"In Common" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, recorded for her upcoming untitled sixth studio album. The song was written by Keys, Illangelo, Tayla Parks and Billy Walsh, and produced by Illangelo.[1] It is a departure from her R&B sound, having a tropical music sound, with Latin beat, Afrobeat instrumental and icy drum patterns as its main instrumentation. Lyrically, "In Common" talks about a dysfunctional kind of love story, and how the partners are similar, despite their faults. The song received positive reviews from critics, who considered a catchy and hypnotic single.
Background and release
After the success of her fifth studio album, Girl on Fire (2012), Alicia Keys took a break and in 2014 announced she was expecting her second child with husband Swizz Beatz. In September 2014, Keys released "We Are Here", a song about social justice that at the time was announced as the lead-single of her upcoming sixth studio album by Billboard.[2] In the same year, Keys confirmed production by her husband, producer Swizz Beatz, and Pharrell Williams, revealing the album was almost done.[2] However, in July 2015, Keys released "28 Thousand Days", a song that she dedicated to her husband and that was released to Levi's ad campaign.[3][4] In an interview for Vogue magazine, in late 2015, Keys revealed that the album would only be released in early 2016.[5] After teasing new music in April,[6] and performing it at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival in the same month,[7] the singer released "In Common" on May 4, 2016. It was simultaneously released to digital download on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon,[8] and streaming on Spotify, as well as YouTube.[9]
Composition
"In Common" was written by Alicia Keys, Illangelo, Tayla Parks and Billy Walsh, and produced by Illangelo. The song is heavily influenced by tropical music, having a Latin beat.[1] It is also marked by clipped phrasing over a minimal beat[10] with trendy Caribbean vibes,[11] Afrobeat instrumental[12] and icy drum patterns.[13] Keys uses a hushed tone during the lines, "We used to talk 'til midnight/All those days that you stayed at my house/We were just passing the time/When we were young and we ain't had no vows."[1] During the chorus, she sings: "If you could love somebody like me, you must be messed up too."[10] Lyrically, "In Common" talks about the similarities between two lovers, with the lyrics "paint[ing] a picture of a couple who mirror one another in ways never before experienced with past lovers."[14]
Critical reception
Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone called it an "hypnotic, catchy single."[10] A writer of Fact described it as a "chart-ready polish, hitting the sweet spot between Jamie xx’s bass-heavy pop and the post-Popcaan trend for featherlight dancehall a la Bieber, Drake and Rihanna."[15] Jessica Goodman of Entertainment Weekly named it a "hazy and club-ready [track]."[16]
Live performances
"In Common" was performed for the first time at Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2016.[7] Keys will perform the song for the first time live on television on Saturday Night Live May 7th. She will perform the song at the UEFA Champions League Final in Milan on May 28th.[16]
Track listing
Release history
References
- 1 2 3 Brandie, Lars (2016-05-04). "Alicia Keys Shares Latin-Infused New Single 'In Common': Listen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
- 1 2 Brandle, Lars (September 22, 2014). "Watch Alicia Keys Discuss New Album: It’s the ‘Best Music I've Ever Done’". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Roth, Madeline (July 31, 2015). "Alicia Keys' New Song Will Make You Want To Carpe F--king Diem". MTV. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Brown, Eric Renner (July 31, 2015). "Alicia Keys returns with '28 Thousand Days'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Wagoner, Mackenzie (November 5, 2015). "Alicia Keys on Fragrance, Fearlessness, and the Beauty of Doing Your Own Makeup". Vogue. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "I’ve been dying to tell you this.... #NewAKMusic Snap: AKStreetGoddess". Facebook. April 16, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- 1 2 Gale, Alex (2016-04-22). "Alicia Keys Covers Prince at Tribeca Film Festival: 'We Lost Someone Very Special'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
- ↑ "Amazon.com: In Common: Alicia Keys: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Gallagher, Caitlin (May 4, 2016). "Alicia Keys Releases "In Common," Her First New Single In Years — LISTEN". Bustle. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Spanos, Brittany (May 4, 2016). "Hear Alicia Keys' Latin-Infused New Song 'In Common'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (May 4, 2016). "Listen to Alicia Keys’s New Song, ‘In Common’". Vulture. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Geffen, Sasha (May 4, 2016). "Alicia Keys Makes A Sharp Turn Toward The Dance Floor On New Single "In Common"". MTV News. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Josephs, Brian (May 4, 2016). "Alicia Keys Has Too Much ‘In Common’ on New Song". Spin. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Golding, Shenequa (May 6, 2016). "Alicia Keys And Her Love Mirror One Another Like Never Before On New Single “In Common”". Vibe. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Alicia Keys returns with ‘In Common’". Fact. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- 1 2 Goodman, Jessica (2016-05-04). "Alicia Keys releases sultry new song 'In Common'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
- 1 2 "In Common - Single by Alicia Keys on iTunes". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
External links
"In Common"
