Alicia J. Augello-Cook (Manhattan, New York, 25 January 1981) is an American artist. She is active as a R & Band soul-songwriter, composer, producer, pianist, singer and actress.
Content[]
Biography[Edit][]
Keys is the daughter of her Italian-Irish mother, Terri Augello, and a Jamaican father, Craig Cook. She grew up in her hometown New York. On her seventh, they first encountered a piano. She taught classical music of Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin (her favorite). She wrote her first song when she was fourteen Butterflyz . That number is also on her debut album, Songs in A minor. To a large extent it was her mother who supported her to develop her talents.
Her sources of inspiration include Stevie Wonder, with whom she has performed a number of times already, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Nina Simone, as well asNotorious b.i.g., 2Pac, Jay-Z and Wu Tang Clan.
Start: Songs in A Minor[Edit][]
In 2001 broke them worldwide by with her debut album Songs in A Minor, and the accompanying singles Fallin' and A woman's Worth. For this album she got a VMA, two Billboard Awards, two American Music Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, three Soul Train awards, two World Music Awards, a ECCHO Award and the most important of all: five Grammy Awards. The album entered in the first week, 235,000 copies and has so far sold 12 million copies worldwide. Fallin' is still often seen as Keys ' "signature".
Her breakthrough was in part due to a performance that they gave to Oprah Winfrey, this had her record producer Clive Davis for her can be arranged.
2003-2005: The Diary of Alicia Keys and Unplugged[Edit][]
In 2003 she released her second album The Diary of Alicia Keys out. On the album includes the songs "You Don't Know My Name, this was the first single for the album, If I Ain't Got You and Diary. Of this album were sold in the first week 618.000 plates, and is so far gone 8 million units.
In 2004, she released her poetry book, called Tears For Water. This includes both poems as to read the texts of previously released songs.
Around 2005 wanted to do more than sing Keys only. So she played in a gecoproduceerde by Halle Berry film, about a pianist who in the beginning of the 20th century lived, titled ' Compositions in Black & White '.
In October 2005 she released her third album, a live album, recorded on 14 July 2005 in New York. The album is titled MTV Unplugged. The album features mostly songs from her previous records, but there are also a number of new songs. the Unbreakable single did well on the radio.
In november 2005 she began filming of the feature film Smokin' Aces. In this play, among other things, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, Jeremy Piven and Andy García. Alicia Keys plays a female Assassin. The film was released in January 2007.
2006-2008: As I Am and film career[Edit][]
In april 2007 appeared the film The Nanny Diaries, based on the popular novel of the same name, in which Keys next to Scarlett Johansson played a role.
On 13 november 2007, Keys ' album came As I Am from. The album has so far sold about 6 million times worldwide. The single No One became a big hit, and was number one in the charts in several countries. No One In the Netherlands achieved fourth place. Also the second single from the album, Like you'll Never See Me Again, was a success. Later Teenage Love Affair and Superwoman as singles released. As I Amworked among other things to John Mayer, and a number of well-known American songwriters with it.
In 2008 took Keys the song Another Way to Die on, that served as the title song for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. She played the song together with Jack White.
In October 2008 she appeared in the film The Secret Life of Bees along with Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning and Sophie Okonedo. They played one of the leading roles in this.
2009: The Element of Freedom and "Empire State of Mind"[Edit][]
Her fourth studio album, entitled The Element of Freedom, was released on december 15, 2009 in the United States. They played at the Cayman Island Jazz Festival. [1] "Doesn't Mean Anything" was the first single circulated via the internet: on 15 september through its YouTube channel and on 22 september via iTunes. Harvested at the end of 2009 Keys and rapper Jay-Z success with the song "Empire State of Mind".
2012: Girl On Fire[Edit][]
After The Element of Freedom married Keys with Swizz Beatz and she gave birth to their first child. Keys announced a new album In June 2012. The song "New Day" is to listen over the internet since then. As the first single from the album "New Day" will be released. Keys worked for the album, entitled Girl On Fire, along with Bon Iveramong others, Mark Ronson, Jamie Smith (of The xx), Emeli Sandé and Paul Epworth. [2]
Private Life[Edit][]
Keys got in 2010 a son with her partner Swizz Beatz, whom she married on July 31, 2010. Her husband has two sons from previous relationships. [3]
Music Style[Edit][]
Keys processes the piano in many of her songs because she plays the piano from an early age. In addition to plays the piano Keys also 4 other instruments, including violin and cello. Her songs are often about love, a broken heart and about the power of women. Her music was inspired by many artists, including Prince, Nina Simone, Barbra Streisand, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder. Keys ' style consists of soul music, which is backed by bass and programmed beats, and they processed the classical piano in her R & B- jazz, and soul music. She is experimenting on her third studio album, As I Am, even with popand rock music.
