I ain't trying to hate on this chick, so leave the "you're so negative" bullshit aside. There's a method to this madness.

I've went back and forth with this chick. Dug her when she came out. The all knowing Bart VanHemelen said she was a flash in the pan and her second album would flop and she'd disappear, but alas.....here she is eight years later.

Her first album.....good. Second, much better. She kept the momentum with only 2 years between those first two albums. I kept up with her, and liked her for the most part. "You Don't Know My Name" and "If I Ain't Got You" had to grow on me, but they did, and I really liked them. A DJ friend of mine from KISS-FM here gave me Diary. I love that she plays piano, and can sing, and writes decent music most times. Being a piano player, I can appreciate when someone can PLAY a damn instrument without ProTools behind them.

But then it was four years until her next CD. I kind of lost interest. She did an Unplugged, and a few guest appearances with Eve and Gwen Stefani. Eh. Good stuff I guess. Then I saw her at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, talking about Prince, with Andre 3000. I thought, "Is this chick high, or just fucking arrogant as all hell?" I voted for the latter. For whatever reason, he laughing to herself, as if she was the only one who saw Prince's greatness, was just...well, comical. It's like "He can make you cry, he make you laugh....." (laughs to herself and thinks "these white MFers don't get it, ya'll don't know) "....he can make you feel like you can fly..."

Then I started to watch her interviews and I saw it over and over again. Either she was rehearsed and trying to remember what she was going to say, OR she was just basking in her own greatness when someone asked something like "You write all your own songs, where do you get that inspiration?", or whatever. I kind of dismissed her, forgot about her new albums, and ignored her.

Then she pops up on The View today. She said performed two songs, one of which was the song she does with Jay-Z. Can't remember the name, but it's catchy for sure. She did a short interview before the first song. She talked about her philanthropy with Keep A Child Alive, or whatever the organization is she's working with. Good cause, don't get me wrong. But she said something to the effect, "People come up to me all the time and ask me how to be a part of keep a child alive?"



Really, Alicia? REALLY? Does John Doe, John Q. Public, and Jane Everyday come up to you, ask for your autograph, THEN ask how to save a child? Or do they just run up with a serious look and attitude, grab your hand in a moment of gentle bonding and say, "Alicia, I want to save the chid'run. Can you help me?"

Kudos for her being part of something bigger than her front teeth and her ego. Really, good for her for going and seeing the poverty that still exists in the world, and doing something about it. But gheezus....get over yourself, even just a little bit. Do it for the chid'run.



.
[Edited 12/16/09 13:47pm]

Alicia is one strange woman I give you that. I've been actually turned off by her music since "Diary".

Timmy84 said:

Yeah, I agree Timmy. It's just not the same. I fear she's going to be (if not already is) one of those artists that buy into their own celebrity and hype. Hmmm, sounds familiar, but I can't quite put my thumb on it.....

Alicia sounds like she's losing her voice. Something is not quite right anymore....

ernestsewell said:

lol I don't know what's going on with Alicia but whatever it is it's not a good thing for her.

She is played out musically.

ernestsewell said:

@ this whole post.
She certainly has a my-shit-is-blessed-by-Jesus aura to her. I guess it's from that undeserved praised she got so early on in her career. Her music has always made me
[Edited 12/16/09 12:34pm]

This is an extra "extra" intro and I assume this is part of your problem with her, but I like this song from her new album. It's one of the only interesting songs on there. There's a certain magic to her when she touches something slightly special and performs.


[Edited 12/16/09 14:21pm]

when I 1st got to see her play she was very "raw" on her talent
then I went 2 c her in concert very early in her career that was an Xperience
I think that is about all I can say she has come along way she doesn't even look like herself ~ is that my positive in this ~

Graycap23 said:

I love what Rick James said about her

Alicia is a FAKE, from the start I picked up on it. She doesn't faze me though, she's just another creation from Clive Davis who'll eventually get crazy and rebel and crawl back to being a puppet,,,,,Same Whitney Houston script, different actress.

ernestsewell said:

I think you're reading too much into it though,,,,,its a speech, reharsed and modified to put a certain impression on people I sure didn't know that it would be THAT impression though.
[Edited 12/16/09 14:47pm]

Harlepolis said:

CO-FUCKING-SIGN.

she A) can't sing, B) can't really play piano, C) SUCKS BALLS.

oh, and i feel the EXACT same way about "John Legend".

