Throughout her career, Keys has won numerous awards including 14 Grammy awards and has sold over 75 million records worldwide. Billboard magazine named her the top R&B artist of the 2000–2009 decade, establishing herself as one of the best-selling artists of her time. In 2010, VH1 included Keys on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Keys released her first studio album, Songs in A Minor, in June 2001. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 236,000 copies in its first week. The album sold over 6.2 million copies in the United States, where it was certified six times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It went on to sell over 13 million copies worldwide, establishing Keys' popularity both inside and outside the United States, where she became the best-selling new artist and best-selling R&B artist of 2001. The album's lead single, Fallin', spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's second single, A Woman's Worth, peaked at number three on the same chart. The following year, the album was reissued as Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor, which included eight remixes and seven unplugged versions of the songs from the original.
Songs in A Minor led Keys to win five awards at the 2002 Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song for Fallin', Best New Artist, and Best R&B Album; Fallin' was also nominated for Record of the Year. Keys became the second female solo artist to win five Grammy Awards in a single night, following Lauryn Hill at the 41st Grammy Awards. That same year, she collaborated with Christina Aguilera for the latter's upcoming album Stripped on a song entitled Impossible, which Keys wrote, co-produced, and provided with background vocals. During the early 2000s, Keys also made small cameos in television series Charmed and American Dreams.
Keys followed up her debut with The Diary of Alicia Keys, which was released in December 2003. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 618,000 copies its first week of release, becoming the largest first-week sales for a female artist in 2003. It sold 4.4 million copies in the United States and was certified four times Platinum by the RIAA. It sold nine million copies worldwide, becoming the sixth biggest-selling album by a female artist and the second biggest-selling album by a female R&B artist. The singles You Don't Know My Name and If I Ain't Got You both reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the third single, Diary, entered the top ten. The fourth single, Karma, was less successful on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 20. If I Ain't Got You became the first single by a female artist to remain on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for over a year.
Keys won Best R&B Video for If I Ain't Got You at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards; she performed the song and Higher Ground with Lenny Kravitz and Stevie Wonder. Later that year, Keys released her novel Tears for Water: Songbook of Poems and Lyrics, a collection of unreleased poems from her journals and lyrics. The title derived from one of her poems, "Love and Chains" from the line: "I don't mind drinking my tears for water." She said the title is the foundation of her writing because "everything I have ever written has stemmed from my tears of joy, of pain, of sorrow, of depression, even of question". The book sold over US$500,000 and Keys made The New York Times bestseller list in 2005. The following year, she won a second consecutive award for Best R&B Video at the MTV Video Music Awards for the video Karma. Keys performed If I Ain't Got You and then joined Jamie Foxx and Quincy Jones in a rendition of Georgia on My Mind, the Hoagy Carmichael song made famous by Ray Charles in 1960 at the 2005 Grammy Awards. That evening, she won four Grammy Awards: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for If I Ain't Got You, Best R&B Song for You Don't Know My Name, Best R&B Album for The Diary of Alicia Keys, and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" for My Boo with Usher.
Keys performed and taped her installment of the MTV Unplugged series in July 2005 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. During this session, Keys added new arrangements to her original songs and performed a few choice covers. The session was released on CD and DVD in October 2005. Simply titled Unplugged, the album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with 196,000 units sold in its first week of release. The album sold one million copies in the United States, where it was certified Platinum by the RIAA, and two million copies worldwide. The debut of Keys' Unplugged was the highest for an MTV Unplugged album since Nirvana's 1994 MTV Unplugged in New York and the first Unplugged by a female artist to debut at number one. The album's first single, Unbreakable, peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It remained at number one on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay for 11 weeks.
Keys opened a recording studio in Long Island, New York, called The Oven Studios, which she co-owns with her production and songwriting partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. The studio was designed by renowned studio architect John Storyk of WSDG, designer of Jimi Hendrix' Electric Lady Studios. Keys and Brothers are the co-founders of KrucialKeys Enterprises, a production and songwriting team who assisted Keys in creating her albums as well as create music for other artists.
In 2006, Keys won three NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Song for Unbreakable. She also received the Starlight Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In October 2006, she played the voice of Mommy Martian in the "Mission to Mars" episode of the children's television series The Backyardigans, in which she sang an original song, Almost Everything Is Boinga Here. That same year, Keys nearly suffered a mental breakdown. Her grandmother had died and her family was heavily dependent on her. She felt she needed to "escape" and went to Egypt for three weeks. She explained: "That trip was definitely the most crucial thing I've ever done for myself in my life to date. It was a very difficult time that I was dealing with, and it just came to the point where I really needed to—basically, I just needed to run away, honestly. And I needed to get as far away as possible."
