An Appreciation for the Evolution of Alicia Keys
How one journey informed another.
I was 13 years old when I heard Alicia Keys for the first time. The memory is vivid enough that it takes me back to a specific time and place: middle school, physical education class, sitting on the bleachers with friends and listening to the radio. The artist and song title was announced, but nothing in particular stood out. It was the smooth and elegant wave of the vocals in combination with the piano that caught my attention. At the time, I was a band student learning how to play the alto saxophone, but because I loved singing, I was looking for an instrument that would allow me to do both. As the song played, the surrounding world became a blur and my ears meditated on the “Fallin’” sound. I remember trying to put a face to the name “Alicia Keys,” but fortunately, without a visual, I was able to appreciate the music for what it was and how it made me feel.