Alicia Keys shares ‘Myself,’ positivity
Alicia Keys can do it all: Sing, play piano, win Grammys, spearhead nonprofit work and raise a family, among other accomplishments. And she’s exactly the type of person you want to talk to during a crisis.
Her memoir “More Myself” (Flatiron, 257 pp.), is a reminder of that.
The book details her winding journey through the music industry, her relationships and eventual marriage to Swizz Beatz and the process of finding herself.
Keys loved getting a bird’s-eye view of her life, memories and experiences. “Normally you don’t really get a chance to reflect back on them,” she told USA TODAY in an interview this month.
One difficult part of the memoir writing process? It’s a lot different than writing a song. “That was definitely a challenge, but also a welcome challenge because it worked just another side of my spirit, another side of my brain, another side of how I wanted to express,” she said.
Coronavirus pandemic: ‘Be good to each other’
The new coronavirus has been spreading around the world, with more than 590,000 cases as of Friday afternoon per Johns Hopkins data. When USA TODAY spoke to Keys on March 12, President Donald Trump had established sweeping travel restrictions from Europe to the U.S. The State Department has advised Americans to not travel outside the U.S., and restrictions have only increased.
Keys, who relies on meditation to slow her breathing, knows safety is paramount. But she recommends taking a step back making sure you’re in tune with yourself.
“Sometimes you got to step back and just take an extra breath,” she said. “So many things are just reminding us to really love on each other and be good to each other and be good to ourselves.”
She since has been posting positive messages on social media, as have other celebrities. Her most recent Instagram post about New York, featuring her song “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z, reads: “This is my love letter to the amazing city that raised me! We are strong and resilient!!! There’s NOTHING we can’t get through !!!!!! I’m dedicating this throwback performance to you!! If you have an NY story to share with me write me below and let’s keep the spirit high!!”
How Keys persevered through Kobe Bryant’s death while she hosted the Grammys
Keys has hosted the Grammys for two years in a row and has been thrilled to do it. She knows nights like that can feel awkward, but it’s been an amazing experience and a different way to express herself. This year’s Grammys, obviously, were dealt a major curveball in having to figure out how to address the deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and others in a fatal helicopter crash. The news broke just hours before the ceremony.
“It was just a devastating blow,” Keys said. “You could feel the energy shift immediately in the space, in the world in the consciousness in all of us.”
At the start of the ceremony, Keys said: “Right now, Kobe and his daughter Gianna and all of those that have been tragically lost today are in our spirit, they’re in our hearts, they’re in our prayers, they’re in this building, and I would like to ask everybody to take a moment and just hold them inside of you, hold them inside of you and share our strength and our sup
port with their families,” she continued.
With Boyz II Men, Keys sang the group’s song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” and afterward, the camera panned to Bryant’s Lakers jerseys
hanging in the rafters.
“I did feel a real connection from everybody because we were all living in the exact same emotion in the exact same space.” Keys said.
As for what’s next for Keys: Her new album, “ALICIA,” was supposed to arrive March 20 but has been rescheduled. Fans can expect a new release date soon.
What else fans can expect
You will learn where the name “Keys” came from, grow jealous of her friendships with Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama and hear about her transformational trips to Egypt. You will discover the inside of Prince’s mansion; dine with her, Bono and former President Barack Obama; and see firsthand that
she’s comfortable setting former “The Voice” co-judge Adam Levine straight.
And most importantly: You will learn how you can center yourself and figure out who you are.
“Being honest with yourself is hard,” Keys said with a laugh. “We all have our own opinion. We all have our own twist on a thing.”