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Keys is the eighth studio album by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, released through RCA Records on December 10, 2021. It was primarily produced by Keys. It was preceded by the release of two singles: "Lala (Unlocked)" featuring Swae Lee and "Best of Me". The album was announced on October 27 and includes two discs (original and unlocked), with two versions of 10 tracks, along with six other tracks.

Keys
Studio album by
Alicia Keys
ReleasedDecember 10, 2021
Studio
  • Los Angeles, California (Conton House, Conway Recording, Perfect Sound)
  • Nassau, Bahamas (Sanctuary)
  • New York City, New York (Jungle City, Kampo)
  • North Hollywood, California (Larrabee Sound)
GenreR&B
Length93:24
LabelRCA
Producer
Alicia Keys chronology
Alicia
(2020)		 Keys
(2021)		 Santa Baby
(2022)
Singles from Keys
  1. "Lala (Unlocked)"
    Released: September 9, 2021
  2. "Best of Me"
    Released: October 28, 2021
  3. "Come for Me[1][2]"
    Released: July 14, 2022

Keys is a double album. The first part features the more traditional and melodic original songs. The second half of the album features the unlocked versions of the same tracks, where Mike WiLL Made-It sampled the original tracks and gave them stronger beats and several effects and transformations. Some songs exist only either in their original or unlocked version. In the United States, the album debuted at number 41 on the Billboard 200 selling 20,800 units, and becoming Keys' first studio album to miss the top five in that country. It received mostly positive reviews, with critics highlighting Keys' production approach in particular, although some were critical of the quality behind the song composition. To support the album, Keys embarked on the Alicia + Keys World Tour.


Conception and composition


The singer's eighth recording project consists of two parts: the first, called Originals, is described as "the classic side of me", while the second, Unlocked, is "a whole other sonic experience".[3][4] The album features the singer as producer and songwriter on all twenty-six tracks, with numerous songwriters and producers participating, including Mike Will Made It, Sia, Raphael Saadiq, Natalie Hemby, and vocal collaborations from Khalid, Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Swae Lee, Brandi Carlile, and Jacob Collier.[5]

After her album Alicia was released during the coronavirus pandemic, Keys started to work on the album by writing alone in the studio as she did with her first albums.[6] Keys, interviewed by Entertainment Weekly, said about the album:[7]

«The pandemic hit; I didn't feel creative at all. I had lost my center and didn't really know how to find peace. [...] So I did get right back in and I knew that I wanted to do this album called Keys. And as I started to create it, I realized that it was a homecoming for me. It's so grounded in songwriting and raw expression. I didn't worry about production. [...] Me and my engineer Ann Mincieli started conversating about this concept about these two worlds. [...] She suggested I connect with [rap producer] Mike Will. And when I connected with Mike Will, it was instant vibes. [...] I like that you can choose your own adventure. You could do that thing where you're kind of A-B-ing it, or you can just ride out to what your energy is».

From the album’s beginning, Keys had a vision to create an alternative and sampled side of the original album.[8] After the Originals side was mainly completed, Keys connected with producer Mike Will, and began to work on the Unlocked side with him in New York.[8]


Promotion and release


Keys debuted the album's lead single, "Lala" at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards alongside Swae Lee.[9] In November 2021, Keys appeared on the covers of Marie Claire in the United Kingdom and the United States, and Glamour Germany.[10][11][12] Keys performed of songs from the album at the Mercedes-EQ Concert Experience, held at Mercedes-Benz Manhattan on November 6, 2021.[13] On November 7, Keys appeared on 1Xtra's R&B Show on BBC Radio 1Xtra in the United Kingdom.[14] As part of SiriusXM's and Pandora's Small Stage Series, Keys performed songs from the album at Apollo Theater on November 11, 2021.[15] The show was the first of several intimate concert appearances staged by Keys during the unveiling of the new material.[16] On December 1, Keys performed songs from the album at an intimate concert at Superblue art gallery during Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida.[17] 5 days before the album's release, "Come for Me" featuring Khalid and Lucky Daye was released to digital outlets as a promotional single.[18] On December 6, Keys appeared on Complex's 360 With Speedy Morman to talk about the album.[19] On December 9, Keys was featured on Drink Champs podcast on Revolt.[20] The album was further promoted by an album release party featuring an exclusive interview and performances by Keys in collaboration with iHeartRadio.[21] On November 10, Keys appeared on Apple Music's R&B Now Radio to talk about the album with Ebro Darden and performed a concert at Expo 2020 in Dubal, United Arab Emirates.[22][23] On December 12, Keys appeared on The Kris Fade Show on Virgin Radio Dubai.[24] On December 14, Keys appeared on the Today and The One Show and performed "Old Memories" on The Voice.[25][26][27]


