GLOBALRPH MUSICATLAS

Alicia Keys: Artist Essentials

Begin with the piano-led songs and central collaborations, then hear the live groove and later electronic settings.

TOP SONGS BY ARTIST

15 selected recordings

Fifteen distinct recordings introduce the reviewed 2001-2020 repertoire. Original studio productions and one original live single provide varied settings without adding repeated acoustic, duet or remix versions of the same song.

Selections and recommended order are MusicAtlas editorial choices.

15 date-supported selections2 beyond the yearly lists2 annual version matches under review
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Save one reference to this artist collection. Your existing 75-song shortlist keeps its own entries.

ARTIST BACKGROUND

About Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and producer whose musical training connected classical repertoire with jazz. She began playing piano at seven and released Songs in A Minor in 2001. The Diary of Alicia Keys and As I Am continued her recording career, with songs such as Fallin', If I Ain't Got You and No One becoming central to her repertoire. Her work also extends into acting, screen and stage production, and the memoir More Myself: A Journey.

Artist background sources

Sony Music Japan: Alicia Keys profile
Japanese label profile supports piano training, classical/jazz study, American singer-songwriter identity and named early albums; dated promotional totals and local release dates omitted. | Retrieved 2026-10-17

Alicia Keys: official music and biography
Supports producer/acting/stage roles, named song repertoire and More Myself: A Journey; all sales totals excluded. | Retrieved 2026-10-17

Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.

Selections with an annual version match under review are omitted from Beyond the yearly lists until the match is resolved.

Showing 10 of 10 selected recordings.

This depth selects the first 10 recordings in the recommended sequence. Changing the order rearranges those same selections.

When only a year is established, chronological order within that year is approximate.

01list
order

Fallin'

Alicia Keys

First released: 2001 (year verified)

Original album: Songs in A Minor

Original 2001 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The repeating piano figure lets the lead voice move between restraint and a rougher, forceful release.

Annual appearances: 2001

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2001 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2001 release history of Songs in A Minor. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2001 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Songs in A Minor

Songs in A Minor - original J Records program
The original 2001 program identifies Fallin' with its earlier 2001 single date and A Woman's Worth before its 2002 annual appearance. Later live versions and deluxe bonus tracks remain separate. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

02list
order

No One

Alicia Keys

First released: 2007 (year verified)

Original album: As I Am

Original 2007 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The broad refrain stays firmly anchored to the repeated keyboard and drum pattern.

Annual appearances: 2007 | 2008

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2007 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2007 release history of As I Am. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2007 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: As I Am

As I Am - original tracks within the expanded program
Original No One and Like You'll Never See Me Again recordings retain their 2007 release history. The expanded program separately dates additional 2008 recordings; those additions are not assigned the original album year. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

03list
order

If I Ain't Got You

Alicia Keys

First released: 2003 (year verified)

Original album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

Original 2003 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The circling piano and measured opening leave room for the vocal to gather weight.

Annual appearances: 2004

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2003 (year verified)

The original recording was publicly released on The Diary of Alicia Keys in 2003, before its 2004 single and annual appearances.

Recording: Original 2003 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

The Diary of Alicia Keys - original recording program and guest credits
The original 2003 program identifies If I Ain't Got You and Diary before their 2004 single campaigns. Diary explicitly features Tony! Toni! Tone! and Jermaine Paul. You Don't Know My Name retains its earlier November 2003 single date; current anniversary material does not date the originals. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

04list
order

Empire State of Mind

Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

First released: 2009 (year verified)

Original album: The Blueprint 3

Original 2009 Jay-Z studio recording featuring Alicia Keys

MusicAtlas editorial note: The sung refrain opens a wide melodic space between the closely paced rap verses.

Annual appearances: 2009 | 2010

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2009 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2009 release history of The Blueprint 3. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2009 Jay-Z studio recording featuring Alicia Keys
Credit: Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Featured vocalist with Jay-Z

Original album: The Blueprint 3

The Blueprint 3 - original Jay-Z and Alicia Keys recording
The original 2009 Roc Nation program explicitly identifies Empire State of Mind featuring Alicia Keys. The guest vocal role is preserved; this is not Alicia's separately titled solo Part 2 or a later performance. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

05list
order

You Don't Know My Name

Alicia Keys

First released: 2003 (year verified)

Original album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

Original 2003 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The patient groove and spoken passage make the long album performance feel conversational.

