I cannot understand what's going on with this chile. This new song is not the business! She actually sounds a bit flat on the chorus. Rihanna's new song is far more exciting to me than this crap, and that's really saying something.

This is basically the same formula from "No One"--same heavy but simple drum pattern, same repetitious, "anthem" sing-a-long style, and basically the same sentiment (actually, it repeats the theme of "If I Aint Got You"). In fact, it's always the same ole platitudes from Alicia: "Nothing in the world--no material things--could replace you, baby!"

I've been trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I really expected more from her at this point in her career. To my ears, she's standing still at best, and at worst she's actually regressing. I hope her other material is better, but if this is the first single?
[Edited 10/21/09 0:17am]

bettybop said:

I feel the same. But on her last album No One was not the best song. So, here's hoping.

On the other hand, I find this song shockingly average. Like an album song.

Is that song that sounds just like "No One" Alicia Keys?

graecophilos said:

Yes, it is average. Overall her sound feels more generic and watered down than ever. I was hoping she'd get more specific or quaint, but she keeps going for these cliched, sweeping ballads that are just dull at this point.
What kills me is, she describes her new material in terms that lead you to believe it's "personal" or deep, but it's just the opposite. Listening to her I am always left wondering "What are you afraid of, Alicia? Why are you clinging to the surface in lieu of showing us who you really are?"

bettybop said:

well, have your heard the other songs as well? Am I missing sth?

As I said, I don't write her off yet, this song may work well in an album's context, but not as a hit single.

But probably she was forced to release it. You never know.

And this whole more personal than ever stuff is cliched. Who doesn't say that?

Her last album was called AS I AM.

Alicia Keys Debuts New Single For NYU Students
October 22


Alicia Keys held "The Element of Freedom Lecture & Performance Series" yesterday (Oct. 21) at New York University's Skirball Center.

During the event, she gave NYU students -- most of which were aspiring songwriters -- an exclusive debut performance of her new single, "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart," from her upcoming album "The Element of Freedom." The album will be released on Dec. 1 on J Records.

"I wanna find a way to make it without you tonight / I'm gonna try to find a way to make it without you / I'm gonna hold on to the time we had tonight without you," Keys sings during the chorus over smashing cymbals and extended organ-like piano strokes.

Keys, backed by a four-piece band and two back-up singers -- including up-and-coming musician Jermaine Paul (who opened up the performance portion of the event) -- also performed "You Don't Know My Name," "Falling," parts of Jay-Z's "Empire State Of Mind," on which she is featured, "No One" and the first single off her upcoming album, "Doesn't Mean A Thing," which is currently No. 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

At the top of the evening, Keys sat with MTV host Sway Calloway for an interview segment, during which she shared her discoveries while recording her fourth studio album.

"When I first started going to the studio, it was like I didn't know what to do. All I knew was doing it till the point of exhaustion -- submersing myself till the point of possibly drowning," Keys said. "But, for the first time in my recording career, I feel I finally found the key, and that is to allow yourself to be free. With this album I found such a balance and I took things in that inspire me, which can come from anywhere. It just helped me enjoy the process first and foremost."

Keys also revealed the struggles she faced while a college student at New York's Columbia University and how she managed being a student and trying to become an artist. "When you're trying to juggle and put everything in motion, no one's going to hold your hand. You have to figure out how to juggle getting your work done while still pursuing other things," she said. "Everything has its place and no one is getting short changed but you if you don't get around it. You have to make choices and either you're going to shine or not."

One of the most revealing moments of the evening was when Keys talked about reaching her lowest point. "I felt my lowest during my last record. I started to understand that I was dealing with people who I thought were my friends but in reality had other intentions," she said. "So, things had to change. Sometimes you have to get rid of people in your life that don't work with you. You have to stay in your path and when people are pulling you down, you have to cut ties."

She also said that during that time period, she felt overworked and was watching her grandmother die. "I was very confused," she said.

Additionally, Keys gave tips on how to write songs. "I think part of songwriting is going on a journey and tapping into your feelings and emotions," she said, before claiming songwriter/musician Linda Perry ("Sometimes I put on a mask, but I learned through her to just be myself," she said) and Stevie Wonder ("He taught me how to experiment") as two of her inspirations.

In closing, Keys gave the crowd final words of encouragement, stating: "You are shinning so bright and I feel you. There's nothing that's going to stop you from doing what you want. You are a powerful human being with endless possibilities and everyday is a new day to get closer to where you want to go."




http://www.billboard.com/...9597.story

Thanks for posting that review. I hope she does something intimate like this on the west coast.

Well this is where she is headed smaller type intimate shows and venues, and more retrospective music to her, its that simple, deal with it. I dont know what everyone is holding out for, what do you want from her some sort of Beyonce Lady GaGa type song? she isnt that kind of artist.

graecophilos said:

I was referring to AS I AM. She made it seems so intimate and bold and it was anything but. "Diary" actually felt more personal to me. I am not writing her off, but this new song/image does not excite me.

bettybop said:

Ironically, Diary is the only album I dislike.