Re-release Keys II


On July 14, 2022 Keys unveiled that "Come for Me" featuring Khalid and Lucky Daye would be released as the next single, ahead of a re-release of the album titled Keys II during the following month. The music video was released the same day.[1][2][28][29] In the United States, "Trillions" featuring Brent Faiyaz impacted R&B radio on August 23, 2022.[30]


Critical reception


Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.4/10[31]
Metacritic65/100[32]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[33]
The Daily Telegraph[34]
Evening Standard[35]
The Guardian[36]
The Independent[37]
NME[38]
The Observer[39]
Rolling Stone[40]
Slant Magazine[41]
The Times[42]

Keys was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 65, based on 11 reviews.[32]

Reviewing for Rolling Stone in December 2021, Jon Dolan found the project to consist of "two distinct, easily digestible collections", highlighting Originals as "the more self-assured of the two sets" and its first seven songs a "run of historical turns [that] is quintessential Keys".[40] Dan Cairns of The Times wrote that the album as a whole is a "powerful reminder of just how original an artist she is", adding that "tracks such as Daffodil Mix 2/Daffodils, Skydive, Is It Insane and Nat King Cole point up to Keys' bracingly and often irreverent approach to music-making".[42] Similarly, The Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick said her production strives toward "epic" ballad styles and evocative trip hop tones,[34] while The New York Times reviewer Jon Pareles applauded the album for how it "invites every listener to think like a producer, hearing the possibilities of timbre, propulsion, weight and context for every sound, while making clear how much those choices matter".[43]

Other reviewers were less receptive. Alexis Petridis, writing for The Guardian, found Keys to be devoid of any major songs and instead reliant on the artist's creativity, which he said "can improve an average song but can't transform one into something extraordinary".[36] AllMusic's Andy Kellman believed that "the songs are more likely to evoke a feeling than have a clear meaning".[33]


Commercial performance


In the United States, the album debuted at number 41 on the Billboard 200 chart with 20,800 album-equivalent units sold; it spent only a week on the chart and is her lowest charting studio album to date.[44]


Track listing



Side 1: Originals


Originals
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Plentiful" (featuring Pusha T)
3:08
2."Skydive"
Keys3:04
3."Best of Me"
  • Keys
  • Sam Morton[b]
3:59
4."Dead End Road"
3:32
5."Is It Insane"KeysKeys6:21
6."Billions"
AraabMuzik3:19
7."Love When You Call My Name"
  • Keys
  • Saadiq
Keys3:37
8."Only You"
  • Keys
  • Saadiq
Keys3:15
9."Daffodils"
Keys4:33
10."Old Memories"
  • Keys
  • Hemby
Keys2:59
11."Nat King Cole"
3:39
12."Paper Flowers" (featuring Brandi Carlile)
Keys3:24
13."Like Water"
Keys3:57
14."Keys"KeysKeys1:25
Total length:50:12
Re-release Keys II: Originals bonus tracks[1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Stay" (featuring Lucky Daye)
  • Ilya
  • Rob Knox
3:31
15."In Common" (Black Coffee remix)
  • Illanegelo
  • Black Coffee
4:58