Keys has the range of a contralto, which are 3 octaves.
Throughout her career, Keys has already won several awards and has awarded them by the RIAA. In America has Keys for more than 14 million albums sold and around the world even more than 30 million.
Discography[Edit][]
Albums[Edit][]
| Album (s) with any charts in the
the Dutch Album Top 100 |
Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Songs in a minor | 2001 | 18-08-2001 | 1 (2 wk) | 83 | 2 x Platinum |
| The diary of Alicia Keys | 2003 | 13-12-2003 | 2 | 75 | Platinum |
| Unplugged | 2005 | 12-10-2005 | 2 | 24 | Gold |
| As I am | 12-11-2007 | 17-11-2007 | 2 | 56 | Platinum |
| The element of freedom | 11-12-2009 | 19-12-2009 | 2 | 60 | |
| Songs in a minor-10th anniversary edition | 24/06/2011 | 02-07-2011 | 69 | 3 | |
| Girl on fire | 23-11-2012 | 01-12-2012 | 7 | 24 |
| Album (s) with chart positions in
the Flemish Ultratop 200 albums |
Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Songs in a minor | 2001 | 08-09-2001 | 8 | 39 | |
| The diary of Alicia Keys | 2003 | 06-12-2003 | 13 | 64 | |
| Unplugged | 2005 | 22-10-2005 | 14 | 17 | |
| As I am | 2007 | 17-11-2007 | 10 | 39 | Gold |
| The element of freedom | 2009 | 19-12-2009 | 11 | 40 | |
| Girl on fire | 2012 | 01-12-2012 | 11 | 2 * |
Singles[Edit][]
| Single (s) with any charts in the
the Dutch Top 40 |
Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallin' | 06-08-2001 | 25-08-2001 | 1 (4wk) | 18 | No. 1 in the Single Top 100 / Alarm drive |
| A woman's worth | 08-12-2001 | 19-01-2002 | 11 | 8 | No. 22 in the Single Top 100/ Alarm drive |
| Brotha (Part II) | 09-03-2002 | 16-03-2002 | tip6 | - | with Angie Stone & Eve /
No. 49 in the Single Top 100 |
| How come you don't call me | 04-06-2002 | 22-06-2002 | tip18 | - | No. 73 in the Single Top 100 |
| Gangsta lovin' | 02-09-2002 | 05-10-2002 | 8 | 10 | with Eve/
No. 8 in the Single Top 100/ Alarm drive |
| Girlfriend | 01-12-2002 | 21-12-2002 | 18 | 7 | No. 18 in the Single Top 100 |
| You don't know my name | 18-10-2003 | 22-11-2003 | 9 | 12 | No. 20 in the Single Top 100 |
| If I ain't got you | 17-02-2004 | 03-04-2004 | 12 | 18 | No. 11 in the Single Top 100 |
| My boo | 18-09-2004 | 23-10-2004 | 5 | 10 | with Usher /
No. 6 in the Single Top 100 |
| Karma | 16-11-2004 | 25-12-2004 | 27 | 6 | No. 40 in the Single Top 100 |
| Diary | 28-02-2005 | 30-04-2005 | 38 | 2 | with Tony! Toni! Toné! |
| Unbreakable | 13-09-2005 | 01-10-2005 | tip5 | - | |
| No one | 11-09-2007 | 10-11-2007 | 3 | 23 | No. 4 in the Single Top 100/ Alarm drive |
| Like you'll never see me again | 26-11-2007 | 22-03-2008 | 20 | 5 | No. 84 in the Single Top 100/ Alarm drive |
| Teenage love affair | 09-06-2008 | 31-05-2008 | 21 | 7 | Alarm Drive |
| Superwoman | 29-07-2008 | 13-09-2008 | 28 | 5 | No. 75 in the Single Top 100 |
| Another way to die | 20-10-2008 | 04-10-2008 | tip2 | - | with Jack White /
No. 48 in the Single Top 100 |
| Doesn't mean anything | 22-09-2009 | 24-10-2009 | 27 | 5 | No. 43 in the Single Top 100 |
| Empire state of mind | 2009 | 24-10-2009 | 2 | 26 | with Jay-Z /
No. 2 in the Single Top 100/ Alarm drive |
