I may be a little partial in this opinion to Alicia Keys because she is one of my personal favorites in the music industry. Her sexy and smooth persona along with her soul filled lyrics makes her shine in my book. I can only hope that this review, which is my first since my retirement over one year ago, can show the magnitude of this wonderfully talented artist and her music.

I do not often (if at all) give such raving reviews of an artist. Maybe it is the fact that I have been inactive for so long or maybe it is just the fact that I absolutely love this cd. Whatever the reason, I'll let you decide for yourself.

Here is a list of tracks and a brief synopsis of each, with a line or two of lyrics from the song under some of the descriptions.

1.Piano & I (Intro)
In her intro Alicia tells the listener how it took her a few years to get where she is and how no one knew her name while she was trying to make it in the industry. She gives inspirational words of how not to give up and how she now is where she wants to be.
"You always got to try. No matter how long that $hit take...And I'm feelin' prepared and a little more ready for the world..."

2.Girlfriend
This song tells how Alicia is a little jealous of a girl who is just a friend of her boyfriend. She is a little afraid that she might loose her boyfriend's heart to this girl who is just a friend. I think some women can relate to it and the situation. It is a cute song with a message that, like I just said, some women can relate to.
"Cuz I know she's been such a good friend, But I can't shake the feelin'...I think I'm jealous of your girlfriend. She's just a girl who is your friend."

3.How Come You Don't Call Me
Another track that most women can relate to is their boyfriend, or man they really like, not calling them back. Throughout the cd Alicia certainly captures the feelings of women, particularly in this song. She sings of how she keeps his picture beside her bed and how he's always on her mind along with everything he's said to her. She complains that he knows she does not like to be alone and he still does not answer the phone. How, like some love situations, she thought that they would always be together.
"All I wanna know is baby, if what we had was good, how come you don't call me anymore...Sometimes it feels like I'm gonna die if you don’t call me papa..."

4.Fallin'
Most likely her best known track Alicia shows a tremendous amount of ability in her vocals with this song. She sings of how she keeps falling in love with someone who keeps hurting her. This emotionally charged song really shows how she hurt she feels sometimes with her man but always falls back in love with him.
"I never felt this way. How do you give me so much pleasure, and cause me so much pain...I never loved someone the way I loved you..."

5.Troubles
Telling how how she feels like the world is closing in on her and there is no escape from it. An inspirational song telling the listener to just let your troubles go. Take it slow, she advises, and everything will turn out ok. She sounds like a close personal friend in this song saying "If you need me baby, you just have to let me know..."A soothing smooth beat make this one of my favorites.
"If your troubled, you just have to let it go. If your worried baby, you just got to take it slow..."

6.Rock Wit U
This funky flute sounding beat full of a plethora of different instruments also shows the range of her voice as she sings in a lower tone to begin the song. She seems to know how to balance the lyrics and the music very well, which this song is an example of. She does an instrumental intro for this song for about 1:45 which is wonderful. Rock Wit U says how she wants to be close to this particular person no matter what they go through together, she will always be there for them.
"I stay and walk this life wit you. No matter what we may go through. Dead broke no job, no house, no ride. I'm gonna stay right by your side..."

7.A Woman's Worth
Most likely my favorite track on the cd this song delicately describes to men how valuable a woman is, letting her man know he could take her on a cruise around the world and she would be worth it. This song is not only showing that a man should respect a real woman but that the woman should reciprocate the favor and put him priority in her life.
"Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her. And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her. And a real woman knows a real man always comes first. And a real man just can't deny a woman’s worth..."

8.Jane Doe
A unique blend of beatboxing and spoken word at the beginning of the song gives a little flava to the character of the music. Alicia sings about how she would be crazy to let her man go and let some Jane Doe steal him away from her. She jokes saying she caught Jane Doe trying to check her man out, but it does not matter because she is not going to let him go.
"I love my man, he loves me more. He may not be the perfect man but I don’t plan to let him go...See I caught you trying to check my man out. How bout' you explain what that's all about. Think you slick like I wouldn't know..."