I started to get turned off when she was with Prince in NYC at the aftershow for the 2002 ONA concert. I couldn't believe how horrible she sounded.

I can't remember which awards show it was, but she sounded like it was 20 below in there and she was screaming at a football game-- with a cigar.
I thought "What is up with THAT?!

Yeah... I'm thru, too.

ButterscotchPimp said:

**check your orgnotes...

chocolate1 said:

what am i checking my orgnotes for, exactly?

chocolate1 said:

Its not only the fact that she's a straining mess, vocally. Macy Gray can't sing worth a damn, but the girl is expressive and VERRRRY intersting.

My problem with Alicia is the fact that her music is drier than a nun's pussy in the wintertime.

Oh yeah, I feel the same way about John Legend as well,,,,,both compete each other when it comes to how fast they could induce mofos into a coma.
[Edited 12/16/09 15:01pm]

heh well I recently saw this live performance of Empire State of Mind Pt II and I havent followed her career at all, just seen her mentioned here and there.. but i dont recall Prince doin anything as good as this the last 10 years.. i really enjoyed it and wish Prince would take a break from preaching at me and giving me his kooky opinions and just make a honest to god good song.

SOOPER said:

I'm not one to jump on Prince's defence.

But even at the peak of his mediocrity,,,,at least the lil' midget will make you FEEL his music when you go to his concerts.

As for the last 10 years thing. I think Prince's musical legacy stand on its own, if he's fuckin' up now people can always go back and marvel at his talent.

With this girl however, its from BOREDOM to a COMA,,,,take your pick, ain't no 3rd option.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Well she does have a bit of real classical training. There are old home videos of her playing some hard shit that not even Prince could pull off. However everything else seems to over shadow any piano talent she does have.

Harlepolis said:

yeah I don't get that impression from it at all. it's more like she's being tickled... down there, when she thinks about Prince.

ernestsewell said:

WHAAAAAT?

Did you just say that Alicia Keys can play shit that PRINCE couldn't?

i call BULLSHIT.

Alicia Keys plays shit that you learn in 2nd year piano class and drops it in the middle of fucking horrid R&B songs.

She's not even in the same universe as Tori Amos or Fiona Apple OR PRINCE on the keyboards. AT ALL.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Thank you!

The girl brings the word 'generic' to life.

One doesn't have to be classicaly trained in order to get the message across properly,,,,thats just music snobbery.

ernestsewell said:

That bolded part right there is the reason Prince is better than her...he never had ANY classical piano training. Prince taught himself how to play most of the instruments that he kicks ass on which really makes a huge difference in the end. Anyone with fingers and a half a brain can be taught to play an instrument well, but to be able to teach yourself is a whole other level of genius in itself. I've always thought Alicia was extremely over-hyped and over-rated. Stevie Wonder helped her on her debut album so for all I know he could have made her sound even better than she initially did. She's not un-talented like some current female artists are, but she's not God's gift to the music industry either. She's okay. All just my
[Edited 12/16/09 15:42pm]

Timmy84 said:

you think?
really

I know the early 2000s were a strange time for fashion, but cowboy hat with dreads? really?

THIS WOULD B A REALLY!!!!!

lilJ said:

Diva's gone wrong!

RKJCNE said:

yeah but the black dress beind her is cute

lilJ said:

RKJCNE said:

Braids...

Her music is very dull.

Aside from that, she's a hypocrite for talking all these pro-woman, sisterhood type shit whilst fucking Swizz Beatz when she knew he was married.