevie Wonder on the piano but then again I guess in today's industry if you can play a few chords that is all you need in order to get compared to a legend.

lezama said:

mjscarousal said:

Agree. Alicia had so much potential. I don't know what happened. Her first two albums are great R&B albums. Fallen is still her best song in my opinion. Her voice is not what it use to be. She use to be so soulful when she sung but now she is a below average singer. Her music is boring and average now. I think people respect her because she plays an instrument and keeps her clothes (which I do respect) but that doesn't mean she deserves praises for her mediocre music.

I agree with her voice not being as strong as it used to be.. I dunno if she's been smoking or what, but it's pretty noticable. The last time I heard her she sounded pitchy and just kind of weak in her voice. But I still want to see her succeed because she has a good heart.

[Edited 9/10/14 18:47pm]

Yea Alicia's voice is shot and gone. Her peak as a vocalist has long past. She left a bad taste in alot black people's mouth with that whole Swizz/baby mama situation. I do respect that she at least keeps her clothes on and tries to sing about meaningful things despite her songs being average.

mjscarousal said:

lezama said:

I agree with her voice not being as strong as it used to be.. I dunno if she's been smoking or what, but it's pretty noticable. The last time I heard her she sounded pitchy and just kind of weak in her voice. But I still want to see her succeed because she has a good heart.

[Edited 9/10/14 18:47pm]

Yea Alicia's voice is shot and gone. Her peak as a vocalist has long past. She left a bad taste in alot black people's mouth with that whole Swizz/baby mama situation. I do respect that she at least keeps her clothes on and tries to sing about meaningful things despite her songs being average.

Let me fix that:

despite her songs being BELOW average.

She just performed this song on NBC for this Global Citizenship thing and she sounded ok, a little pitchy in some areas, but overall a good performance despite the cheesiness of the song. But wow, she's exploded, is she pregnant again?

What happened was --- she lived on Clive's hype and thought she was going to have some pop success, started screaming her songs instead of singng them, got with Swiss, then took too long to release quality music.... #noonecaresnow

How can you have a song called Girl On Fire and make it a cheesy ballad?! Seriously. Alicia never really had that grit or funk in her music. I think it was inevitable that she would would drift towards generic pop.

[Edited 9/27/14 18:54pm]

Who told her the screaming thing was a good idea though? The singing out of range. Sometimes downright pitchiness. I still thinks she's cool but she's made missteps that she refused to back away from, kinda like Christina Aguleira and her love of over-singing.

lezama said:

What didn't help was that she always looks like she's high on something, that didn't aid in her career at all. She's a pretty girl but we miss it with her sleeepy high ass looking eyes. Wrong or right it's a turn folks off and I think it did.

Next came her preaching, don't preach to me about ANYTHING when you look high as hell and are a home-wrecker. Sorry

Lastly she did nothing like her early releases like "Jealous of Your Girlfriend" and You Don't My Name" to intrigue us.