Haven't heard anything from her that I loved since Fallin'

LightOfArt said:

Mh... have you listened to her album tracks as well?

Alicia Keys stops for a smile after a visit to the MTV studios in New York's Times Square on Thursday. The day before, the singer gave NYU students an exclusive debut performance of her new single, "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart," off her upcoming album, The Element of Freedom, which will be released Dec. 1(Credit: People.com)

Alicia Keys Pushes Back Album Release
October 2009



The release of Alicia Keys' new album, The Element of Freedom, has been pushed back two weeks so she can record more material.

The singer's fourth studio album had been slated for release December 1, but will now come out on December 15.

The original release date would have coincided with World AIDS Day, which Keys said was intentional. However, her new focus seems to be on the music.

"Luv having the freedom to create beautiful music, so I'm pushing the album back to Dec 15th," she said on her Twitter account. "So many more amazing songs!!!"

Copycat said:

Lol.....she really is full of it.

graecophilos said:

I agree with your post! Remembering the spanking Clive Davis gave Kelly Clarkson when she tried it her way. With Alicia it seems that they are trying the "if it sold before, try it again" approach. I'm not enthusiastic about the lead single but hoping that the second is great - if I recall correctly YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME didn't really catch on but IF I AIN'T GOT YOU DID so hopefully lightning will strike again and the second single will fire up her fans.

Tajeznah said:

I hope so, because so far her lead single ALWAYS's been the biggest hit off the album.

I liked Teenage Love Affair so much more than No One, yet it was single 3 or 4 and peaked at #75?

AK is no singles artist anyway, I think. Her albums sell much better.

Harlepolis said:

wel she's not AC/DC...she's an R&B artist...i feel a good original one. R&B isn't a rave genera... Rhythm and blues...She dont be makin club hits or remixes. Sometimes her piano melodies/arpeggio's can be a little simple but simple isn't always bad. She has some of the strongest vocals in the biz. Lotsa strength in them chords...Carey can hit nots...but she's Void of strength. Beyonce gotta case of vibratomus-maximus...her vocals become a case of follow the bouncing "flying around/catch me if U can" ball

Originally slated for a December 1rst release date, Alicia Keys new cd 'The Element of Freedom' got pushed back to December 15. Alicia tweeted last night that it's because she wants to add more songs, but whispers around the record industry suggest the push back is because her first single 'Doesn't Mean Anything' didn't take off like they hoped it would. Maybe she'll have better luck with her next single 'Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart'
[Edited 10/27/09 15:47pm]

Chic35 said:

thats purely made up, everytime there is a push back everyone assumes its an issue with sales. Look she is going to sell regardless of when it comes out to the people who like her, case closed, im tired of all this "rocket science talk" for the industry, people who like her buy it, those who dont, dont. Whether its the 1st or the 15th

HOWEVER what is a reason, is the 1st falls after "Black Friday" which is part of the "low sales" drop off after the holiday weekend, two weeks later is the last minute shopping pick-up, HAS NOTHING to do with the lead single
[Edited 10/27/09 17:57pm]

Graycap23 said:

I take it you don't care for Alicia Keys at all.

graecophilos said:

Interesting,it's the one album i do like by her.

phunkdaddy said:

i like everything but the first, i cant stand anything off that first one and get sick when people praise the hell out of it

Graycap23 said:

isn't everyone tho?

BobGeorge909 said:

No.....some people actually have some amazing songs.

Graycap23 said:

well...in my opinion she write some good tunes. Not all of them are great...but she has a big hand in writing them. Has the help of producers but she's still very much involved and has a very powerful voice...so is she full of it..i guess so, full of great vocals and some insightful lyrics, at least in relation to a lot of the acts out there.


edit: plus she's hotter and thicker than a cup of warm molasses.
[Edited 10/28/09 9:58am]

Alicia Keys Tells Fans To 'Expect The Unexpected' On New LP
October 29, 2009

When Alicia Keys releases her fourth studio album on December 15, fans will see what the title, The Element of Freedom, means to her as a musician.

"I definitely found a freedom within the music that totally comes out for me," the singer told MTV News last week about the forthcoming album. "I just want to break my own mold. I want to break my own rules. I want to break my own box. So, if you think of me a certain way, I want to move outside of that."


The singer wants her fans to know that she's still the singer they know and love, but she's hoping to step up her sound a bit. She explained, "I never want to do what I already did. I want to stay true to who I am and push and push it farther than I ever did before."

Keys also wants her music to push fans to experience her music in new ways with this album. "You can expect, like, to be moved," she said. "You can expect to really be into a zone. I think you can expect the unexpected cause there's going to be things that you're going to be like, 'Wow, is that her? Is that her?' And I love that about it. You can definitely expect to see major growth, but you're going to fall in love with this album."



http://www.mtv.com/news/a...icia.jhtml

Copycat said:

Rumours claim there will be a euro-dance song a la When Love Takes Over.

New Music: Alicia Keys – ‘Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart.’

The second single from the new album.

wow, now that's really a difference!

the production sounds more current, and the melody is more pop. It does remind me a bit of some songs from 1999.