empire state of mind part ii alicia keys album cover

#Empire state of mind part ii alicia keys album cover series#
#Empire state of mind part ii alicia keys album cover free#

The album's lyrics features aphorisms about relationships and God. The songs are mostly midtempo and feature unconventional chords and melodic changes. It also showcases her attempt at different styles, which range from electro soul and hip hop, to rock and reggae flourishes. The album's music is typified by Keys' heightened singing, piano playing, and a minimalist production. You just do what you do, and we'll see what happens.' It was one of the best studio experiences I've ever had.' Music and lyrics Īn R&B album, Girl on Fire has a balance of conventional R&B songs and piano ballads. Speaking about the collaboration he said, 'I went in and I was like, 'What do you want me to do?' and she was like, 'This is the song. Seeing potential in Clark, Jr.'s skills, Keys would present him with the song 'Fire We Make' and asked him if he could play some guitar on the track. if he would play the guitar elements from ' While My Guitar Gently Weeps' by George Harrison. I wanted to create a song.' During a Keep a Child Alive concert in New York City, Keys met blues- rock guitarist Gary Clark, Jr. 'I was really focused on writing, on the crafting of a song, more so than anything else. When working on the album, Keys said she was not inspired by the current rhythmic trends in pop music. Keys worked with a range of producers for Girl on Fire, including husband Swizz Beatz, Babyface, Kerry Brothers, Jr. Recording sessions for the album took place at Jungle City Studios and Oven Studios in New York, Chalice Studios and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, Geejam Studios in Jamaica, and Metropolis Studios in London.

#Empire state of mind part ii alicia keys album cover series#

The world is new! Everything feels like brand new to me.' Keys even explained that the album title is a slight reference to Katniss Everdeen, the central character in the adventure novel series The Hunger Games, of which she is a fan.

And it's really important for me to describe that and say that exactly how I see it, period. It's more in a true space of who I am and what story it is that I'm trying to tell, what it is I'm going through, what the world is going through. So every way that I've created now is totally in a new space. Speaking on how Girl on Fire was different to The Element of Freedom, Keys said: 'I've stepped more into my business and really.

#Empire state of mind part ii alicia keys album cover free#

This whirlwind has definitely forced me to be who I am, to be free enough and brave enough to just not accept anything else-nor try to be anything else.' an entire crazy dynamic of lessons and emotions to grow into and claim. The most newest, the most difficult, the most loving, the most dream-filled, the most breaking free. Speaking on how the events of the previous three years inspired her, during an interview with Billboard, Keys stated: 'These last three years have been the most in every way. Essence reported that Keys began working on Girl on Fire in February 2011. Keys had also either appeared on or produced material for several other artists, including work on Kanye West, Emeli Sandé and Miguel's albums. Between the two albums, Keys married record producer and rapper Swizz Beatz, became a mother, began co-managing her own career, produced and directed both a Broadway play and short film, in addition to designing a line of trainers for Reebok. It also serves as her first release under RCA Records, after a reorganization at parent company Sony Music Entertainment led to her previous label J Records being absorbed into RCA. Girl on Fire is Keys' fifth studio album and the follow-up to The Element of Freedom (2009). At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Girl on Fire won Best R&B Album, making Keys the most awarded artist in this category, with three wins. To further promote the album, Keys embarked on her fifth worldwide concert tour, titled Set the World on Fire Tour, which commenced in March 2013 and ended in December. It produced five singles–' Girl on Fire' (which peaked at number two on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100), ' Brand New Me', ' New Day', ' Fire We Make' (featuring Maxwell), and ' Tears Always Win'. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 159,000 copies sold in its first week. Upon its release, Girl on Fire received generally positive reviews from music critics. It features a largely minimalist production, includes piano-driven songs and balances traditional R&B with atypical chords and melodic changes. The album is an R&B album with elements of different musical styles, including rock, electro, reggae and hip hop. It was released on November 22, 2012, being Keys' first release with RCA Records following Sony Music Entertainment's decision to close J Records during a company reshuffle. Girl on Fire is the fifth studio album by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys.