Back to Life (Alicia Keys song)

This article is about the Alicia Keys song. For the Soul II Soul song, see Back to Life (However Do You Want Me).
"Back to Life"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album Queen of Katwe
ReleasedSeptember 1, 2016 (2016-09-01)
Genre
Length4:52
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Alicia Keys
  • Illangelo
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"In Common"
(2016) 		"Back to Life"
(2016) 		"Blended Family (What You Do for Love)"
(2016)
Music video
"Back to Life (Lyrics)" on YouTube

"Back to Life" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, released on September 1, 2016, for the soundtrack of the sports drama film Queen of Katwe, directed by Mira Nair. The song was written by Alicia Keys, Illangelo, and Billy Walsh while production of the song was handled by Keys and Illangelo.[1][2][3]

Background and release

“Queen of Katwe” is based on the true story of 10-year-old girl Phiona from Uganda, who becomes an international chess champion.[4] Disney approached Keys to do a song for the film, and Keys started to work on the song alongside Illangelo and Billy Walsh after seeing the film and after being blown away by its authenticity and honesty.[5][6] The song was announced on August 31, and a featurette featuring Keys singing and discussing the inspiration behind writing the song, was released.[7][8] Keys further explained that:

I started thinking about this girl, Phiona. This is a young person trying to figure out who she is and where she’s going to be and how that even related to me and my life now. We’re always redefining who we are and redefining who we’re going to be. In so many ways, that’s what brings you back to life. That’s what brings you that feeling of ‘I have to live and I have to be my greatest.[5]

"Back to Life" was released on September 31, 2016.[9] The song is an R&B song and lasts for a duration of four minutes and fifty-two seconds.[9] According to Musicnotes.com, the song is performed in the key of G minor with a tempo of 115 beats per minute in common time. Keys' vocals span from D3 to F5 in the song.[10]

Critical reception

"Back to Life" was generally well received by music critics. According to OkayAfrica "[t]he new track kicks off with piano, swaying guitars and a subdued melody before shifting gears into a synth-backed dance beat" and "[i]ts second half ends up moving towards the sonic world of Keys’ previous single “In Common,”.[11] Tom Breihan from Stereogum was disappointed that the song isn't a Soul II Soul cover, but he felt that the song "has that group somewhere in its DNA", and went on to say that the song "starts out like a more traditional movie-soundtrack end-credits showstopper, but then a beat drops in and it turns into a slinky dance jam".[12] Rap-Up was positive, commenting that the song features "inspirational strings" over which Keys "belts out a moving ode to resilience".[13] In a review for the Queen of Katwe soundtrack, Alex Reif of LaughingPlace.com referred to the song as a "beautiful ballad". He additionally stated that, despite its appeal, a few of the other songs on the album ended up overshadowing the song.[14] That Grape Juice described the song as "rousing", "inspirational" and "moving" and noted that the "production has many interesting layers" but concluded that the "repetitive chorus prevents this from being anything more than a soundtrack song".[15] Hype commented that the song is "[m]ade-up of a smooth ballad" and it is a "perfect sonic balance".[16] Sarah Murphy from Exlaim wrote that the song features a "cinematic feel with sparse instrumentation and breathy vocals", adding that midway a "drum beat kicks in and gets matched with bubbling synths and booming bass".[17] Ryan Reed from Rolling Stone commented that the song features Keys "tossing out confessional lyrics through melismatic vocal swoops" before acknowledging that the "cathartic track morphs from a minimalist piano ballad to an uptempo electro-pop jam".[1]

Live performances

Keys performed the song on Today on September 3, 2016.[18] Keys performed the song at the Apple Music Festival in Roundhouse, London.[19]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Black Reel Awards February 16, 2017 Outstanding Original Song "Back to Life" – Alicia Keys, Illangelo and Billy Walsh Nominated [20]

Release history

Release history and formats for "Back to Life"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States September 1, 2016
RCA [9]

References

  1. ^ a b Reed, Ryan (September 2, 2016). "Hear Alicia Keys' Brooding Ballad 'Back to Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  2. ^ Lozano, Kevin (September 2, 2016). "Listen to Alicia Keys' New Song "Back to Life"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "Queen of Katwe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Deluxe Edition]". iTunes. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  4. ^ Lawrence, Derek (August 31, 2016). "Queen of Katwe story inspired Alicia Keys to write a new song". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Murray, Cori (September 8, 2016). "Alicia Keys Gets "Back To Life" With Inspirational Song For Queen Of Katwe". Essence. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  6. ^ "Alicia Keys Records New Song "Back to Life" for Disney's 'Queen of Katwe'". ThisIS RnB. 2016-09-01. Archived from the original on 2016-09-03. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  7. ^ Morales, Wilson (2016-08-31). "Featurette: Alicia Keys' New Song "Back To Life" For Queen Of Katwee". BackFilm. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  8. ^ Calvario, Liz (September 3, 2016). "Listen to Alicia Keys Sing the Ballad She Wrote for 'Queen of Katwe'". IndieWire. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "Back to Life (From "Queen of Katwe") – Single". iTunes. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  10. ^ Augello Cook, Alicia; Montagnese, Carlo; Walsh, Billy. "Back to Life". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  11. ^ Killakam (2016-09-02). "Listen to Alicia Keys' New Song 'Back to Life,' Written for the 'Queen of Katwe' Film". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 2018-09-08.
  12. ^ Breihan, Tom (2016-09-02). "Alicia Keys – "Back To Life"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  13. ^ Andres (2016-09-02). "New Music: Alicia Keys - 'Back to Life'". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on 2016-09-03. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  14. ^ Reif, Alex (September 30, 2016). "Soundtrack Review: Queen of Katwe". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  15. ^ Sam. "New Song: Alicia Keys – 'Back To Life'". That Grape Juice. Archived from the original on 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  16. ^ "Alicia Keys Drops New 'Back To Life' Song [Listen]". Hype. 2016-09-02. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27.
  17. ^ Murphy, Sarah (September 2, 2016). "Alicia Keys "Back to Life"". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  18. ^ Andres (2016-09-03). "Alicia Keys Performs On 'Today' Concert Series". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  19. ^ Clarke, Betty (2016-09-21). "Alicia Keys Review – Soul Singer Opens Door to Blistering Basement Bash". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  20. ^ Davis, Clayton (December 14, 2016). "Black Reel Award Nominees – 'Moonlight' Leads with 13 Nominations". AwardsCircuit.com. Retrieved December 15, 2016.

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