Side 2: Unlocked


Unlocked
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Only You"
  • Keys
  • Saadiq
  • Williams
  • Asheton Hogan
  • Pierre Slaughter
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
  • Pluss[a]
  • P-Nazty[a]
  • Aaron Jhenke[b]
3:11
2."Skydive"
  • Keys
  • Saadiq
  • Williams
  • Hogan
  • Nix
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
  • Pluss[a]
3:03
3."Best of Me"
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
3:43
4."Lala" (featuring Swae Lee)
  • Keys
  • Khalif Brown
  • Williams
  • Darryl Ellis
  • Paul Richmond
  • Ruben Locke
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
4:31
5."Nat King Cole" (featuring Lil Wayne)
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
  • Marzeratti[a]
4:05
6."Is It Insane"
  • Keys
  • Hogan
  • Williams
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
4:27
7."Come for Me" (featuring Khalid and Lucky Daye)
  • Mike Will Made It
  • Carter Lang
  • BJ Burton
3:29
8."Old Memories"
  • Keys
  • Hemby
  • Shondrae Crawford
  • Williams
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
  • Jhenke[b]
3:52
9."Dead End Road"
  • Keys
  • Ball
  • McIntosh
  • Ball
  • Jay Mooncie
3:32
10."Love When You Call My Name"
  • Keys
  • Saadiq
  • Williams
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
3:15
11."Daffodils"
  • Keys
  • Hemby
  • Williams
  • Keys
  • Mike Will Made It
3:04
12."Billions"
  • Keys
  • Orellana
3:00
Total length:43:12

Re-release Keys II: Unlocked bonus tracks[1]

Notes


Sample credits



Personnel and credits



Originals


Recording locations

Musicians

Technical


Unlocked


Recording locations

Musicians

Technical


Charts


Chart performance for Keys
Chart (2021–2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[45] 92
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[46] 109
French Albums (SNEP)[47] 163
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[48] 49
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[49] 18
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[50] 9
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[51] 5
US Billboard 200[44] 41
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[52] 17

Release history


Release dates and formats for Keys
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various December 10, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Original RCA [53]
United States February 4, 2022 CD [54]
United States August 12, 2022
  • CD
  • Vinyl
 Keys II re-release [1]

