Fresh from hosting the 2019 GRAMMYs, Alicia Keys has opened the envelope of new music. For, the critically acclaimed songstress has premiered new song ‘Raise A Man.’
Arriving in tandem with its video, the cut sees the singer pay homage to the guy of her dreams while mapping out the need to unite to rear the men of tomorrow.
To anchor the point of the latter, she features sons Egypt and Genesis on the track’s cover and features her youngest in the clip.
Watch the Bill Stein directed visual below…
Lyrically, this unpacks a unique narrative.
However, musically it’s hard to see where (if anywhere) this fits in the contemporary climate. For an act who – at the apex of her success – mastered the art of combining melody and message in a radio ready package, this feels a little lacking.
Indeed, it played like a somewhat verbose freestyle during jam-session rather than a “comeback” single.
Perhaps this is more of a buzz cut pending a more full-on return.
Still, even if, we’re gonna need Ms. Keys to vibrate a higher frequency of quality if she’s to again make waves in the way we know she can.
Her music has been sooo boring in recent years. She does not hit the feels and emotions the way she used to. I know she can do better.
Shes been boring the last 12 years YAWN
The award show didn’t revive her career, I still view her as a thief!
she needs to hit the road and rebuild her career ground up
I’m a huge keys fan n this song is boring asf. I think love is fuckn up her writing process. She’s too happy to give us those smooth r&b jams. I guess I’ll jus continue listening to her old s***.
I think you’re right… We need to find Becky with the good hair, tell her to come get Swizz Beatz real quick! ???
Girl, keep it. No one‘s here for your new music style. I used to be a fan, but nowadays she is somewhat annoying with these nonmelodic songs and her vanished voice
Exactly! She doesn’t have the nice melodies in her music anymore. Everything just sound bland dry.
She needs to reunite with Kerry Brothers to bring back the magic and sauce they have together but working with her hubby and the other producers since 2009 has stifled her creativity.
This started to be one of my favorite songs from her in years, and then the song just dragged and never went anywhere after the 2:30 mark. “As I Am” pulsates with some of the best energy ever and that’s what I want to feel again from Alicia; there’s a difference between what you hear and what you feel. Every sound, every melody, every verse, hook, and chorus on “As I Am” is top-notch. It still remains my absolute favorite r&b album of all time.
Element of Freedom still had AMAZING songs in it too.
Alicia Alicia Alicia.
This would be pretty as an instrumental.
And the video is a cute attempt at a ‘That’s The Way Love Goes’ vibe.
But this song has no structure and nothing that makes me want to hear it again.
Looking forward to the other material though.