Alicia Keys, Golden Child | Song Review 🎵

In advance of a special, 20^th anniversary edition of her sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys releases a previously unreleased song, “Golden Child.” 

“Girl, you can’t be scared / Gotta stand up strong / Let ‘em see what shines in you.” Say that, say that, 🎙️ Alicia Keys 👏!  🎵 “Golden Child” appears on the 20^th anniversary edition of her sophomore album, 💿 The Diary of Alicia Keys. 🎵 “Golden Child” is a previously unreleased song that didn’t appear on the 🏆 Grammy-winning, 2003 LP.  Self-written and self-produced, “Golden Child” runs four minutes and change.  Notably, it takes us back to a different era of R&B, which is refreshing.

“You are a golden child

You are a golden child.”

As they say, stay golden. There are lots of things to like, or at least appreciate about “Golden Child.” Vocally, Alicia Keys is in her prime. That voice is the stuff, period. She excels in her sultry lower register often, something that fits both the vibe and backdrop.  It’s not all the low end though. Keys gives us her beautiful middle register, and even ascends powerfully into her upper register, towards the end.  Beyond the voice, Keys’ production is smooth, colorful, and well-rounded, with its keys, guitars, and aughts R&B cues.  The song itself is chill – pleasant, with respectable lyrics, and solid musical underpinnings (harmonic progression).  Is it the second coming? No, probably why ultimately didn’t appear on The Diary of Alicia Keys, arguably the best or second-best album of her career.  All told, 🎵 “Golden Child” is worth spinning, even if it isn’t a classic from her vault.

🎙 Alicia Keys • 💿 The Diary of Alicia Keys (20^th Anniversary Edition) • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 12.2.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; RCA; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]