... Her debut album, “Songs in A Minor” was released in June 2001 in USA and a month later in UK.
APPEARANCE OF THE CD
Front cover:
A lovely picture of Alicia against a dark background. She confidently stands with her hands upon her hips wearing a dark green hat, black leather jacket, ... Read review
In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point.Songs in A Minor's ... more
creator Alicia Keys is no different. She plays the piano. She's classically trained. She was a child prodigy. And at 20 years she's incredibly soulful, harking back t...
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In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point. Songs in A Minor's ... more
creator Alicia Keys is no different. She plays the piano. She's classically trained. She was a child prodigy. And at 20 years she's incredibly soulful, harking back ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point.Songs in A Minor's ... more
creator Alicia Keys is no different. She plays the piano. She's classically trained. She was a child prodigy. And at 20 years of age she's incredibly soulful, harking...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point. Songs in A Minor's ... more
creator Alicia Keys is no different. She plays the piano. She's classically trained. She was a child prodigy. And at 20 years of age she's incredibly soulful, harkin...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Born 25th January, 1981 in Manhattan, Alicia Keys is just 21 years old and yet she has the world at her feet with her amazing piano playing and her sultry, soulful voice.
Alicia began writing her debut album aged 14. By 16 she had graduated high school due to her outstanding grades, and went to Columbia University.
Alicia sung in a choir at school and was encouraged by her mother not to ever give up playing the piano. She is an accomplished singer and a classically trained pianist.
In 1998, aged just 17, Alicia joined Arista before moving to J Records late in 1999. Her debut album, “Songs in A Minor” was released in June 2001 in USA and a month later in UK.
APPEARANCE OF THE CD Front cover: A lovely picture of Alicia against a dark background. She confidently stands with her hands upon her hips wearing a dark green hat, black leather jacket, black & green striped shirt and a pair of jeans. It’s not a striking cover, but its pretty classy.
Rear cover: A picture of Alicia playing her white piano dressed in bleached denim. Only Alicia could look cool in those clothes!
Inside: Under the CD, there is another picture of Alicia wearing a hat, this time lying down. When you take the CD out of the case her pretty face greets you.
The disc itself: This has a black & white picture of Alicia wearing sunglasses. At least it isn’t plain silver (yes, I have been known to put those in upside down!).
PERFORMANCE OF CD Now to the interesting bit – listening to the CD, after all that is what you buy it for. I have had Alicia Keys mp3s since September so I was certain I liked her music, then my generous boyfriend bought me the CD a week ago.
1. Piano & I
A beautiful introduction to the CD, 1 minute and 51 seconds long. The lyrics aren’t great – Alicia rambles on about how long it took her to get here (she was trying for 2 years to release her debut album) and how she is finally ready for success.
“So yea, so what it took me like Maybe 2 years and shit But I fell in prepared You know what I'm sayin And I'm feelin' a little more ready for the world”
What is good about this song is the piano playing.
7/10
2. Girlfriend
If you haven’t heard the full album, you may have heard part of this song on the Fallin’ video.
I can certainly relate to the theme of this song – jealousy over your boyfriend’s female friends. Even though there is no real reason for her to feel jealous she resents the special relationship he has with his friend:
“I think I'm jealous of your girlfriend Although she's just a girl that is your friend I think I'm jealous of your girlfriend She shares a special part of you”
The boyfriend’s voice is also represented:
“You say you’re jealous but you can’t tell me why”.
I think its natural to be a little suspicious of women who spend a lot of time with your boyfriend and I think this song illustrates that well.
The song has quite a laid back feel to it with great lyrics and Alicia’s mellow voice.
7/10
3. How Come You Don’t Call Me (Written by Prince)
This song also has a laid back tempo, but Alicia’s voice is more soulful in this track.
I think a lot of women can relate to this song – waiting for a man to call. The lyrics explain that they are good together and still the man won’t call.
“What I wanna know baby If what we had was good How come you don't call me anymore”
My favourite part of the song would have to be:
“Still like it better when your holding me tight Everybody say Everybody say that we should never part (mmm) Tell me baby baby baby why Why you wanna go and break my heart”
This is a song with plenty of attitude, about how hard it is to accept that a relationship is over. It isn’t one of my favourites but I really like this song.
8/10
4. Fallin’
This is the first Alicia Keys song I heard, on the highlights of the MTV Music Awards. I was struck by her talents as a pianist, then by her great voice and the fantastic lyrics.
All relationships have their ups & downs and this song perfectly describes this.
