Rhythm 'n' Blues |

Often, the great albums that mark the history of music have their own story. This is the case with this one, whose first version existed as early as 1998. It was in the middle of summer, and her label, Columbia, interested in Alicia’s project, explained that it would be good to improve it. Alicia, who had classical piano training, was barely 17 years old and mastered musical composition and arrangements. This is where one must delve into Alicia Keys’ memories to understand this period: “They wanted me, the tomboy from Hell’s Kitchen, to become the next teen pop idol,” in other words, to transform the caterpillar into a butterfly. Several proposals from the record company followed, with various producers that did not satisfy Alicia Keys, who ultimately chose Kerry “Krucial” Brothers, a true sound genius capable of mixing classical music with other genres, which didn’t really please the record company…
So Alicia decided to slam the door at Columbia and arrived at Arista Records in 1999. The conditions were very different from Columbia. At Arista, Alicia had control over her production. The album was released in 2000, invaded the famous Smoothjazz radio, and quickly spread due to its innovative nature. “Songs in A Minor” gradually spread worldwide. Bayou Blue Radio was the first radio in Europe to broadcast this album with the track “Fallin’,” which played in a loop, followed by national radios. Everyone loved Alicia Keys for her originality and the quality of her music. Like many great artists, her albums would follow, some as good as this first one, others less interesting, because Alicia is always best when she navigates between soul, jazz, and R&B. Whenever she ventures only into R&B, she loses herself, but this is probably necessary for the gestation of the next album.
Alicia Keys is the product of a black father and a white mother, raised by her mother. She had a rather complex early life, discovering the piano very early, which became her passion and evidently still is. It was probably the piano that saved her from the streets, and also this particular talent with which she is flooded. It is enough to see with what ease she uses this instrument, and this unique voice in which there is experience and depth that few artists possess, except perhaps artists like Aretha Franklin, Minnie Riperton, or Sarah Vaughan. Alicia is one of those people who have something to say. I remember that it was at the same time I was rereading Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy, gradually leaving my European identity. I understood Alicia’s music just as I understood Paul Auster, finding everything around me bland. Simultaneously, it was at the beginning of the 2000s that jazz really evolved. Before, it seemed that Miles Davis and Joe Zawinul were so admired that it seemed to freeze creative form. I admit that this Alicia Keys album completely changed my way of listening to and appreciating music. Alicia, probably without knowing it, opened doors by offering as many high-quality artistic proposals in this album, mixing musical genres so skillfully. One could only admire the result and learn from it.
Fallin’ (Beauty of contemporary poetry inscribed in its time)
I keep on fallin’
In and out of love
With you
Sometimes I love ya
Sometimes you make me blue
Sometimes I feel good
At times I feel used
Lovin’ you darlin’
Makes me so confused
I keep on fallin’ in and out
Of love with you
I never loved someone
The way that I love you
Oh, oh, I never felt this way
How do you give me so much pleasure
And cause me so much pain? (Yeah, yeah)
Just when I think
I’ve taken more than would a fool
I start fallin’ back in love with you
I keep on fallin’ in and out
Of love with you
I never (uh huh) loved someone (someone)
The way that I (way I) love you (uh, uh)
Oh, baby
I, I, I, I’m fallin’
I, I, I, I’m fallin’
Fall, fall, fall (sing)
Fall
I keep on fallin’ in and out (out)
Of love (love) with you (with you)
I never (never) loved someone (loved)
The way that I (I) love you
I’m fallin’ in and out
Of love (of love) with you (with you)
I never (no) loved someone (no, no)
The way that I (uh) love you
I’m fallin’ in and out
Of love (of love) with you (with you)
I never (no) loved someone (no, no)
The way that I (uh) love you
What?
It seemed important to include the entire text here because reading is different from listening. Simplicity, the beauty of the words, add to everything I have just told you. This is enough to make this album one of our “Essentials.”
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, July 15th 2024
Follow PARIS-MOVE on X
::::::::::::::::::::::