Beyond the yearly lists
Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2003 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2003 release history of The Diary of Alicia Keys. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2003 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

The Diary of Alicia Keys - original recording program and guest credits
The original 2003 program identifies If I Ain't Got You and Diary before their 2004 single campaigns. Diary explicitly features Tony! Toni! Tone! and Jermaine Paul. You Don't Know My Name retains its earlier November 2003 single date; current anniversary material does not date the originals. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

06list
order

A Woman's Worth

Alicia Keys

First released: 2001 (year verified)

Original album: Songs in A Minor

Original 2001 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The relaxed pulse draws attention to the warm lower register and carefully layered responses.

Annual appearances: 2002

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2001 (year verified)

The original studio recording was on Songs in A Minor in 2001, before its 2002 annual appearance.

Recording: Original 2001 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Songs in A Minor

Songs in A Minor - original J Records program
The original 2001 program identifies Fallin' with its earlier 2001 single date and A Woman's Worth before its 2002 annual appearance. Later live versions and deluxe bonus tracks remain separate. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

07list
order

Girl on Fire

Alicia Keys

First released: 2012 (year verified)

Original single: Girl on Fire

Original 2012 solo studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The original solo vocal rises above stark drum accents and a broad repeating hook.

Annual version match under review

The selected recording has release evidence, but its version has not been matched to the retained annual entry. It is omitted from Beyond the yearly lists until this match is resolved.

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2012 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2012 release history of Girl on Fire. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2012 solo studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original single: Girl on Fire

Girl on Fire - original solo recording metadata
The solo recording is explicitly dated September 2012 within the remix EP. The selected solo production is distinguished from the Nicki Minaj Inferno Version used on the parent album. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

Girl on Fire - explicitly credited Inferno album version
The original 2012 album explicitly names Girl on Fire featuring Nicki Minaj, Inferno Version. This establishes a separate guest edition and does not silently substitute that edition for the selected solo recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

08list
order

Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart

Alicia Keys

First released: 2009 (year verified)

Original album: The Element of Freedom

Original 2009 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The deep electronic rhythm gives the sustained vocal phrases a spacious, weighty setting.

Annual appearances: 2010

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2009 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2009 release history of The Element of Freedom. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2009 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: The Element of Freedom

The Element of Freedom - original studio program
The original 2009 program identifies Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart and the original Un-thinkable production. Its solo Empire State of Mind Part 2 is separately titled and is not the selected Jay-Z guest recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

09list
order

Diary

Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! and Jermaine Paul

First released: 2003 (year verified)

Original album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

Original 2003 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The intertwined lead and guest voices unfold gradually over a quiet keyboard groove.

Annual appearances: 2004

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2003 (year verified)

The original recording was publicly released on The Diary of Alicia Keys in 2003, before its 2004 single and annual appearances.

Recording: Original 2003 studio recording
Credit: Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! and Jermaine Paul
Role in this collection: Primary vocalist with Tony! Toni! Toné! and Jermaine Paul

Original album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

The Diary of Alicia Keys - original recording program and guest credits
The original 2003 program identifies If I Ain't Got You and Diary before their 2004 single campaigns. Diary explicitly features Tony! Toni! Tone! and Jermaine Paul. You Don't Know My Name retains its earlier November 2003 single date; current anniversary material does not date the originals. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

10list
order

My Boo

Usher and Alicia Keys

First released: 2004 (year verified)

Original single: My Boo

Original 2004 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The two singers answer one another in short phrases before meeting in the shared hook.

Annual appearances: 2004

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 2004 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2004 release history of My Boo. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2004 studio recording
Credit: Usher and Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Co-lead vocalist with Usher

Original single: My Boo

My Boo - original LaFace single program
The original 2004 single and linked song credit Usher and Alicia Keys. This direct single metadata is used rather than the inherited March 2004 date on a subsequently expanded Confessions program; only the supported original year is published. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

About this artist collection

The existing Alicia Keys identity and background profile are retained. Jay-Z, Usher, Tony! Toni! Tone! and Jermaine Paul keep their recording roles. Empire State of Mind is the original Jay-Z recording with Alicia as featured vocalist; Unbreakable is the original live performance.

First released means the earliest documented official public release of the selected recording. A year-only date does not assert a month or day. Later singles, chart years, compilations, remasters and reissues do not replace that date.

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