Particularly creative is the rework of “Old Memories” with a poppy, accelerated, 80s-nuanced, tinkling beat. The introductory, clever lines of “Nat King Cole” courtesy of rapper Lil Wayne perfectly capture the essence of the late jazz legend. The lavish “LALA” featuring rapper Swae Lee is arguably the best moment on the “Unlocked” half. Opening the second act of KEYS, “Only You” is sped up with a thumping pulse and snatched sampled vocals, while “Skydive” and “Best of Me” are rehashed with peppy R&B beats retaining the same tempo. On the same note, the noir-tinged “Nat King Cole” is a tribute to the jazz legend. While singing about a past lover in the Nina Simone-esque “Is It Insane,” Keys displays all of her vocal nuances, shades, and extensions over a tastefully orchestrated jazz arrangement replete with vinyl scratch sound effects. Songs like the syncopated “Skydive,” the mellow “Best of Me” (which samples the legendary Sade’s “Cherish the Day”), the rhythmic “Billions,” the reverberating piano chords of “Only You,” and “Love When You Call My Name,” which oozes gorgeous melodies while restoring faith in a too-good-to-believe kind of love, find Keys elaborating into music and lyrics inspired by her relationship with producer and rapper Kasseem Daoud Dean, professionally known as Swizz Beatz. And it is precisely this level of authenticity-or “realness” as she might say-that makes her music so appreciated and felt by her loyal legion of listeners. There is, in fact, nothing fictitious or artificial on the “Originals” compositions, as Keys dismantles every embellishment and nonessential element, keeping only the piano and her voice which allow her emotions to run freely and authentically. The “Originals” component of the album is jazz and piano-based, with elegant, 1930s-reminiscent harmonies, finding Keys displaying stunning, warm vocals, and some of her most genuine lyrics flowing almost as written diary pages.
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