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David Smyth's rating
, Alicia Keys is at home behind the piano
By
David Smyth
9 Jul 2008
Alicia Keys generously gave London its second audience with the New York Grammy hoover in just over four months, despite being one of the busiest women in pop.
When she's not winding up her European tour, the woman born Alicia Augello Cook has been writing a poetry book, working for Aids charity Keep A Child Alive, and acting in films including Smokin' Aces and The Nanny Diaries.
Her hectic schedule led the singer, who usually closely guards her privacy, to talk in interviews of something approaching a breakdown a couple of years ago. It might also explain why, though her soaring voice was impeccable and she made all the right moves here, there was still a sense she was just going through the motions.
The 27-year-old seemed most at home tucked behind a grand piano, the instrument that provided both her stage name and the backbone of hit ballads such as Fallin' and You Don't Know My Name.
But vast success, from over 20 million album sales to all those awards and even a resounding endorsement on Bob Dylan's last album ("I was thinking about Alicia Keys, couldn't keep from crying," he sings in Thunder On The Mountain) means she feels obliged to provide something more.
Thus we were offered all the frills and fripperies of the arena show, including a lengthy filmed introduction in which a preacherman yammered something about a "starmaker", a stage set that placed the band in a kind of moat beneath a tall curved wall of video screens, and a dance troupe that seemed to be present because this is what one does, rather than because they added anything vital.
Keys looked slightly awkward encroaching into Beyoncé's thigh shaking realm. She was far better at the piano, alone and bluster free, performing Sure Looks Good To Me and her Prince cover, How Come You Don't Call Me. When holding an epic high note and then milking the applause, the crowd was completely hers.
Her latest album, As I Am, sees her edging away from soul towards more mainstream ballads thanks to collaborations with Linda Perry, the woman who gave Pink and Christina Aguilera their biggest hits. Though Superwoman tried too hard for the Girl Power vote, The Thing About Love was a fine tune.
An even better tune, No One, saw her at her best again at the close. Some great songs, in the wrong setting - if only she was less popular.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (7)
I am trying to learn how to play the piano because i think its my greatest pashon. i have tryed the trumpet ,clairenet ,flute, triangle amd then the piano i dont know how to play very well but i play anyway because i love it more than you can imagine . I noticed in the song no one you where playing the piano i admire you greatly and i hope you make a song with the piano, beacuase i know you enjoy it too thank you so much Sara.
- Sara Drennen, roseburg usa, 11/06/2009 21:10
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For us the outstanding part of our evening was Stephen Marley, he was awesone and further enhanced by the appearance of brother Damien. We could have left right after there performance and been very happy! Do not understand why he was not on as headlining artiste.
Alicia Keys disappointing through no fault of hers... can only echo your other reviewers - show very over produced - sound system oppressive - Alicia looking uncomfortable strutting about - She should stick to more intimate venues where her talent could be fully appreciated.
02 need to review their sound system - we saw Estelle support Kanye West and she had similar problems with sound system.
- Cobeaux, Kent, UK, 15/07/2008 13:40
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I am in awe of Alica. I think she was great and gave a splendid performance given the sound system was somewhat overbearing and so let her down to some degree. I can't wait to see her again BUT in a much smaller and less heavily branded venue. That being said there is no denying she is simply wonderful!
- Lucy Mpofu, London, 09/07/2008 22:03
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When Alicia Keys played London Arena in 2002 for the first time, she was absolutely amazing but this show is over produced and does not do her talent justice at all, lovely to see her again but as everyone says, let's just have the piano!
- Claire Elizabeth, London UK, 09/07/2008 16:57
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I wholeheartedly agree with this review.
Steven and Damian Marley made the night worthwhile. We wanted to hear the songs we knew, whilst interesting, the rock-type songs were lost on the crowd as we had no idea what was going on. The show was over-produced and even the songs we knew, were lost in the 'showing off'. However, we do love her.
- Jacqui, London, 09/07/2008 13:17
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This was a terrible show, that drove around half the people sitting in our area to leave early. Alicia is famous, and popular, for sweeping soulful piano-based ballads with interesting lyrics and an impressive vocal range: this show featured thumping jazzy dance music, of a completely different style and with hardly any tracks that people recognised. The bass was so loud that it drowned out all melody and words, and sitting near the front most of the tracks were indistinguishable from each other. The dance troupe were at least vaguely watchable while more pointless noise blared out from the stage, but they did not fit in with the style of show that people expected and paid for.
Alicia should go back to doing what she does well - singing the songs people enjoy while sitting at her piano, instead of pretending to be something else.
I have never enjoyed a concert less.
- Alex, London, 09/07/2008 11:15
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I agree with the above review, she should have stayed behind the piano. I was uncomfortable watching her stiff attempts at booty-shaking in an outfit that disturbed the eye - will someone please tell her to get a stylist! I know she's all about the music, but those tight jeans accentuated every ounce!
Wardrobe disaster aside, she has a great voice with great range, which would be better suited in a more intimate venue, where she wouldn't feel pressure to put on a show. And what a show - cringy, loud, guitar-heavy, did I mention loud? All that hollering made me look at my watch and beg for mercy. I found it hard to love her, even though I thought I really did.
Personally, I think she should have opened for Stephen Marley, that man put on a show, and created an atmosphere with no special effects, and his voice was even better live.
If you want to hear Alicia, you're better off staying at home and putting her CD on where you can skip the hollering ballads and get to the music.
- Diva, London, UK, 09/07/2008 10:11
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