Thanks, Alicia!

Alicia Keys was recently in the T Dot promoting her Unplugged album. She had interviews on a couple of radio stations, and on various television shows. I seriously contemplated leaving work early so that I could catch a glimpse of her at MuchMusic’s Much On Demand, but I begrudgingly stayed at work.

I’ve only recently become a big fan of Alicia Keys. I enjoyed her music when she first came out 4 years ago, but it was her second CD that made me a full-fledged fan. Her lyrics definitely struck a chord with me. I felt like she was singing about things that I was going through. “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Diary,” “Karma,” and “You Don’t Know My Name” are my songs!

I was able to catch her Unplugged special on TV a couple of weeks ago. It was so refreshing to hear a singer than can actually sing. She sounded as good live as she does on her albums. She puts all the new r&b singers to shame. Yes, I’m talking about, Ashanti, Teira Marie, Rihanna and Ciara. They sound okay on their CDs and they can sell the image, but can they sing live? (Some of their live performances prove that they can’t) To me, the true test of a singer is if they have no problems singing live. (When you see the Alicia Key’s Unplugged special, you will see that she passed that test!) If you can’t perform live (listen up, J Lo), that means that you can’t sing! Singers should be able to connect with the audience just by singing a few notes. Unfortunately, inadequate performers that are attractive are the ones that get the most exposure.

Think about it. When is the last time that you heard tracks from powerhouse vocalists Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, India arie, or Floetry? They are all amazingly talented singers, but they have been pushed to the side so that they can make way for sub par singers that fit a profitable image. Read: You must be a pretty, half naked girl to make it in the business. It is clear that it isn’t about the music anymore; it’s about how much money an artist can generate. If you are attractive and can hit a few notes, you can be signed to a label.

On the flipside, even though Ms. Keys is extremely beautiful, she has proved to us that real singers still exist. She belts out her songs effortlessly and she continues to grow as an artist.

Thanks for the music, Alicia!