| Try sleeping with a broken heart | 2009 | 23-01-2010 | 21 | 10 | No. 44 in the Single Top 100 |
| Empire state of mind (Part II) Broken down | 2010 | 06-03-2010 | 8 | 12 | No. 6 in the Single Top 100 |
| New day | 01-08-2012 | 18-08-2012 | tip14 | - | with 50 Cent & Dr. Dre /
No. 92 in the Single Top 100 |
| Girl on fire | 10-09-2012 | 22-09-2012 | 5 | 25 | with Nicki Minaj /
No. 5 in the Single Top 100/Alarm drive |
| Brand new me | 2012 | 05-01-2013 | tip2 | - | No. 64 in the Single Top 100 |
| New day | 2013 | 25-05-2013 | tip8 | - | |
| It's on again | 2014 | 12-04-2014 | tip2 | - | with Kendrick Lamar |
| Single (s) with chart positions
in the Flemish Ultratop 50 |
Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallin' | 2001 | 08-09-2001 | 1 (1wk) | 23 | No. 1 in the Radio 2 Top 30 |
| A woman's worth | 2002 | 09-02-2002 | 31 | 5 | No. 19 in the Radio 2 Top 30 |
| Brotha (part II) | 2002 | 02-03-2002 | tip5 | - | with Angie Stone & Eve |
| How come you don't call me | 2002 | 06-07-2002 | tip9 | - | |
| Gangsta lovin' | 2002 | 05-10-2002 | 18 | 10 | with Eve |
| Girlfriend | 2002 | 30-11-2002 | tip17 | - | |
| You don't know my name | 2003 | 29-11-2003 | tip2 | - | |
| If I ain't got you | 2004 | 10-04-2004 | ice skater | - | |
| My boo | 2004 | 06-11-2004 | 21 | 14 | with Usher |
| Karma | 2005 | 12-02-2005 | 40 | 3 | |
| No one | 2007 | 24-11-2007 | 4 | 22 | No. 5 in the Radio 2 Top 30/ Gold |
| Like you'll never see me again | 2008 | 05-04-2008 | tip17 | - | |
| Another way to die | 2008 | 18-10-2008 | 10 | 15 | with Jack White |
| Doesn't mean anything | 2009 | 31-10-2009 | ice skater | - | No. 3 in the Radio 2 Top 30 |
| Empire state of mind | 2009 | 21-11-2009 | 4 | 25 | with Jay-Z/
No. 24 in the Radio 2 Top 30/gold |
| Try sleeping with a broken heart | 2009 | 13-02-2010 | tip12 | - | |
| Empire state of mind (Part II) Broken down | 2010 | 01-05-2010 | tip18 | - | |
| Girl on fire | 2012 | 29-09-2012 | 6 | 28 | with Nicki Minaj |
| Brand new me | 2013 | 12-01-2013 | tip18 | - | |
| New day | 2013 | 13-04-2013 | tip14 | - | |
| Tears Always win | 2013 | 31-08-2013 | tip67 | - | |
| It's on again | 2014 | 19-04-2014 | tip64 * | with Kendrick Lamar |
Radio 2 Top 2000[Edit][]
| Number (s) with markings
in the Radio 2 Top 2000 |
' 99 | ' 00 | ' 01 | ' 02 | ' 03 | ' 04 | ' 05 | ' 06 | ' 07 | ' 08 | ' 09 | ' 10 | ' 11 | ' 12 | ' 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallin' | - | - | - | - | - | - | 618 | 1052 | 1271 | 1432 | 1238 | 938 | 1199 | 1178 | 1446 |
| Girl on fire | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1826 | 1223 |
| If I ain't got you | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 762 | - | 1937 | 1688 | 1661 | 1216 | 1744 |
| Empire state of mind (Part II) Broken down | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 712 | 173 | 72 | 110 |
| No one | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1686 | 1516 | 1758 | 1210 | - |
DVDs[Edit][]
| DVDs with the Dutch Music charts in the Top 30 | Date of
appear |
Date of
entry |
Highest
position |
Number Of
weeks |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unplugged | 2005 | 22-10-2005 | 4 | 34 | |
| VH1 Storytellers | 2013 | 29-06-2013 | 6 | 13 |