The essential Alicia Keys playlist

Alicia Keys put the world on notice when she released her debut single “Fallin’” in April 2001. She wrote, produced, and arranged the majority of her debut album, Songs in A Minor. The piano-driven track finds Keys singing about how she keeps falling in and out of love with her partner—a relationship that seems hard for her to let go of. “Fallin’” became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards including the prestigious Song of the Year.

On “If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys tells the story about how some people would rather have physical things, but what she wants more than anything else, is to spend time with the love of her life. The song earned Keys a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

“Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” is an essential song for anyone dealing with a breakup. Alicia Keys is reflecting on past moments but realizes she has to try to move on. Her heart may be in pieces, but she has to get past the fresh aftermath of a breakup.

In 2005, Alicia Keys released her first live album titled Unplugged. Besides performing some of her well-known hits, one of the standouts was the newly released single “Unbreakable.” Co-written by Keys, Kanye West, and Harold Lilly, the song references famous Hollywood couples as the singer expresses how the love with her partner can't be broken. 

Alicia Keys’ second single, “A Woman’s Worth,” is a solid anthem for women who know their value as a person and to their partner. Treating a woman right is more than just buying her things, but showing her how important she is to a man’s life. On the hook she says, “’Cause a real man knows a real woman when he sees her / And a real woman knows a real man ain’t afraid to please her.”

“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” is a single about cherishing every moment with a partner because no one knows when their last day will be. On the hook she sings, “So every time you hold me / Hold me like you’ll never see me again / Every time you kiss me / Kiss me like you’ll never kiss me again.”

After the stellar success of her debut album, it was crucial that Alicia Keys could have similar success with her sophomore album The Diary of Alicia Keys. This time around, she worked with a variety of producers, including Kanye West for the album’s lead single “You Don’t Know My Name.” In typical West fashion, the song samples The Main Ingredient’s song “Let Me Prove My Love To You.” Keys' single tells the story of a woman having a crush on a potential partner and she’s imagining a future relationship with him.

On Eve’s third album Eve-Olution, she teamed up with Alicia Keys on the lead single “Gangsta Lovin.’” With Keys adding vocals to the hook, the song has Eve stating her interest in a potential partner. The song became a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Alicia Keys’ third single “How Come You Don’t Call Me” is a cover to a Prince classic. The track has the singer reflecting and confused on why a relationship didn’t last like she thought it would. After the breakup, she just can’t understand where she and her partner went wrong.

In 2004, Alicia Keys was on the buzz of her sophomore album. Usher recruited Keys on their sweet duet “My Boo,” a track that was featured on the deluxe version of his Confessions album. Usher and Keys trade verses as they play the part of a past couple who still have feelings for each other, even though they’ve moved on to other relationships.

While fans are used to Alicia Keys releasing ballads and mid-tempo tracks, she went a different route on “New Day.” With production from Dr. Dre and Swizz Beatz, the upbeat, motivational single finds Keys celebrating life and going after everything she wants.

Alicia Keys continued her successful run with her 2007 album As I Am. The album’s lead single, “No One” tells the story about when people are in relationships, there will be people on the outside who may criticize the union, but Keys isn’t letting anyone’s opinions get in the way of how she feels. “No One” became 2007’s most listened-to song in the United States.

For the final single of her debut album, Alicia Keys steered clear of the love ballads like her previous singles, and went for more of a midtempo sound on “Girlfriend.” She teamed up with Jermaine Dupri as the song finds Keys questioning her boyfriend’s close friendship with another woman. 

On “Diary,” Alicia Keys describes herself as someone who can keep secrets and offer a safe space of confidentiality for her partner to share their thoughts. The song became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Alicia Keys has fans thinking about their first loves on her single “Teenage Love Affair.” Being young and in love is the type of emotion that people don’t forget. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

In 2010, Drake was emerging as a big name in hip-hop. Alicia Keys worked with Drake and his frequent collaborator Noah “40” Shebib” on her hit single “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready).” The song highlights how two people have feelings for each other and are willing to take the next step in their relationship.

New York is a special place and natives are typically proud of being from a lively and diverse state. Fellow New York native Jay-Z joined forces with Alicia Keys on his single “Empire State of Mind” which paid tribute to their hometown. Throughout the song, they reference a number of different neighborhoods and iconic monuments that help define the state. On the hook, Keys sings, “In New York / Concrete jungle where dreams are made of / There’s nothing you can’t do / Now you’re in New York.”

In 2012, Alicia Keys released her fifth studio album Girl on Fire. The album’s lead single of the same name, was co-produced by Keys, Jeff Bhasker, and Salaam Remi. On the opening verse she sings, “She’s just a girl and she’s on fire / Hotter than a fantasy, lonely like a highway / She’s living in a world and she’s on fire / Filled with catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away.” The girl is determined to celebrate and push through despite any chaos that may be happening.

Marking twenty years in the industry, Alicia Keys released her eighth studio album Keys in 2021. She teamed up with Swae Lee on the album’s lead single “LALA,” which was co-produced by Mike Will Made-It. The sensual track finds Keys and Lee trading flirty lyrics, a concept quite different from Lee’s typical discography.

Produced by Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys teamed up with Beyoncé on “Put It In a Love Song.” While the song was supposed to be released as a single with a video in the works, numerous postponements led to a cancellation. The two singers reflect on how their partners should express their love to them. On the hook they sing, “Say you love me, say you love / Then put it in a love song / Say you need me, say you need me / Then put it in a letter form.”

Alicia Keys teamed up with neo-soul veteran Maxwell on their sensual single “Fire We Make.” The two trade falsetto vocals as they confess about the romantic chemistry they have with their lovers. On the hook they sing, “With the fire we make / It’s getting hotter and hotter / Like a moth to a flame / I can’t stay away.”

While “Karma” has Alicia Keys with her signature piano backing, the song also has heavy horn and string elements that give the song a more classical feel. The song is all about a past partner wanting to give the relationship another go-round, but their potential partner has moved on.

Alicia Keys joined forces with Miguel on her 2019 sensual single “Show Me Love.” The acoustic guitar-driven track finds the two vocalists reflecting on how people just want love and affection. The song reached number one on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.

Women have always done so much for society and their families, and sometimes they need to hear people appreciate and celebrate them. On “Superwoman,” Alicia Keys knows how much work and fight women put in every single day, so much that she believes they are real-life superheroes.

Produced by Ludwig Göransson, “So Done” is a collaboration with Alicia Keys and Khalid. The liberated song is about a person recognizing which things no longer serve them anymore, leaving things in the past, and living how they want.