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Giving Words

Words and Verse

Tears For Water
by Cynthia E. Jones

September, 2005

The long-awaited songbook of poems and lyrics, penned by one of the most acclaimed music artists of her time.

She has been reported stating that her musical influences are Chopin, Marvin Gaye, Mary J. Blige, Miles Davis, The Notorious B.I.G., Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Beethoven. Perhaps another influence and factor of her unique musical flavor is that of her diverse and bi-racial upbringing.

Native of New York, Alicia Keys was born January 25, 1981 and first began expressing her love for music at the age of 4. It was at the age of 7 that she began serious musical instruction. There were struggles and it was stressful. It was expensive and her single Mother had little money but Alicia was able to study a Suzuki method of classical piano and told by her Mother "You can quit anything else but you can never give up on your piano lessons."

Her pre-teen years were filled with her performing music. She continued to perform through her high-school years while attending Manhattan's Professional Performing Arts High School where she was an A student AND graduated as Valedictorian at the age of 16.

When reading about Alicia Keys, one may get the impression that it was not always easy for her but she doesn't blame what could have been a difficult obstacle course. She makes it sound easy and instead of finding excuses, she embraced those qualities to her advantage. In light of that, she now gives that kind of hope back to others in her community. Through her demeanor and music it is impossible to not see the light that she has to share with all of us. A brilliant pianist, her music is soul touching. At the root of the melodies that captivate the listener, are the words. It is the words, her own words, that has introduced her to the literary world, not only as a musician and song writer but as a Poet.

Excerpt from -

Tears for Water : Songbook of Poems and Lyrics

"I Call this Tears for Water because in looking through all these words I have come to understand that everything I have ever written has stemmed from my tears of joy, of pain, of sorrow, of depression, and of question. Every single word has come from some form of my tears. I use them as water to nourish me, quenching the thirst for understanding myself, and because of them I am able to survive, I am able to stay alive, I am able to breathe. So I don't mind drinking my tears for water." ~Alicia Keys

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'Tears for Water: Songbook of poems and lyrics by Alicia Keys at Barnes&Noble.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER
The long-awaited songbook of poems and lyrics, penned by one of the most acclaimed music artists of her time, Alicia Keys, is finally here for her throngs of fans. When she burst onto the scene, Alicia's years of intensive classical piano study and musical schooling paid off with over 12 million copies of her two albums sold, a huge international fan base, and an arena tour with female musical contemporaries, Beyonce and Missy Elliot. Her talent has been rewarded with nine Grammy Awards (including Best New Artist), four American Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, a Billboard Award, and two Soul Train Awards.

Though Alicia has been very vocal through her career, there were always "delicate thoughts" that she never before imagined she'd share with anyone else-until now. Alicia Keys opens the journals and notebooks that she has kept throughout her life, documenting her growth as a person, a woman, and an artist, and reveals her heart to her fans in return for all the love they have shown to her and her music.