“I keep on fallin' In and out of love With you Sometimes I love ya Sometimes u make me blue Sometimes I feel good At times I feel used Lovin you darlin' Makes me so confused”
I offended my boyfriend by telling him this is one of the songs that makes me think of him! What I meant is that in loving someone so intensely, it can cause a lot of pain.
“I, I, I have never felt this way, How do you give me so much pleasure Cause me so much pain”.
This is a great song to sing along to when you’ve had an argument with your partner. Great beat, fantastic lyrics and such a pleasant voice.
9/10
5. Troubles
A little more chilled out in its tempo than Fallin’. The tempo & lyrics perfectly illustrate her melancholy state.
“Feels like the world is closin' on me Feels like my dreams will never come to me I keep on slippin' deeper into myself And I'm scared, so scared”
I listen to this when I’m feeling a bit depressed to remind myself that I’m not alone.
“If you're troubled, you just gotta let it go If you're worried baby, you just gotta let it go All your hustles aint for nothing, you just gotta take it slow When you need me baby, all you do is let it go”
8/10
6. Rock Wit U
This song is Alicia Key’s collaboration with Isaac Hayes for the soundtrack of Shaft (2000) so it has a 70’s feel to it. Hayes also plays the Rhodes piano on this track.
Many people have commented that this song wouldn’t sound out of place on a porn film! Indeed it has a very sexy beat and her singing is quite deep & sultry.
“I wanna rock wit you No matter what we do Wit you wit only you I wanna rock wit you”
This is a very funky, catchy song but not one of my favourites.
8/10
7. A Woman’s Worth
This song is about realising a woman’s worth and expressing appreciation by putting her first, buying her gifts etc:
“You could buy me diamonds You could buy me pearls Take me on a cruise around the world Baby you know I'm worth it Dinner lit by candle Run my bubble bath Make love tenderly to last, to last Cause baby you know I'm worth it”
If a man treats his woman right he will get his rewards – she will always be there for him:
“If you treat me fairy I'll give you all my goods Treat you like a real woman should Baby I know you're worth it If you never play me Promise not to bluff I'll hold you down when shit gets rough Cause baby I know you're worth it”
If he doesn’t she will leave him for someone who does know how to treat a woman!
I really like this song. It’s like girl power evolved! A woman deserves to be treated with respect, be loved and cherished.
This is one of the few songs where Alicia takes a break from her piano, instead using guitar (played by Arty White).
8/10
8. Jane Doe
A bit more up tempo than most of the songs, with additional vocals from Kandi Burruss.
This song is about an argument between a woman and her friend, when the friend accuses her man of cheating:
“Let's talk about the situation bout how you came with information that's negative in every which way Just dissin my man and our relations You say he's cheatin, want me to leave him I've changed my mind I think I'll keep him Listenin to you will leave me lonely That's not what I'm tryin to be”
Alicia’s character in the song thinks her friend just wants her man for herself:
“See I caught you tryin to Check my man out How bout explainin What that's all about”
She refuses to allow another woman to have her man, even if he has been unfaithful.
This is a good song, pretty catchy, but not one of the strongest tracks on the CD.
7/10
9. Goodbye
Even the piano on this song sounds sad. Incidentally, the greatly admired R&B artist, Brian McKnight, plays all the instruments on this track.
“How do you love someone That hurts you oh so bad”
This song perfectly illustrates how hard it is to end a relationship, even though you know in your heart that it is over:
“Is this the end are you sure How should you know when you've never been here before It's so hard to just let go When this is the one and only love I've ever known
So how do you find the words to say To say goodbye If your heart don't have the heart to say To say goodbye”
I’ve been in that situation in the past and I think this song perfectly illustrates the pain involved. It’s not the most lively or cheerful song but it has meaningful lyrics and her voice is great.
8/10
10. The Life
The percussion, bass & guitar on this song give it a slightly Caribbean feel.
This song is basically about the struggle of life:
“This is the life, trying to survive This is the life, trying to survive”
This is another quite sad song, with an undercurrent of depression:
“Slowly, internally, I'm dying Pillow case is wet from all my crying There is nothing more for me to live for Take me away, I can't live that life no more”
Good vocals, good lyrics but lacking in catchiness. This is ideal to listen to when you’re feeling down and want to mope around.
6/10
11. Mr Man
Co-written by Jimmy Cozier, this song has a slighty Latin-American sound to it.