Keys released her third studio album, As I Am, in November 2007; it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 742,000 copies in its first week. It gained Keys her largest first week sales of her career and became her fourth consecutive number one album, tying her with Britney Spears for the most consecutive number-one debuts on the Billboard 200 by a female artist. The week became the second largest sales week of 2007 and the largest sales week for a female solo artist since singer Norah Jones' album Feels like Home in 2004. The album has sold nearly four million copies in the United States and has been certified three times Platinum by the RIAA. It has sold nearly six million copies worldwide. Keys received five nominations for As I Am at the 2008 American Music Award and ultimately won two. The album's lead single, No One, peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Keys' third and fifth number-one single on each chart, respectively. The album's second single, Like You'll Never See Me Again, was released in late 2007 and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album's third single, Teenage Love Affair, peaked at number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She released the fourth single, Superwoman, which peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
No One earned Keys the awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Keys opened the ceremony singing Frank Sinatra's 1950s song Learnin' the Blues as a "duet" with archival footage of Sinatra in video and No One with John Mayer later in the show. Keys also won Best Female R&B Artist during the show. Keys, along with The White Stripes' guitarist and lead vocalist Jack White, recorded the theme song to Quantum of Solace, the first duet in Bond soundtrack history. In 2008, Keys was ranked in at number 80 the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists. She also received three nominations at the 2009 Grammy Awards and won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Superwoman.
In an interview with Blender magazine, Keys allegedly said "'Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other, 'gangsta rap' didn't exist" and went on to say that it was created by "the government". The magazine also claimed she said that Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were "essentially assassinated, their beefs stoked by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing". Keys later wrote a statement clarifying the issues and saying her words were misinterpreted. Later that year, Keys was criticized by anti-smoking campaigners after billboard posters for her forthcoming concerts in Indonesia featured a logo for the A Mild cigarette brand sponsored by tobacco firm Philip Morris. She apologized after discovering that the concert was sponsored by the firm and asked for "corrective actions". In response, the company withdrew its sponsorship.
Keys collaborated with record producer Swizz Beatz to write and produce Million Dollar Bill for Whitney Houston's seventh studio album, I Look to You. Keys had approached Clive Davis for permission to submit a song for the album. Keys also collaborated with recording artist Jay-Z on the song Empire State of Mind from his 2009 album, The Blueprint 3. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became her fourth number-one single on that chart.
The following month, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers honored Keys with the Golden Note Award, an award given to artists "who have achieved extraordinary career milestones". She collaborated with Spanish recording artist Alejandro Sanz for Looking for Paradise, which topped the Hot Latin Songs chart. Keys released her fourth studio album, The Element of Freedom, in December 2009. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 417,000 copies in its first week. As part of the promotional drive for the album, she performed at the Cayman Island Jazz Festival on December 5, the final night of the three day festival which will be broadcast on Black Entertainment Television (BET). The album's lead single, Doesn't Mean Anything, has peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Keys was ranked as the top R&B recording artist of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard magazine and ranked at number five as artist of the decade, while her song, No One, was ranked at number six on the magazine's songs of the decade. In the United Kingdom, The Element of Freedom became Keys' first album to top the UK Albums Chart.
According to Songfacts, Keys said regarding the title of her fifth studio album, Girl On Fire. "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!!" The title track will be made available on iTunes and radio on September 4, 2012.
In May 2009, Swizz Beatz announced that he and Keys were romantically involved, and in May 2010, a representative for Keys and Swizz Beatz confirmed that they were engaged and expecting a child together. During the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the couple took part of a union and had the unborn child blessed in a Zulu ceremony, which took place in the Illovo suburb of South Africa. Keys and Swizz Beatz were married on the French island of Corsica on July 31, 2010. On October 14, 2010, Keys gave birth to a son, Egypt Daoud Ibarr Dean, in New York City.
1997
Lala
Alicia Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
(Mike Will Made It)
Light the incense (incense)
Not to mention (mention), skin like Whiskey (Whiskey)
She's cold like on the rocks
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
Light the incense
Loose the tension feels like Heaven
Lust mixed with a vodka
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
Feelings get lost in the LaLa
(Here we go, we in this)
Happy but you're unhappy (we in this)
Shorty, you're so valid (yeah)
I'm ready when you're ready (ready)
Don't you know eyes can be so deadly?
Try not to think but you made me
It's just a G thing, baby (baby)
All in my satin sheets you're laying (laying)
Walked through the door, there you were
Bought you Louis, Fendi, etcetera
Woman, you should've told me you were dangerous
Woman, you should've told me you were medicine (here we go)
Put it on me like you said you would
Fell so hard like you said you would
Love out of this world (la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
Out of this Nebula
It's best to just, put you on my schedule
Light the incense (incense)
Not to mention (mention), skin like Whiskey (Whiskey)
She's cold like on the rocks
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
I still love smoking ZaZa
Light the incense
Loose the tension feels like Heaven
Lust mixed with a vodka
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
Feelings get lost in the LaLa
Listen (here we go, we in this)
Healthy indecisions
Tryna fight it would be so ridiculous (yeah)
I'm ready when you're ready
Someone watching would be so jealous
Try not to think but you made me
It's just a G thing, baby (baby)
All in my satin sheets you're laying
Put it on me like you said you would
Fell so hard like you said you would
Love out of this world, out of this Nebula
It's special, put you on my schedule
Light the incense (incense)
Not to mention (mention), skin like Whiskey (Whiskey)
She's cold like on the rocks
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
I still love smoking ZaZa
Light the incense
Loose the tension feels like Heaven
Lust mixed with a vodka
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
Feelings get lost in the LaLa (breakdown)
(Here we go, we in this)
(We in, in this) yeah
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
(La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la)
In Alicia Keys feat. Swae Lee's song LALA, the lyrics suggest indulgence and addiction to various distractions. The song starts with the line "Light the incense, not to mention, skin like Whiskey," indicating that the person being described has a distinct scent and appearance that is pleasing to the singer. Then, they sing about feeling tension-free and heavenly when in the prescribed person's company with a hint of lust and vodka before getting lost in the LaLa, implying that they go through life distracted and unfocused because of these sensations.
