Alicia Keys, as she is

June 2nd, 2008 admin

A Harlem-bred piano and soul prodigy, Alicia Keys became an overnight sensation after her 2001 debut “Songs in A Minor” moved 10 million units worldwide. Since then, she’s become a full-fledged superstar in music and film, releasing two more studio efforts, including last year’s mature “As I Am,” as well as starring in movies like “Smokin’ Aces,” “The Nanny Diaries” and forthcoming projects “The Secret Life of Bees” and a biopic about biracial piano prodigy (sound familiar?) Philippa Schuyler. She’s also managed to find time to fight AIDS in Africa (captured in a documentary called “Alicia in Africa”) and stage a world tour featuring A-list openers like Jordin Sparks and Ne-Yo.

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Alicia Keys concert: A breakthrough … of sorts

May 27th, 2008 admin

MIAMI - Alicia Keys used to spend a lot of her stage time emphasizing how great it is to be Alicia Keys. While some songs were permitted to shine on their own and just be enjoyed, most were deployed as further proof of Keys’ specialness.

But Keys, 27, may be learning how to make her ego serve the performance.

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Cameron Diaz is getting to know herself

April 15th, 2008 admin

Cameron Diaz disclosed that the number one person she wants to get to know is herself.

“I’m just kind of taking more time getting to know myself,” the actress told W magazine, OK! reported. “It sounds so corny that I can’t believe I even just said that but, you know, there comes a time when you really have to get to know who you are…

“I’ve just been figuring out what interests me and spending time with people who are important to me and being present in my own life.”

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Alicia Keys is tapping into her sexuality with some sensual songs.

“I’m discovering my sexual side,” the singer told Blender, usmagazine.com reported. “I recorded this song… it’s so sensual, it moves you.” In fact, the song that Keys calls her “most sexual” to date, was so racy her manager told her: “We do not record songs like this!”

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Alicia Keys to play the Palace June 6

April 10th, 2008 admin

Seats are $39.50-$75 and will go on sale at noon April 12 through Ticketmaster (248-645-6666 or www.ticketmaster.com) and at the Palace box office.

The summer concert will be Keys’ first Detroit area performance since the release of her blockbuster album “As I Am,” which logged 15 weeks atop the Billboard 200 after it bowed in November. The album has sold 3.3 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

The June show will also mark the first headlining performance at the Palace for Keys, who played the arena in April 2004 as the opening act for Beyonce. The Fox Theatre had been Keys’ most frequent Detroit concert home in the years following her 2001 breakout.

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African Journey of a Lifetime With Alicia Keys! - Documentary Follows Keep a Child Alive’s Outreach to Communities Affected With HIV/AIDS

April 10th, 2008 admin

NEW YORK, April 7, 2008  /PRNewswire/ — Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland is the breathtaking documentary of Grammy Award-winning musician and Keep a Child Alive (KCA) Co-Founder Alicia Keys’ month-long trip to Africa to visit communities affected by HIV and AIDS.  Alicia’s commitment to the fight against AIDS is contagious and she is leading the effort to spread the message of KCA virally: “Start a Virus to Stop a Virus.”

“Everyone who visits Africa is changed by the experience, but not everyone can afford to go to Africa,” Alicia explained.  “Come with me on my journey and learn as I learn. Let’s start a virus to stop a virus- send the film to everyone you know.  Let’s change this nightmare into our generation’s greatest success story.”

Spreading the message is so important to Alicia that she is making the documentary available for FREE online.  A portion of the film will debut live on American Idol: Idol Gives Back on Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.  Viewers who visit http://www.americanidol.com/ will be directed to http://www.aliciainafrica.com/ where they can watch the entire documentary.  Alicia in Africa will also be available to download courtesy of the documentary’s exclusive download partner http://www.spiralfrog.com/.  The film will also be available on http://impact.myspace.com/.

By distributing the film for free online, KCA knows the broadest audience possible will be reached, translating into understanding and compassion for the people and then ultimately resulting in donations crucial to fulfilling KCA’s mission.

