Best of Me (Alicia Keys song)

"Best of Me" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys. It was written by Keys, Andrew Hale, Sade, Raphael Saadiq, and Stuart Matthewman. Keys released two versions of the song, "Originals", produced solely by her, and "Unlocked", produced alongside Mike Will Made It, through RCA Records on October 28, 2021.[1] The song serves as the second single from Keys' eighth studio album Keys.

"Best of Me"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album Keys
ReleasedOctober 28, 2021 (2021-10-28)
GenreR&B
Length
  • 3:58 (Originals)
  • 3:44 (Unlocked)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"Lala (Unlocked)"
(2021)		 "Best of Me"
(2021)		 "City of Gods"
(2022)
Music video
"Best of Me" on YouTube

Background and release

Keys announced the song on social media on September 28, posting the single's cover art.[2] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Keys commented that:

The zone on this song is so transportive. You're just transported to a whole other realm when you listen to this. [T]hey have a similar energy, "Best of Me (Original)" and "Best of Me (Unlocked)," but when you really get into it, you start to hear the nuances in how they are different, and how there's maybe a little more gentleness in the "Original" one, and a little more "Grrr" in the "Unlocked" one.[3]

Additionally, in November 2021, Keys released a lullaby version of the song on Sweet Dreams extended play.[4]

Composition

The song samples "Cherish the Day" by Sade.[5] Rap-Up described the song as a "slow-burning groove"[5] while Jon Pareles from The New York Times described it as having "steady, diligent beat".[6]

Critical reception

Writing for The New York Times, Pareles found that "the track is hypnotic and open-ended, fading rather than resolving, as if it could go on and on".[6] In his review of the album, Liam Inscoe-Jones from The Line of Best Fit wrote that the “broody” song “conjures an ice-cold vibe through clattering, propulsive drums and a deep bed of whirring synths; it’s simple, but conjures one hell of a mood with it”. [7] He also commented that the remix version of the song “change[s] so little that you have to squint to spot the difference”.[7]

Live performances

Keys performed the song at Mercedes-EQ Concert Experience at Mercedes-Benz Manhattan on November 6, 2021.[8] Keys performed the song at Apollo Theater for Sirius XM Small Stage Series.[9] On December 10, Keys performed the song at Expo 2020 in Dubal, United Arab Emirates.[10] Keys performed the song on Today on December 14, 2021.[11]

Track listing
  1. "Best of Me" (Originals) – 3:58
  2. "Best of Me" (Unlocked) – 3:49

Music video

Keys released a music video for the original version on October 29, 2021.[13]

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States November 9, 2021
RCA [16]

Notes
  1. Only involved in the Unlocked version
  2. Only involved in the Unlocked version
  3. Only involved in the Unlocked version

References
  1. Kreps, Daniel (2021-10-29). "Alicia Keys Teases Double-Sided Album 'Keys' With Two Versions of New Single 'Best of Me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  2. @aliciakeys (October 28, 2021). ""Best Of Me" out tonight. 🔒🔓 The next song off of #KEYS. Get ready for the Original and Unlocked versions out Midnight ET!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. Jones, Marcus (2021-10-29). "Alicia Keys Decodes the 'Originals' and 'Unlocked' Sides of Keys, Her 'Magical' Upcoming Album". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  4. "Alicia Keys: Sweet Dreams - EP". Apple Music. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  5. "Alicia Keys Debuts New Single 'Best Of Me'". Rap-Up. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  6. Jon Pareles; Giovanni Russonello; Lindsay Zoladz (2021-10-29). "Alicia Keys's Hypnotic Love Jam, and 12 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  7. Inscoe-Jones, Liam (2021-12-08). "Alicia Keys Continues to Settle Into a Fruitful Groove on the Unique Double Album KEYS". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  8. Uwumarogie, Victoria (2021-11-09). "Alicia Keys And The Mercedes-Benz EQS, The Brand's First Electric Vehicle, Shine During Concert Experience". Essence. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  9. "Alicia Keys - Best of Me [LIVE @ SiriusXM] | Small Stage Series". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  10. Marsden, Rhodri (2021-12-11). "Review: Alicia Keys Mesmerises Expo 2020 Dubai with Old Hits and a New Album". The National. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  11. "Alicia Keys Performs New Song 'Best of Me' Live on TODAY Plaza". Today. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  12. "Best of Me - Single by Alicia Keys". Spotify. October 29, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  13. Sheridan, Wade (2021-10-29). "Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz Are in Love in New 'Best of Me' Video". United Press International. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  14. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  15. "2022 Year End Chart: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  16. "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
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