The person the song is about seems to have a hold on the singer, making them happy but also unhappy at the same time, as expressed in the line "Happy but you're unhappy." The singer acknowledges that the person has the potential to be dangerous, even stating "woman, you should've told me you were dangerous," but also recognizes that this danger has a healing quality, indicated by the line "woman, you should've told me you were medicine." Through the song, the singer is entirely captivated by the person's allure and is ready to succumb to them entirely, suggesting that they have an addictive quality.
Overall, LALA seems to be about being swept up in the moment and indulging in everything around you, even if it isn't healthy. The song paints a picture of distraction and addiction, with the person being described as the source of all these sensations, making the singer unable to resist falling under their spell.
Line by Line Meaning
Light the incense
Let's create a relaxing atmosphere
Not to mention, skin like Whiskey
You have smooth, flawless skin
She's cold like on the rocks
You have a tough exterior
I still love smoking ZaZa
I still enjoy smoking cannabis
Loose the tension feels like Heaven
Let go of your worries and feel the blissful vibes
Lust mixed with a vodka
A wild and passionate combination
Feelings get lost in the LaLa
Overpowered by intense emotion
Happy but you're unhappy
You pretend to be content but you're really not
Shorty, you're so valid
You are worthy of love and respect
I'm ready when you're ready
I am willing to commit to you
Don't you know eyes can be so deadly?
Your gaze can be intoxicating and alluring
Try not to think but you made me
You consume my thoughts and emotions
It's just a G thing, baby
It is a casual and effortless connection
All in my satin sheets you're laying
We share an intimate and comfortable space
Walked through the door, there you were
You entered my life unexpectedly
Bought you Louis, Fendi, etcetera
I showered you with expensive gifts
Woman, you should've told me you were dangerous
You possess an alluring yet risky aura
Woman, you should've told me you were medicine
You have healing properties for my soul
Put it on me like you said you would
Live up to your promises of passion and commitment
Fell so hard like you said you would
Immersed in a deep, intense emotional connection
Love out of this world
A rare and powerful love
Out of this Nebula
Beyond the boundaries of this world
It's best to just, put you on my schedule
I want to prioritize and make time for you
Healthy indecisions
A healthy level of uncertainty and spontaneity
Tryna fight it would be so ridiculous
Trying to deny our attraction would be foolish
Someone watching would be so jealous
Others would be envious of our connection
(breakdown)
An instrumental section
(We in, in this) yeah
We're in this together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alicia Augello-Cook, Darryl Ellis, Khalif Brown, Michael L Williams II, Paul Richmond, Ruben Locke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnfran3218
When things were at their very worst:
2 Suns, Cross in the sky, 2 comets will collide = don`t be afraid – repent, accept Lord`s Hand of Mercy.
Scientists will say it was a global illusion.
Beware – Jesus will never walk in flesh again.
After WW3 – rise of the “ man of peace“ from the East = Antichrist – the most powerful, popular, charismatic and influential leader of all time. Many miracles will be attributed to him. He will imitate Jesus in every conceivable way.
Don`t trust „pope“ Francis = the False Prophet
- will seem to rise from the dead
- will unite all Christian Churches and all Religions as one.
One World Religion = the seat of the Antichrist.
Benedict XVI is the last true pope - will be accused of a crime of which he is totally innocent.
"Arab uprising will spark global unrest – Italy will trigger fall out"
"Many events, including ecological upheavals, wars, the schism in My Church on Earth, the dictatorships in each of your nations – bound as one, at its very core – will all take place at the same time."
The Book of Truth.
@hazelgoddess2335
Alicia never disappoints and Swae Lee’s vocals is a nice touch, good vibes
@queenv4340
U ain't wrong about dat
@gubersnitzel
I love this. Alicia knows how to evolve with current music trends while keeping her classic signature style.
@gregoryburns4556
But Do You Know Where This Song Came From
@tabathataylor8364
No she does not she has not made a hit since as I am
@pojsis7069
yesssss
not every artist can do it like her
@bigdeestraphouse1977
@Gregory Burns right, 😂 I was thinking that same question, more like she keeping the old school classics #TyroneDavis a trend 😘
@elvismylove48
@Gregory Burns Details lol
Explain where the somg came from...please
@barryvincent5720
Alicia still creating classics!! Twenty years from now, we’ll still be listening to this song! ❤️
@Honest000w
I love that she reinvents herself. Her voice changed since she was younger, but she found a way to make it work . That creativity in her isn’t going anywhere!👏🏾