Alicia Keys Best Life Song

So first off, by all-time I mean up to this point. I am sure Alicia Keys is not done writing for her lifetime, but here are the five best put out by the New York City native.

1. No One - This song was the first single off of "As I Am," and showed off Alicia's range like few other songs. The passion, which you can see on her music video, rocketed this hit to #1 and became an instant hit.
2. Fallin' - Before we actually knew a lot about the artist Alicia Keys, she gave us this song. Another instant hit, it came off of her debut album "Songs in A Minor."
3. If I Ain't Got You - This ballad is one of the best piano songs performed in recent history. Countless women have tried to do covers of this song, but no one quite has topped her. This song comes off the album "Diary of Alicia Keys."
4. My Boo - So this song was not technically hers, as it appeared on Usher's "Confessions." She did however sing half of the song so she should be have this as part of her resume. The chemistry the two had in the song made this one a favorite among couples
5. Superwoman - The final song on this list is another relatively new one. "Superwoman" documents all the struggles women go through in all of the world. It has been used for a ton of commercials, television shows and award shows. This is on the same album as the #1 song on this list, "As I Am."

This was a tough list to make. Alicia Keys is a valuable artist, but she should be recognized for her best work. Narrowing it down to five was tough, and I apologize ahead of time for showing inadvertent favoritism.

After listening to Alicia Keys' fourth studio album entitled 'The Element of Freedom,' I seem to realize this is another flavor of brilliancy from a superwoman of substance and elegance. The album has fourteen songs and Alicia Keys has in some way learned to level-up her expertise in writing.

Here are my Top Five Picks:

1) Track 4: Try Sleeping with A Broken Heart

If you like R&B/Soul, try listening to this single and tell me if its powerful message did not stir you. If it did not move you, you are a rock. You know, once your heart is broken, this is the one song you want to listen over and over again until you become preoccupied with it.

Move on. Move on. Move on. This is what Try Sleeping with A Broken Heart is all about and this is unquestionably the reason why this album becomes an element of freedom. Rating: 5 of 5 stars

2) Track 6: That's How Strong My Love is

This is one of the songs in the album that is sprinkled with predictable spins like you know what will crop up next. This is a love song and as I see it; that reason alone is already enough why Alicia Keys has still managed to pull it off and convert those moments of predictability into sweet success. Rating: 3 of 5 stars

3) Track 7: Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)

The one special thing with Un-thinkable (I'm Ready) is its cool rhythmic flow that can instantly capture your attention. The moment you begin playing it on your CD player, you just say: "Yeah, this is definitely hot, keep it rolling!" And of course, this song is incomplete without Drake's nice background vocals. Do you think they already "DO" each other? Rating: 4 of 5 stars

4) Track 10: Put it in a Love Song

Alicia Keys and Beyonce in one single, what can you ask for? Perhaps, there are no missing elements around. All you need to do is take pleasure in and chill. Rating: 3 of 5 stars

5) Track 12: Distance and Time

Alicia Keys has poured out real emotions to maneuver this song in the right track. The good news is- she does it successfully. Her voice is crystal clear, the lyrics are well-written and it's just the "love" song to make you cry. That's why; there is no need to doubt why this track rounds up my top five list. -Rating: 4 of 5 stars

All in all, The Element of Freedom is a must-have. It's one of those albums you can listen over and over again not because of publicity or just because it's Alicia Keys. This album is the real score and it brings real quality music.

Alicia's new album has been out for a while now and fans have been able to get to know it well, and offer their opinions.

There is no doubt Alicia Keys is a superstar, and when an artist reaches that level the expectations are high. After all, she has now been voted the top R&B artist of the last decade. Did this, her fourth album live up to those expectations?

The consensus is that she is maturing as an artist and emotionally, and that Alicia Keys new album reflects that. While some fans found the album hard to appreciate at first, it has grown on them tremendously. Professional music critics have also been positive, though on its release the album did not reach number one in the USA on the Billboard chart, as her previous albums had. However, the album has now gone platinum. Ironically, in many other countries outside America the new album reached higher positions than her previous CDs had reached.

It is notable that the ordinary music fans, when they comment on the album, make ratings, or give reviews, tend to rate Alicia Keys new CD even higher than the critics do. This is very apparent on sites like Metacritic, where both professional writers and music fans can both give their opinions.

In the songs on the Element of Freedom, she reaches new, but different heights to her previous work, with strong melodies, thought-provoking lyrics and a soulful and restrained delivery of the ballads. The new album stands comparison with her best work, such as the renowned 'Songs in A Minor' and 'The Diary...', many fans are saying, and the whole CD is strong from start to finish, with many great songs.

One of Alicia's strengths has always been her expert keyboard playing, and on this new album it is to the fore again. Another element in the new album was the 1980's pop feel, which is a new direction for Alicia, who had been listening to many 80's artists during the recording of the album, particularly Prince. Alicia has always used emotion and feeling in her songs and her delivery, and on the Element of Freedom she has said that the theme was finding freedom from depression.