With her historic Grammys hosting gig behind her, Alicia Keys has gifted fans with new music.
“Raise A Man” is Keys’ first new song since her 2016 album, “Here.” The piano-driven, searingly topical ballad finds the 15-time Grammy winner expressing gratitude for good men, and a plea to raise more of them.
“Tonight was such a musical night,” the singer-songwriter wrote on Instagram after Sunday’s awards show. “I decided to drop a new vibe & have some fun with y’all!!!”
“You’re just not like these other men out here,” she sings on the track. “You just wanna hold me, and that’s OK. Can I be a woman for you, babe, in a time when it’s not allowed?”
“Is it OK to love a man right now? If you understand, then show me your hands,” she continues.
The song was a fitting finale to a spectacular night for Keys, the first woman in 14 years to host the Grammys. After sharing the stage with the likes of Lady Gaga, John Mayer and even Michelle Obama, she reminded viewers of her musical prowess with an epic performance of her own.
Flanked by two pianos ― one black, one white ― Keys delved into a cabaret-style medley of songs she wished she’d written, including Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” and Lauren Hill’s “Doo-Wop (That Thing).”
Listen to “Raise A Man” in full below.