9.Goodbye
A very smooth soothing piano track, telling of how it is so hard to say goodbye to someone you once loved for a very long time. She tells how in the beginning she was naive and she did not know where the relationship was going to go and now, after everything they went through, it is so hard to say goodbye.
"How do you find the words to say goodbye. Your heart don't have the heart to say goodbye..."

10.The Life
This song sings the praises of life and how everyone is trying to survive. Telling the listener not to give up and keep striving to survive in whatever you are doing because this is the only life you are going to get, so enjoy it.
The unique beat makes for easy listening and her voice shows it's potential once again.
"You've gotta do what you gotta do just to make it through. All the hard times that's going to face you..."

11.Mr. Man Feat Jimmy Cozier
This unique duo makes for a fantastic song as Jimmy Cozier and Alicia go back and forth exchanging feelings about each other. Jimmy tells her how he cares about her and wants to know if there could be anything between them, but he doesn't want to be unfair to Mr. Man (her boyfriend). Alicia comes back telling him that she sees him blatantly checkin' her out with her boyfriend right next to her, and how she gets shivers when she sees him doing it.
"Somethin' about the way you smiled at me just drove me wild. Wish I could know if your alone, don't wanna cramp your style...I wanna know if you feel the way I do. I wanna know if there’s a chance for me and you..."

12.Never Felt This Way (Interlude)
I am going to say this outright. This song makes me cry. The emotion she carries with each word and each note of the piano extract so much feeling and emotion from me I can not begin to describe it. Unfortunately this song is only two minutes long as it is an interlude, but that does not change the quality and heart that is abundant throughout. If anyone listens to one song on this cd I would, without a doubt, have them listen to this one. At first listen it seems simple and short, but once you really listen to the lyrics and how they fit into the song, you will see what I mean.
"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. Baby just hold me. Simply control me. Because your arms, they keep away the lonely..."

13.Butterflyz
This song is smoothly led into from the previous as it sounds like it is all one song. Telling of how she gets butterflies in her stomach every time she sees this man. Showing innocent nervousness, Alicia gives a glimpse of how she may react to someone she cares about deeply. Then again maybe she doesn't but I like to think she is :).
"You give me butterflies. They got me flying so high in the sky, I can't control the butterflies..."

14.Why Do I Feel So Sad
She sings of how things are changing around her and she knows that her love for this person is unwavering but she still feels so sad. She says how his actions speak louder than his words ever could, and he is making her feel so because they have to part ways. A very smooth chill beat with quiet sung lyrics.
"By now I should know, that in time things must grow. And I had to leave you behind. So why do I feel so sad..."

15.Caged Bird
This describes how she feels like a caged bird, oddly enough. She wants so bad to spread her wings and fly. To be on her own would make her so happy but she can not get out of the cage she is in with everybody staring at her. All she wants is to be free and happy, but caged she is crying through her smiles.
"Right now I feel like a bird. Caged without a key. Everyone comes to stare at me. With so much joy and rivalry. They didn’t know how I feel inside. Through my smile I cry..."

16.Lovin' You (Bonus Track)
This fantastic bonus track is a soothing story of love. Alicia tells how easy it is to love this person. How the wonderful things that he does has her falling in love with him. How loving him comes so naturally and becomes so easy. She says how she will stand by his side no matter what happens.
"If I gave you forever, would you take care of me...I would climb the highest mountain to bring you back, you better believe..."

Well that was my tribute to one of my personal favorite artists. I can only hope that my review shows you, the reader, how deep and heartfelt her lyrics and music really is. I would highly recommend this cd to anyone, especially anyone who is a big fan of pianos :). Her variety of hip-hopish soul motown music is a fantastic combination that many people could appreciate.

Please Check Out My Other Music Reviews:
DJ Honda - H II
DJ Honda/Mos Def - Travellin' Man Single
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Blackstar
Talib Kweli - Quality
Talib Kweli - Reflection Eternal
The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!
White Lion - The Best Of White Lion

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Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Going to Sleep