This is a pretty cool duet and you can imagine them dancing to it! He sees her in a bar but she is there with her boyfriend (Mr Man):
“Somethin' about the way you smiled at me juss drove me wild Wish I could know if your alone, don't wanna cramp your style”
She enjoys the attention (and is attracted to him) but doesn’t want to be unfair to her boyfriend:
“Like the way you've given me attention through the nite Maybe I've had too much remy, my man's right by my side Everytime I catch you watchin' me I feel somethin' down my spine I'll play the game, it's just for fun and only for tonite”
Their voices blend well and it’s quite a catchy song.
8/10
12. Never Felt This Way (interlude)
Brian McKnight wrote this beautiful song, and it describes how I feel about my boyfriend!
“There will never come a day You will ever hear me say That I want Or need to be without you I wanna give my all”
Alicia’s wonderful piano playing backs up outstanding vocals and lyrics to make this one of my favourite tracks on “Songs in A Minor”.
10/10
13. Butterflyz
This is another great song and it follows on perfectly from the previous song. The tempo is a little faster than “Never Felt This Way” but the vocals and piano are just as beautiful.
This is a wonderfully romantic song about how being with the one you loves gives you butterflies:
“Lately when I look into your eyes Baby I fly, your the only one I need in my life Baby I just don't know how to describe, How lovely you make me feel inside”
9/10
14. Why Do I Feel So Sad
Another sad song - you can really hear the pain in her voice for these melancholy songs. This song makes me cry almost every time I hear it.
This song is about the end of a relationship and how change is inevitable:
“Friends we've been for so long Now true colors are showing Makes me wanna cry oh yes it does Cuz I had to say goodbye
By now I should know That in time things would change So it shouldn't be so bad So why do I feel so sad”
Get the tissues out for this lovely song.
8/10
15. Caged Bird
Presumably inspired by Maya Angelou’s autobiography of the same name.
Being caged up and watched by others, she tries to hide her inner turmoil:
“Right now I feel like a bird Caged without a key Everyone comes to stare at me With so much joy and rivalry They don't know how I feel inside Through my smile I cry”
Without freedom, her only joy comes from song.
Although this is a sad song, it is filled with hope as Alicia sings:
“Why not just set her free So she can Fly, fly, fly”
The lack of accompaniment, save from the gentle piano playing, makes the listener focus on Alicia’s beautiful powerful voice and the meaning of the lyrics.
7/10
16. Hidden track: Lovin’ You
This is my favourite song on the whole CD – just singing it makes me smile. It is reminiscent of “Natural Woman”.
It is a romantic song with a good beat, great lyrics and its very catchy.
“Those wonderful things that you do They got me feelin' In love with you In love with you Loving you is easy Comes so naturally”
Turn this song up loud and sing about the person you love!
11/10!
This is my favourite CD at the moment. With its mixture of moods, it is suitable for many an occasion – play it whilst you relax in the bath, snuggle up with the one you love, sob your heart out if you’ve been dumped. But most importantly buy this CD! (I recommend cd wow who sell chart cds for £8.99 but as mine was a gift I have no idea how much my boyfriend paid).
Advantages: Refreshing classical piano, promising vocal talent Disadvantages: None that can't be put up with - although there are few out of place tracks towards the beginning
...and producing an MD with Songs In A Minor on it - I was chuffed and on the Saturday night when everyone else had gone out, I settled down in front of the stereo hoping that the diva would soothe my aching head and limbs with her vocal charms.
… and how delighted I was with the album. I'm sure that I'll only be backing up what everyone else has said when I say that Keys is a great new artist; in fact I'd go further and point out that she is a phenomenal ... ...ceremonies. Alicia had been writing songs since her early teens and also had over 10 years of classical piano training at her disposal. On top of this, she had experience in a gospel choir and music college pedigree to draw upon. Put all this into perspective and you'd think that this album was going to be hot - and indeed it was …
The album begins very serenely with a rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata - a beautiful classical piece that ...
craiggy_boy 11.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Songs In A Minor - Alicia Keys
Advantages: Amazing Disadvantages: Its never out of my C.D player
Alicia Keys – Songs in A minor.
Wow was my first impression when I heard Alicia Keys’ debut single- Fallin’. The quality of her voice sent shivers down my spine. It was her debut single (Fallin’) that intrigued me to buy the album, Songs in A minor, but her other released singles, A Woman’s Worth and the recently released Girlfriend are excellent too.
Her album includes duets with Jimmy Cozier, Kandi Burruss, Busta ... ...Bird, Why Do I Feel So Sad and Butterflyz (which she wrote when she was just 14 years old). Almost every song on the album she has written or co- wrote and plays the piano with magnificent skill.