Alicia’s commitment carries over into her concerts.  She’ll screen the Alicia in Africa trailer before each concert on her American tour, which kicks off April 19 in Virginia. Go to Aliciakeys.com for tour dates.   Alicia will also announce the “Text Alive” initiative, which allows anyone to make an immediate $5 donation to KCA simply by text messaging “Alive” to 90999.

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Buzzworthy: Alicia Keys tickets on sale Saturday

April 10th, 2008 admin

The multiple Grammy winner will perform July 1 at the Marcus Amphitheater. Tickets cost $35-$80, plus fees, and go on sale at noon Saturday through Ticketmaster outlets: Macy’s in the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute, 920-731-5000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Keys is touring this summer behind the multiplatinum “As I Am,” which earned two Grammy Awards and includes the chart-topping singles “No One” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again.”

Here’s another Summerfest announcement: Stone Temple Pilots will headline the fest July 4. No word yet on who will open for the Pilots. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday and will range from $30 to $55.

Summerfest officials also announced last week that John Mayer will headline July 2 with a concert at the Marcus, but tickets don’t go on sale until April 19. They’ll cost $31-$66, plus fees.

Since breaking through with “Your Body is a Wonderland,” Mayer has evolved into one of pop’s most versatile musicians. He’s a five-time Grammy winner, earning best male pop vocal and best pop vocal album in 2007. Opening for Mayer will be Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen.

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ALICIA KEYS - KEYS SLAMS JOURNALISTS FOR SLACK COVERAGE OF AIDS IN AFRICA

April 10th, 2008 admin

Singer ALICIA KEYS has slammed journalists for choosing to focus on the antics of troubled celebrities rather than on more serious world issues.
The Fallin’ hitmaker joined an impressive line-up including Bono, Brad Pitt and Mariah Carey on Wednesday night (09Apr08) as part of charity telethon special Idol Gives Back.
The two-hour programme aimed to raise $100 million (GBP50 million) for charities including Children’s Defense Fund, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Make It Right and Save the Children.

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Leona Lewis ‘Spirit’ Soars In Spots But Lacks Soul

April 10th, 2008 admin

Although she won the third season of Simon Cowell’s British TV talent competition “The X Factor,” Leona Lewis doesn’t stand out much on her debut. In fact, if you blank for a moment on who you’re listening to, it may take a minute to remember that it’s Lewis. She sounds like plenty of other latter-day R&B divas: There’s a little Mariah Carey, a bit of Christina Aguilera, maybe some Alicia Keys, even a hint of Whitney Houston.

What there’s not is a lot of originality.

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Alicia Keys needs a chance to soar

March 19th, 2008 admin

Helen Brown reviews Alicia Keys at the Birmingham NIA

“I don’t know if I feel comfortable…” says Alicia Keys as her three backing singers coax the demure, 26 year-old star into shaking a little booty with them. As they shimmy in their tight, short, silver dresses, the modestly trousered Alicia giggles, rolls her hips and humours them with a few uncommitted Beyoncé-lite moves.
She clearly doesn’t enjoy shifting her (or our) focus from her voice to her pelvis and, as the silver trio recede into the dry ice she reiterates:

“That just didn’t feel comfortable. It’s OK for a ’show’,” she says, flicking a little disdain into the word, “but I wanna do something special.”

And this is what’s wrong with the all-new Alicia Keys tour. It’s a show that wants to have its cake and rise above it.

A look at the punters goes some way to explaining why: there are the thirty- to fortysomethings who fell for the street-smart piano ballads of Songs in A Minor back in 2001, and were pleased to have their taste validated when Bob Dylan name-checked Keys on his last album.

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Alicia Keys moves Manchester show and adds new date

March 19th, 2008 admin

Alicia Keys has rescheduled her recently postponed date at Manchester’s MEN Arena.

Ticket for the original date remain valid for the new date, on July 9. The singer was forced to postpone the show and cancel another one in Glasgow due to illness last month.

Keys has also added an extra show at the London O2 Arena on July 8, having played there in February.

Tickets for the new London date go on sale at 9am on Friday (March 7).

To check the availability of Alicia Keys tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

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