Karma (Alicia Keys song)

"Karma"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys
ReleasedNovember 1, 2004 (2004-11-01)
Studio
  • KrucialKeys
  • Quad Recording (New York City, New York)
Genre
Length4:16
LabelJ
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Brothers, Jr.
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"My Boo"
(2004) 		"Karma"
(2004) 		"Unbreakable"
(2005)
Music video
"Karma" on YouTube

"Karma" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, taken from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Written by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and Taneisha Smith, the song takes influence from hip hop and classical music. It was released as the album's fourth and final single on November 1, 2004, by J Records. Peaking at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it's the album's only single not to top a Billboard chart. A mashup of "Karma" with Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit "Superstition" titled "Karmastition", produced by Go Home Productions, was also released.

Composition

Sheet music for "Karma" sets the key of D minor at 100bpm.[1]

Content

In the song, the narrator's lover who had left her returns and wants to start a new relationship, but she has moved on. Her lover is now in the position she was once in, and in being rejected receives their just deserts ("what goes around comes around"). The title references the popular conception of karma as getting what one deserves.

Music video

The music video for "Karma", directed by Chris Robinson and Keys herself, was filmed over three days in August 2004, with parts shot in New York City and at Casa de Campo resort's Altos de Chavón amphitheatre, in La Romana, Dominican Republic.[2] At the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, the video earned Keys the award for Best R&B Video.

Track listings and formats

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[24]
certified in 2005 		Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[25]
certified in 2020 		Gold 500,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States November 1, 2004
J [26]
November 8, 2004 Rhythmic contemporary radio [27]
November 22, 2004 Contemporary hit radio [28]
Germany February 7, 2005
Sony BMG [11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Karma - Alicia Keys". Musicnotes.com.
  2. ^ "Alicia Keys Goes Gritty And Exotic For New Video". Contactmusic.com. September 13, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  3. ^ Karma (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2004. 82876-62467-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Karma (European CD single liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2004. 82876 67307 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Karma (European CD Maxi-single liner notes). Alicia Keys. Sony BMG Music Entertainment, MBK Entertainment, J Records. 2004. 82876 673062.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ "Alicia Keys – Karma" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "Alicia Keys – Karma" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  8. ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1604. April 29, 2005. p. 25. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1608. May 27, 2005. p. 51. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Alicia Keys: Karma" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Alicia Keys – Karma" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 27/2–5/3" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on March 3, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  14. ^ "Alicia Keys – Karma" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "Alicia Keys – Karma". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  17. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  20. ^ "2005 Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. November 26, 2005. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  21. ^ "2005 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. November 26, 2005. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  22. ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 26.
  23. ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 34.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – Karma". Recording Industry Association of America. September 27, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  25. ^ "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – Karma". Recording Industry Association of America. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  26. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1579. October 29, 2004. p. 19. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  27. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1580. November 5, 2004. p. 20. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  28. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1582. November 19, 2004. p. 21. Retrieved May 25, 2021.