Alicia Keys has released her fifth album Girl On Fire a little over a decade since she first came into recorded music prominence. The Hell’s Kitchen R&B Singer-Songwriter went cross-genre in 2001 thanks in due part to her ability to add musicality to R&B. It wasn’t anything new to the genre, but at the time it was something that wasn’t common. It was a well marketed intention of artistic integrity that earned Alicia Keys a record setting five Grammys in one night in 2002, and she’s delivered on the promise of being that year’s Best New Artist ever since.
With Girl On Fire, she continues along a “Best New Artist” vein. For the first time, Alicia heavily enlists the help of some of today’s popular songwriters (for every track except two): Emeli Sandé, Bruno Mars, John Legend, Babyface, and Frank Ocean. None of the collaborations backfire in the way they could. Alicia retains her signature style. Apart from the noticeable inclusions on the album, the noticeable absence from the Girl On Fire crew is Kerry Brothers. The acoustic production of every track except “Girl On Fire” and “A New Day” (respectively produced by Salaam Remi and Swizz Beatz) mark Kerry’s obvious exclusion.
Alicia’s songwriting turned inward since 2007’s As I Am. Songs about romance were paired with songs about realizing one’s purpose and the lessons of life mistakes. Girl On Fire finds the perfect balance of self-help and realized-romance. Take for instance the beautiful “Brand New Me” where she sings, “If I talk a little louder/If I speak up when you’re wrong/If I walk a little taller/I been under you too long” along with the Frank Ocean co-penned “One Thing” where the pair’s words come together in harmony. The Maxwell duet “Fire We Make” has the potential to be Alicia’s biggest single since the 2009 Drake pairing “Fireworks” – romantic, succinct, with an indelible R&B melody. The album’s signature Alicia Keys moment, “Not Even The King,” is the most stripped down track that captures Alicia’s ability to carry simple production (think of how it felt listening to “If I Ain’t Got You” for the first time).
Upon first glance there’s an absence of radio singles on Girl On Fire, but aside from the strained vocals on the title track, A.Keys has delivered a subdued album. While Keys started by taking over the Pop charts, she’s slowly worked her way into an R&B focus – it’s a welcome endeavor as she’s always been a true R&B artist. Girl On Fire pushes her superb writing skills forward without losing what makes Alicia Keys the artist she promised to be 11 years ago.
dope album
wtf? this is better than that other crap out there
wonderful return
About as r&b as taylor swift is country.
whats has alicia keys to do with hiphop? I thought this was a hiphop site
This site is obviously not solely for hip hop as it could be seen with various other articles posted. Why ask a stupid question?
then why is the name: HIPHOPDX you dumb faggot
By your logic, hip-hop artists who make albums that branch out and incorporate different genres into the songs shouldn’t be called a hip-hop album. In short, you’re a closed-minded retard.
amazing album
I like this album but something has been off about AK since the third album… I just dont connect emotionally to most of the songs, the way I did to her first album, and second especially. Its like a part of her soul is missing.. Though, I did enjoy the song with maxwell.
Love this
If you don’t realize RandB and Hip-Hop goes hand and hand then you need to get lost its that simple.
techo nowadays goes hand in hand with hiphop so why not some techno reviews!!!!!!!
pop & hip hop go hand in hand these days too. maybe there should be a review for the latest Taylor Swift album.
dyke on fire
I get that its a woman’s pop/R&B album…but that’s still gotta be the gayest cover I’ve seen in a while. Haha
i know this site is urban culture but the fact that this was reviewed before Ryan Leslie’s Les Is More speaks volumes.
no its a hiphop site not an rnb site otherwise it would be: RNBDX
ryan leslie’s new album is rap.
Lolno.
haters
betta tha dat uduh mess
I love all of Alicia’s LPs, especially her first two, but I found As I Am and Element of Freedom didn’t live up to the high quality set by its predecessors. This new record, however has more in common with her earlier material and if the record eschews a pop-friendly crossover hit, all the better. Girl On Fire will appeal to her many ardent fans and the joint with Maxwell is sure to be a future classic. Adding Manaj to the Girl on Fire remix was a misstep though. She totally ruined an otherwise excellent track, and adds no artistic merit to the song, merely commerce. That’s the only complaint on a five-mic classic that joins Born to Die and Deftones’ new album as my favourite non-rap LPs of 2012. Salute Ms. Keys.
I completely agree with you. The features with Maxwell and Nicki were irrelevant. Her rebirth and renewal that started with ‘Element of freedom’ seems to have been concluded here.
I listened to the album looking out for the Alicia that we knew (and loved) but the only thing I got was a disappointing aftertaste that had me reaching for ‘Songs in a minor’ and ‘Diary of Alicia Keys’ all over again.
This isn’t a girl on fire, its a lukewarm woman.
how is this exactly hip hop??????
this ain’t hip hop
why dis bitch here?
dat iz really great album. ya dig?
I think that Alicia needs to get a divorce in order to make good music again. Swizz has clearly had too much influence on her fifth album. She only has about 2 good songs on it and I wish I didn’t buy this one. I love Alicia don’t get me wrong, but you can’t serve crap and expect us to eat. Sorry
fuckin pop singer. die with a dick in your mouth
What attracted you to that ugly ass anorexic cornball swizz when he was already married to another chick and had a child with her that was still young?>>>you just show your real hoodrat dumb ghetto mentality with that one Alicia. Don’t sing women’s empowerment songs anynmore when you are just a dumb little chickenhead like the rest of the little hood rats looking for love in all the wrong places.Home wrecker hoe for real.
super
I’m sorry but this album is crack! Definitely a pick up.
First listen is painful enough… Kells pls remix this 1…
Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire Cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrMB5kbbpx4
Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire Cover