Superwoman

A Woman’s Worth

Commencement of the twenty first century. Alicia was sitting by her Baldwin piano – inherited after her classical background – and pounding on the keys from A minor scale. All crucial instruments and equipment were already assembled at the avenue and halt in handy help to support the artist. But the artist, even though seemed so sincere, young, and unexperienced, possessed superpowers. After rejection of her lyrics and music for her debut album and unmoral propositions from the major Columbia Records, she strongly stated that she has to do it on her own. Ah, not quite alone. With the help of the Brothers. That was the reason of all those unfamiliar to her equipment, apart from the piano, gathered in a small apartment and in waiting to contribute one-of-a-kind part to her first release to the world.

'How does it sound, Brother? Cool, right? '

'Yeah, Sister! We’re finally getting there! Wow! I’m proud of you! '

'Thanx! Let’s crack on! '

That was the beginning of the song “Troubles”, despite being a description of her past troubles, yet bringing no more in the future. The album had its shape coming out of the shade as a bolt from the blue. Later on, she learned every single stage of the making an album process, from writing music and lyrics (“Butterflyz” had seen the light when Alicia was fourteen), through music production and musical arrangement to her cost. “Songs in A Minor” were worth five 2002 Grammy Awards – a splendour sprawling only on one woman till now, Lauryn Hill in 1999. It followed series of major awards, comparisons to Mary J. Blige (or rather exceeding them) and the applauded space in the music history with seven times platinum status in the United States. Although it was just the start of her career, Alicia was already the toast of the town.

Harlem’s Nocturne

Her second album in 2003 had proved her worth as the successor of Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin, grabbing Grammys as well, yet critics were divided between admiration and frustration stemming from lack of coherence, nostalgic tunes, and desperate lyrics suggesting searching for the boyfriend. Despite doubts, a commercial success was unquestionable, following first places of the debut on the charts. In 2020 “The Diary” became five times platinum with sales over five million copies in the United States. The album was a cornerstone for founding Alicia’s and Kerry “Krucial” Brothers the Oven Studios in New York. Alicia’s tears of joy, sorrow, pain, and despair from the diary ran like water to drink and melt into her songs, her “karma” was positive despite of the occasionally “heartburn”, her name was well-known.

Lesson Learned

At the time of releasing the third album, critics agreed upon a cohesiveness and Alicia came out to the world as she was, with new sounds, new perspective, and new – yet not quite admirable for everyone – lyrics. She still had an ace up her sleeve: her charisma, her piano, her voice. That things are inimitable and the music business is one of the most subjective matters, with its genres oscillating in the universe of the real freaks, fanatical individuals and not necessary critics. In soul and R&B lyrics are quite accidental, adequate to the music. What it counts, it’s the charm, the soul of the artist, and perhaps the most important – the honesty of the feelings poured onto paper. And Alicia was always a real woman, which she had proved with her first album.

“As I Am” was the second most popular album in music history sold by the female artist, just right after “Feels Like Home” Norah Jones from 2004. It reached quadruple platinum status in the United States with over four million copies sold. 2007 was again the year of Alicia’s, even though some might think that will never see her again.

Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)

Finally, in 2009 she could articulate her freedom finding inspiration in more mainstream artists, but it didn’t mean anything less ambitious. In fact, many times it takes more ambition to create something for the masses. Alicia was as usual expressing herself, both her strong and sensitive side, as she was describing her new creation, bounded in balance. Critics were not consistent anyway, split as usual into two opposite camps, but who would care. The most important was that Queen of R&B came back with her army of new collaborators like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Drake. Among them was also her husband Swizz Beatz whose son she became a mother next year. “The Element of Freedom” was the first Alicia’s album topping up United Kingdom chart with triple platinum and over million copies sold until 2016. In the United States it gained double platinum status with over two million copies sold. Just speechless. Chapeau bas!

Limitedless

New day and new period in Alicia’s life started with new styles including jazz, rock, electro soul, reggae, and hip-hop intertwined with R&B and the piano with only a minimalistic production. There were no limits in her and around her anymore. To collaborate on this chapter of her life, she invited Maxwell, Nicki Minaj, and even her son Egypt. Alicia’s brand-new entourage received recognition of a platinum with over a million copies sold in the United States. Despite the number of copies of her new albums fallin’ down in sales over the years, she was more herself than ever before in her career and in a complete control of the creative process. In 2012 the girl was on fire.

Where Do We Begin Now

In 2016 Alicia came back to her Afro-American roots laid down close to the political and social struggle, revealing deeper subjects in her lyrics than just a romance, such as sexuality, poverty, addiction, or environmental degradation. Exploring new-old path on “Here” positioned her far away from a mainstream, yet critics made comparisons to her first genius album being updated with the funky groove, boom bap, Latin music and soul from the 70’s. Alicia’s new creation was eclectic, mature and sticking to the point of black life in America. The release of the album was initially slightly suspended due to her second motherhood with Genesis in 2014. She elevated herself to the position where freedom has no price. Good for her.

Authors of Forever

Politically and socially engaged facet of Alicia is continuing on the most recent album released in 2020 and simply titled after her name. It is a dynamic and original mixture of progressive soul, orchestral pop, ambient, funk, hip-hop, and even Caribbean folk music, chamber music or country blended with downtempo R&B. Recorded and released during historically difficult times (global pandemic), the lyrical layer designates desire for healing, finding long lost balance, and the urgency for free thought, coping with themes of despair, frustration, hope and ambivalence. The singer represents all the essential workers, teachers, single mothers, and fathers, and reaches to them with her soulful piano, multi-octave range of voice, and guest vocalists: Jill Scott, Tierra Whack, Khalid, Miguel, Sampha, Diamond Platnumz, and Shoh Aalegra. The album “Alicia” is a raw, unrefined, modest, and sophisticated return to her debut. Good job. To emphasise the artist’s sociopolitical involvement, she stopped wearing make-up as of 2016 around the release of her previous album, corroborating her favourite tomboy chic style. Alicia has never stopped surprising.

Alicia has not only made her mark on music (influencing many great artists), but also on film (as an actress; every her music video is a small cinematic masterpiece), philanthropy, and activism, but perhaps that’s another story to tell about her in another time.

Thank you, Alicia. Thank you for your being on the firmament of the music sky. Thank you for your struggle and your mum’s struggle – you’re representing the struggle of the females every day. Please, don’t stop inspiring us. We need you.

Your sincere Sister

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