Alicia Keys’ arrival in 2001 heralded a major new talent. A young woman who could sing and play, wrote a decent song and could produce? No wonder the sales and awards began piling up almost the second “Fallin’” hit the airwaves.
Despite her obvious talent, I’ve found Keys’ output frustratingly inconsistent. Skills? Undeniable. But there have been more than a few instances in which her lyrical ability has left me cold, and that’s to put it mildly. Still, there was enough good (even great) material on her first four albums to keep me coming back. Plus, potential.
2012’s Girl On Fire, her fifth album, was a major artistic stumble. Despite winning a Best R&B Album Grammy (and, as you know, there’s really no accounting for taste when it comes to NARAS), Fire felt amazingly uninspired and forced.
Wisely, Keys stepped back. She got married and had two kids. She’s done a lot of great charity work, and her hits are still so prevalent in pop culture that it really doesn’t feel like it’s been 3 1/2 years since she released new music.
“In Common”, the debut single from Keys’ forthcoming sixth album, is an interesting track. On one hand, it finds the singer, now in her mid-thirties, chasing the “tropical house” (ugh) trend that’s been present at the top of the pop charts this year. Parts of “In Common” sound clearly reminiscent of recent hits like Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and Rihanna’s “Work”. Trend-chasing by veteran artists always makes me feel a certain way.
With that said, “In Common” is hooky, well-written, and Keys sounds fresh and engaged. It’s not a total left-field stretch for her. Furthermore, the capitulation to modern trends doesn’t sound desperate-the fit feels somewhat natural. I’m digging it.
Here’s to hoping that the creative success that’s “In Common” heralds good things for Alicia’s upcoming album. I’m sure it’ll be included as part of her SNL performance this coming weekend.