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The 8 Best Alicia Keys Singles

Alicia Keys

Now thirteen years and five studio efforts into her career, Alicia Keys has built up the kind of back catalogue that most of her soulful peers can only dream about. With four US number ones to her name, not to mention a further seven Top 20 hits and a string of successful collaborations, she’s also managed to remain a singles artist whilst simultaneously shifting millions of albums. Here’s a look at seven of her best.

A Woman’s Worth
“Fallin’” might have catapulted her to stardom, but 2001 second single, “A Woman’s Worth” managed to be just as effortlessly soulful without shamelessly ripping off James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” in the process. Offering a slightly more commercial but equally classy and sophisticated take on the neo-soul of Jill Scott and Angie Stone, the standout from Songs In A Minor confirmed that Keys’ initial success was no fluke.

If I Ain’t Got You
Scoring her a second consecutive US R&B No.1, “If I Ain’t Got You” is perhaps the most heartfelt out of the elegant 70s-inspired piano-driven ballads that she has built her career on. Inspired by the tragic passing of Aaliyah two years earlier, the second single from 2003 sophomore The Diary Of Alicia Keys has since achieved modern classic status after becoming an audition favourite on various TV talent shows, but no-one has performed it with as much passion or conviction as Keys.

Gangsta Lovin’
Overshadowed by her previous duet with Gwen Stefani (“Let Me Blow Ya Mind”), the lead single from Eve’s second album, Eve-Olution was still a supremely funky fusion of girl-power hip-hop and infectious urban pop melodies (courtesy of Yarborough & Peoples’ “Don’t Stop The Music”) which allowed Keys to step out from behind the piano, show off a few moves, and prove she wasn’t just a big-voiced balladeer.

Another Way To Die
Following Madonna’s divisive electroclash offering and Chris Cornell’s tired MOR rock effort, Alicia Keys and unlikely partner Jack White brought a much-needed sense of drama back to the concept of the Bond theme with this powerful mix of blues, classical rock and soul. More than worthy of gracing the big screen, the 007 franchise’s first ever duet suggested White could do a lot worse than look to Keys next time he decides to form another side-project.

Empire State Of Mind
The stripped-back candlelight Part II version is pleasant enough but it’s the chart-topping original collaboration with Jay-Z that is rightfully considered one of the greatest urban singles of the 21st Century. A sheer tour-de-force of hip-hop-soul featuring two of the genre’s biggest stars at the top of their game, “Empire State Of Mind” has quite possibly replaced Frank Sinatra’s “New York New York” as the ultimate ode to the Big Apple.

Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart
Thankfully Keys has avoided succumbing to the wave of trashy Guetta-esque pop that has swamped most of her counterparts’ output. But she did briefly flirt with the use of synths, to inspired effect, on the highlight from 2009’s The Element Of Freedom. One of her more bolder expansive productions, “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” was a brilliantly executed homage to the 80s funk of early Prince which only made you wish she’d step outside of her comfort zone more frequently.

Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)
Possibly one of the most under-rated singles in her canon, the fifth release from The Element Of Freedom is a sensual and seductive downbeat R&B ballad which bears all the hallmarks of its guest backing vocalist, Drake. “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)” might not have been as immediate as her big power ballads but managing to keep her worrying tendency to over-sing under control, its quiet understatement was a refreshing nod back to her less overblown beginnings.

Girl On Fire
Borrowing the same emphatic Billy Squier beat previously sampled by everyone from Run-D.M.C. to Dizzee Rascal, the first cut from Keys fifth’ album of the same name was an anthemic girl power affair which celebrated the achievements of women everywhere, although how Nicki Minaj’s bizarre shoehorned rap about being haunted by the ghost of Marilyn Monroe fits in is anyone’s guess.

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