Alicia Keys is the type of artist that compels you to search for the lyrics to her songs while you listen to them. On her best efforts, her very soul is filtered through the dazzling prism of her voice.
Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys’ first album in three years, is no exception.
Unlike her previous album The Element of Freedom, produced when she was entangled in the aftermath of a difficult breakup, Alicia Keys’ new songs pulsate with confidence and a feeling of freedom. And her style has matured, allowing her to experiment and collaborate with other industry stars (Bruno Mars, Frank Ocean, Jamie xx, Nicki Minaj, Emeli Sande, Babyface, Dr. Dre, John Legend and Maxwell) without diluting her own creative presence.
Unlike Alicia Keys’ previous works, many of the songs on Girl on Fire feature some hard beats and a significant amount of jingle-jangle. Alicia Keys draws on both hip-hop and pop, making this latest record one of her most commercially appealing albums yet. Despite the slightly glitzy packaging, her songs have not lost any of their emotional gravitas, resonating deeply with the listener.
“Brand New Me” emerges from the lingering notes of the album’s prelude, escalating and soaring to breathtaking heights: “It’s been a while, I’m not who I was before / Don’t be mad, it’s just the brand new kind of me,” she sings. “Can’t be bad, I found a brand new kind of free.” This sense of triumph and strength in the face of adversity pervades her entire album.
“Listen to 2 Ur Heart” celebrates letting your heart, not mind, take the lead: “You never know until you try / Why so scared, when hearts don’t lie / Turn off the world, and close your eyes / Lose yourself, and / Listen to your heart.” Her songs are a source of encouragement, lifting the listener’s spirits and rekindling faith without being cliché or overly optimistic. You might shed some tears. That’s the magic of Alicia Keys.
To be fair, like any album, this one does have one or two minor stumbles. The title track, for instance, is a bit jolting at first. What is Nicki Minaj’s nasally voice doing in the middle of a poignant Alicia Keys record? Even here, though, the lyrics don’t disappoint: “She’s living in a world, and it’s on fire / Feeling the catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away,” continuing the sense of freedom essential to the album’s atmosphere.
On a gloomy day when you feel you’ve lost direction and hope Alicia Keys is sure to raise you back up so you can stand strong with “both feet on the ground.”
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