The Lincoln Log

Alicia Keys’ fourth album, “As I Am” was released on Nov. 13th, 2007. Featuring songs such as “No One” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again”, “As I Am’ has hit the top of the charts on the Billboard 100. Her songs aren’t only on the top 100 Billboard, but her music videos are the most downloaded videos along with her ring tones as well. Keys became the first female artist of R&B to have three consecutive #1 albums on the Billboard top 200 album chart. She has sold over 20 million copies worldwide from her four albums such as “Songs in a Minor”, “The Diary of Alicia Keys, “Unplugged” and “As I Am”.

Alicia Keys has won countless awards and nominations many times within seven years. Her recent Grammy nominations are for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “No One” and Best R&B song for “No One”. For the NAACP Image Awards, she is nominated for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Song and for her video for “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” and also Outstanding Album “As I Am”.

Keys is one of the top singers today and is only in her late twenties.

Her album “As I Am” has a very different vibe than her other cds. It’s soulful and her love songs aren’t based on small crushes like her previous cds. It’s more on finding and knowing true love. Her lyrics are based on events and experiences. Her last album “Unplugged” is much different than “As I Am” where previously, she was a young women singing about her life and experiences. But her recent album has matured in many ways in the beats, empowering lyrics and image in her videos.

Sometimes Keys’ voice may sound a bit raspy, but overall her voice is amazing. What’s different about Keys than other female artists is that not only is she musically talented, but she is a wonderful pianist and a strong singer.

Alicia Keys is one of the few female artists with such power in her lyrics, voice and herself. Listen to her songs because they have messages which help many to gain self confidence and power.

She is very admirable and inspiring for her achievements such as being a spokeswoman for From the Ground Up, which is a charity devoted to inspire, encourage and motivate American youths to achieve success. They participate in other humanitarian efforts such as performing several exclusive concerts and television shows. She has performed on ReAct Now: Music & Relief, a benefit program shown on music video channels to raise money for people who are affected by Hurricane Katrina. She participated at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2007. Alicia is also in a program a spokeswomen and co-founder of Keep a Child Alive, which helps kids in Africa providing life-saving medication and support for HIV/AIDS. They offer orphan care, and plays a large role to keep children and families alive in this epidemic.

Within eight years of her music career, she has gone beyond far with a total of four amazing cds. I’m sure she will have another successful album to come.

I would give this album 4 out of 5 stars.