This album you’ll either love or hate. It needs to grow on you initially but if you are a fan of soul and R’n’B music it’s just superb. At only 19 Alicia Keys is one of the biggest current stars in America and going strong. 10/ 10 ...
princess_lucy 06.12.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Songs In A Minor - Alicia Keys
Advantages: Amazing vocal range that sends shivers down your spine! Disadvantages: Arrangement of songs
...from start to finish. The songs range from emotional tear jerkers ie Fallin to feel good songs such as Rock Wit You and A Woman's Worth. There are amazing lyrics throughout the album. The combination of the wonderful lyrics, excellent melodies and enchanting vocals of Alicia adds up to make an album that is well worth listening to! The downfall of the album is that the first time you listen to it, you can switch off half way through due to short ... ...This Way contribute to excellent songs and the duet Mr Man with Jimmy Cozier is a great track aswell. The remix of Fallin is just as good as the original although with a more up beat tempo, Busta Rhymes helps this song to be more feel good and is a great alternative. Alicia does the songs justice and gives her own style on a lot of the songs. The length of the album is just right, if not perhaps too long. Well worth your money and is a comfort for ...
katie_g 02.09.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Songs In A Minor - Alicia Keys
Advantages: This is a great great album Disadvantages: It does have to grow on you before you realise just how good it is
Judging by the number of Grammys Alicia Keys won a few days ago, one can tell she is something special. Its funny how someone who appears to be so hardcore can have such chilled out grooves. Her debut single, "Fallin'" grows on you like you wouldn't believe. Its the type of song that makes the hairs on your neck stand on end. Its the type of song that you can fall in love with and will never get bored of however much you hear it being played. "A ...
BestyWesty 05.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Songs In A Minor - Alicia Keys
Upon hearing this album by alicia keys i was pleasently suprised at the depth and talent this girl displays, with thought provoking images and thoughts well beyond her years. This is a good chill out album, but can double as 'pump up' tune to liven yourself before that big saturday night out. There is an element of achievement in what alicia has done with this album, being her debut album, it is a standout amongst many other similar artists and compromises ...
jordache86 28.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Songs In A Minor - Alicia Keys
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Advantages: Amazing, soulful singing Disadvantages: Can get a bit repetative
Songsin A Minor was AliciaKey's debut album, released in 2001 when she was just 20 years old. She won 5 grammy awards that year, including best new artist, best song for Fallin' and best R&B album. It went on to sell about 18 million copies worldwide.
The first track, Piano & I, is more of an introduction than a real song. It's based around the Moonlight Sonata, and it has some nice piano and soulful backing, but not much else.
Girlfriend kicks off the album proper, and the next few tracks are more urban than the rest of the album. It's driven by the beat more than the piano, and has decent vocals, but nothing too stretching.
How Come You Don't Call Me was written by Prince, and Alicia shows off her vocal range to brilliant effect here. It features another strong urban beat, and a phone ringing in the background, which is ...
Advantages: RnB, Soul, slow tracks, upbeat tracks, great voice and vocals Disadvantages: None
I recall someone handing us the promo CDs for 'SongsIn A Minor' when we went to an RnB club just before it was released in summer 2001.
'SongsIn A Minor' is the first album from the US singer and pianist - AliciaKeys.
I had listened to a couple of the tracks 'Girlfriend' and 'How Come You Don't Call Me' which were such hits already and was intrigued to hear what else was on the album.
I later got the full album once it was released because I liked most of the tracks on it.
Many of the songs on this album are slow and chilled out relaxing tracks.
My favourite slow tracks on this album are 'Falling', 'Troubles', 'Goodbye', 'Woman's Worth', 'Butterflyz' and 'Caged Bird' which showcase her beautiful voice and vocals really well.
The backing piano and soundtracks are simple and flow really well with the lyrics that are well ...
Advantages: A great album packed full of memorable tracks. Disadvantages: No lyrics included in booklet! a few forgettable tracks.
Review of AliciaKeys 'Songsin A minor' 2002 album -Including a Remixed & Unplugged Limited Edition Bonus Disc.
I have AliciaKeys first and second albums, I have loved her music from when I first heard it-something that was both cool and contemporary fusing her love for classical and old-school music with fresh sounding RnB. Her young and confident style is also appealing, together with her interest in and work for World charities. Although this album is 7 years old, I still listen to it lots today, sounding as fresh and unique as ever.
I hope to buy her latest album 'As I am' too. I have been impressed by the artists' talent of playing her own instruments including the piano, and writing and producing her own songs-great! Her sound to this particular album I would describe as very romantic with some great funky tunes and lovely ...
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