References


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  2. "Alicia Keys Unveils the Spellbinding Music Video for "Come for Me"". Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  3. "Alicia Keys Announces New Album Keys, Shares New Song "Best of Me"". Pitchfork. 2021-10-29. Archived from the original on 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  4. Keithan, Samuels (October 27, 2021). "Alicia Keys Announces New Double Album 'Keys'". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  5. Abraham, Mya (2021-12-07). "Alicia Keys Reveals Tracklist For Upcoming Double Album, 'KEYS'". Vibe. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  6. Ross, Alex Robert (2021-12-09). "Alicia Keys on Creative Breakthroughs And The Meaning of Home". The Fader. Archived from the original on 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  7. Jones, Marcus (2021-10-29). "Alicia Keys on the 'Original,' 'Unlocked' Sides of New Double Album 'Keys'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  8. Keithan, Samuels (2021-12-10). "Alicia Keys, Unlocked: Interview". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  9. Hussey, Allison (2021-09-13). "Watch Alicia Keys Perform "Lala" and "Empire State of Mind" at the 2021 MTV VMAs". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  10. Herndon, Jessica. "Alicia Keys Gets What She Wants". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  11. "Alicia Keys: On Success, Identity And Growing Into Her Skin". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  12. von Schmied, Ursula (2021-10-29). "GLAMOUR Coverstar: Alicia Keys über ihr neues Album, Self-Care und Empowerment". Glamour Germany (in German). Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  13. Uwumarogie, Victoria (2021-11-09). "Alicia Keys And The Mercedes-Benz EQS, The Brand's First Electric Vehicle, Shine During Concert Experience". Essence. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  14. "Everything R&B with DJ Ace - Alicia Keys in Conversation". 1Xtra's R&B Show. BBC Radio 1Xtra. 2021-11-07. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  15. Lamarre, Carl (November 12, 2021). "Alicia Keys Unlocks the Magic of Harlem's Apollo Theater For Her One Night Only Concert". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  16. "Alicia Keys previews her forthcoming double album at secret show in Miami". TheGrio. 2021-12-02. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  17. Upadhyaya, Kayla (2021-12-04). "Inside Alicia Keys' Secret Concert At Art Basel". Bustle. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  18. "Come for Me (Unlocked) (Feat. Khalid & Lucky Daye) - Single by Alicia Keys, Khalid, Lucky Daye | Spotify". Spotify. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  19. "Alicia Keys on Lost J.Cole Songs, Swizz Beatz Surviving The Ick & Her Legacy | 360 with Speedy Morman". Complex. 2021-12-06. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  20. Abraham, Mya (2020-12-09). "Alicia Keys Admits She Never Knew The Infamous Lil Mama Moment Happened Until Jay-Z Told Her". Vibe. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  21. Fields, Taylor (2021-12-03). "Alicia Keys' iHeartRadio Album Release Party: How to Watch". iHeart. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  22. @oldmanebro (2021-12-10). "Today on #RnBNowRadio, I'm sitting down with @aliciakeys to talk about staying true to herself on her new double album #Keys" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-12-12 – via Twitter.
  23. Marsden, Rhodri (2021-12-11). "Review: Alicia Keys Mesmerises Expo 2020 Dubai with Old Hits and a New Album". The National. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  24. "The Kris Fade Show Podcast 12 Dec 2021". Omny.fm. 2021-12-12. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  25. Zemler, Emily (2021-12-14). "Watch BTS, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande Perform on 'The Voice' Finale". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  26. "Alicia Keys Talks About Her New Album, Her Kids and More Live on TODAY". Today. NBC. 2021-12-14. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  27. "The One Show - 14/12/2021". BBC. 2021-12-14. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  28. "Alicia Keys connects with Khalid and Lucky Daye in "Come for Me" visual". Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  29. "Alicia Keys drops "Come for Me" music video, announces deluxe album, 'Keys II'". 14 July 2022.
  30. "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  31. "Keys by Alicia Keys reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  32. "KEYS by Alicia Keys". Metacritic.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  33. Kellman, Andy (n.d.). "Keys - Alicia Keys". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  34. McCormick, Neil (December 10, 2021). "Alicia Keys: KEYS, review: world-class range, ambition and accomplishment". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  35. Smyth, David (December 9, 2021). "Alicia Keys - Keys review: Playing twice is twice as nice". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  36. Petridis, Alexis (December 9, 2021). "Alicia Keys: Keys review – bold experiment lacks stone-cold hits". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  37. Nugent, Annabel (December 10, 2021). "Alicia Keys review, KEYS: An experimental double record that stops short of reaching its tall ambitions". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  38. Levine, Nick (December 10, 2021). "Alicia Keys – 'KEYS' review: an intriguing concept, but not a top-tier project". NME. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  39. Cragg, Michael (December 12, 2021). "Alicia Keys: Keys review – double album shows two faces". The Observer. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  40. Dolan, Jon (December 12, 2021). "Alicia Keys Delivers a Huge Album Without a Huge Ego". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  41. Cinquemani, Sal (December 12, 2021). "Review: With Keys, Alicia Keys Unlocks Herself from Genre Constraints". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  42. Dan Cairns, Dan; Canning, Hugh (2021-12-05). "Best New Albums: Alicia Keys Recaptures the Verve That Made Her a Star". The Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  43. Pareles, Jon (December 10, 2021). "Alicia Keys, on and Off the Digital Grid". New York Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  44. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  45. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – Keys" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  46. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – Keys" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  47. "Lescharts.com – Alicia Keys – Keys". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  48. "Offiziellecharts.de – Alicia Keys – Keys" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  49. "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – Keys". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  50. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  51. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  52. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  53. "'KEYS' [Explicit] by Alicia Keys on Apple Music". Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  54. "'KEYS' CD". Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

На других языках

- [en] Keys (album)

[ru] Keys

Keys — восьмой студийный альбом американской R&B и соул-исполнительницы Алиши Киз, вышедший 10 декабря 2021 года на лейбле RCA Records[12]. Альбом был анонсирован 27 октября и включает два диска (оригинальный и открытый), с двумя версиями 10 треков, а также шестью другими треками[13].


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