Alicia Keys goes back to basics in her new single ‘Good Job’ and it couldn’t be a more resonant tune for the times.

The singer-songwriter from Hell’s Kitchen, New York has made a living out of slaying the chords at the piano and it is not different this time around. Her deep, smooth voice will mesmerize you instantly and then it will move to fill you up with immense hope and belief for the coming days, weeks and months. The melody is dynamic, sharp, and is the ideal vehicle for Alicia Keys’ vocals. But Keys could make even the shoddiest of notes work with her unbelievable magnetic vocals; that’s what twenty years in the business gets you.

Her musical presence is powerful enough to elevate any random composition into an unforgettable, touching piece — that plays a massive part in how the singer has been able to strike a chord with her audiences in the past few decades. And she’s never been one to be quiet when the world could use her words of inspiration. “Don’t get too down/ The world needs you now/Know that you matter” isn’t just a catchy chorus that should see some repeats in the radio stations; it’s a convincing rallying cry for everyone going through a hard time. In ‘Good Job’, Keys doesn’t just thank others for being kind and loving; she has captured this universal feeling of community and togetherness. 

The piano chords are crisp and loud, and fans will know that Keys’ dexterity of the piano is superhuman at this point. The piano may well be an additional body part for her because she once again yields it as a weapon to move us to tears. The singer has had a busy few years, and there is no sign of her slowing down. 

The new single has been launched in partnership with the news network CNN, where she debuted it on Thursday, April 23. When asked how she began composing the song, she said;

A lot of times people don't feel like they're doing a good job. They feel underwater and like there's never going to be a brighter day. Fast forward to now, with where we are now, and it's almost like the song was written for this and I didn't know it."

 Singer-songwriter     R&B 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.