As I Am

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As I Am
Studio album by Alicia Keys
Released	November 9, 2007 (2007-11-09) (see release history)
Recorded	2005–2007
Genre	R&B, soul
Length	55:58
Label	J
Producer	Alicia Keys, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, Linda Perry, Marsha Ambrosius, Mark Batson, Dirty Harry, John Mayer, Jack Splash
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Billboard (positive) link Chicago Tribune (negative) link Now link Rolling Stone link Slant Magazine link The Guardian link The Observer (positive) link The Times link The Washington Post (negative) link
Alicia Keys chronology
Unplugged (2005) As I Am (2007)
Singles from As I Am
"No One" Released: September 11, 2007 "Like You'll Never See Me Again" Released: November 12, 2007 "Teenage Love Affair" Released: March 2008 "Superwoman" Released: TBA 2008

As I Am is the third studio album (fourth overall) by American R&B/soul singer Alicia Keys, released on November 13, 2007 (see 2007 in music). The album sold 742,000 copies in its first week. This amount is the largest ever first week sales for any female R&B artist, and is also one of the largest first week sales for any female artist in the United States. The album also debuted at number one on the United World Chart with sales of 876,000. It features appearances by John Mayer, Marsha Ambrosius, Linda Perry, and others.^[1]

Contents 1 Background 1.1 Production 1.2 Promotion and release 1.3 Reception 2 Track listing 2.1 iTunes edition 2.2 UK edition 2.3 Bonus DVD 3 Limited pressing double LP 4 Personnel 4.1 Musicians 4.2 Production 5 Charts 6 Certifications 7 Release history 8 References

[edit] Background

[edit] Production

Keys had been working on the album since late 2005, but focused on it to a greater extent in 2006. She first mentioned the album's name to the E! News reporter Giuliana Rancic on June 26, 2007 at the BET Awards red carpet pre-show. During the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards she confirmed that her album was finished. Earlier Keys said to MTV: "It's coming together incredibly. I am in love with this album. It's very fresh and new".^[2]

[edit] Promotion and release

The album was heavily promoted, and special advertising was arranged in collaboration with MTV before and during the week of release. The entire album was streamed on MTV's website, beginning on November 6, 2007, a week before the album's North American release date. Additionally, Keys was MTV Artist of the Week for the week beginning November 12, 2007.^[3] MTV commissioned Evan Silver to direct series of nine, humorous ads of Keys being harassed by someone in a bunny costume.^[4] In the final spot, the bunny is revealed to be John Mayer.^[5]

[edit] Reception

Critical response to the album was generally positive; the album scored a 66/100 on MetaCritic, given the green tag to signify 'Generally Positive Reviews.'^[6] Giving the album three out of five stars, Rolling Stone found the album's prevailing mood "reflectively soulful and the prevailing tempo mid."^[7] The New York Times said that "As I Am radiates not just confidence but also experience," and added, "On the whole it's her strongest effort yet."^[8] People magazine said that while not "veering too much from the Keys playbook," Keys "continues to scale artistic heights on As I Am" and gave the album three and a half stars.^[9] This album was #36 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.^[10] The song "Teenage Love Affair" was #23 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.^[11] In People Magazine's Best (And Worst!) of 2007 issue, they noted the top ten albums of the year, and As I Am was ranked #1. The album was ranked the #11 biggest selling album of 2007 by UWC, with sales of 3,222,000, in spite of its release less than a month before year figures are compiled.^[12] It was also ranked the #4 biggest selling album of 2007 in the United States with sales of 2,543,000 units.^[13] As I Am has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA as of January 3, 2008.^[14] The album received two Grammys for the song "No One" at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

[edit] Track listing

1. "As I Am (Intro)" (Alicia Keys) – 1:52
2. "Go Ahead" (Keys, Mark Batson, Kerry Brothers, Jr., Marsha Ambrosius) – 4:35
3. "Superwoman" (Keys, Linda Perry, Steve Mostyn) – 4:34
4. " No One" (Keys, Brothers, George D. Harry) – 4:13
5. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Keys, Brothers) – 5:15
6. "Lesson Learned" (featuring John Mayer) (Alicia Keys, John Mayer) – 4:13
7. "Wreckless Love" (Keys, Jack Splash, Matthew Kahane, Harold Lilly) – 3:52
8. "The Thing About Love" (Keys, Perry) – 3:49
9. "Teenage Love Affair" ¹ (Keys, Splash, Kahane, Lilly, Josephine Bridges, Carl Hampton, Tom Nixon) – 3:10
10. "I Need You" (Keys, Batson, Lilly, Paul L. Green) – 5:09
11. "Where Do We Go from Here" ² (Keys, Brothers, Mary Frierson, Johnnie Frierson) – 4:10
12. "Prelude to a Kiss" (Keys) – 2:07
13. "Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise)" (Keys, Novel Stevenson, Ron Haney, Brothers, Green, Mostyn) – 4:28
14. "Sure Looks Good to Me" (Keys, Perry) – 4:31

¹ Contains a portion of The Temprees' "(Girl) I Love You" written by Josephine Bridges, Carl Hampton, and Tom Nixon.
² Contains a portion of Wendy Rene's "After Laughter (Comes Tears)" written by Mary Frierson and Johnnie Frierson.

[edit] iTunes edition

15. "Waiting for Your Love" – 3:53
16. "Hurt So Bad" (pre-order bonus) – 2:56

[edit] UK edition

15. "Waiting for Your Love" – 3:53

[edit] Bonus DVD

1. "Karma" (Live at the Hollywood Bowl)
2. "Heartburn" (Live at the Hollywood Bowl)
3. "Wake Up" (Live at the Hollywood Bowl)
4. Behind-the-Scenes: As I Am Photo Shoot
5. Behind-the-Scenes: "No One" Video Shoot

[edit] Limited pressing double LP

A limited number of vinyl records were pressed on double red vinyl at Nashville's historic United Record Pressing. They contain the 14 standard tracks divided into two vinyls with 7 tracks each.

[edit] Personnel

The following musicians and technicians worked on As I Am:^[15]

[edit] Musicians

Alicia Keys — vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, harpsichord, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, string synthesizer, vocoder, programming, background vocals Jack Splash — various instruments, programming Ron Haney — guitar Peter Thorn — guitar David Ryan Harris — guitar John "Jubu" Smith — guitar John Salvatore Scaglione — guitars John Mayer — guitar, background vocals. Steve Mostyn — acoustic guitar, bass guitar Everette K. Harp — saxophone Darryl Dixon — alto saxophone David Watson — tenor saxophone Carl Maraghi — baritone saxophone Duane Eubanks — trumpet David G. Stout — trumpet Jumaane Smith — trumpet Jason Sugata — French horn

Harry Kim — trombone Michael Dease — tenor trombone, bass trombone Ryan Kebrle — tenor trombone Mark Batson — piano, Clavinet, Hammond b-3 organ, Moog synthesizer, programming, drum programming Linda Perry — piano, background vocals Damon Fox — Hammond b-3 organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer Paul Ill Sean Hurley — bass guitar Trevor Lawrence, Jr. — drums, percussion Mark Robohm — drums Steve Jordan — drums Kerry "Krucial" Brothers — drum programming Novel Stevenson — background vocals Ivan F. Reyes — background vocals Harold Lilly, L. Green — background vocals Ann Minicieli Bria Harper-violinist, background vocalist

[edit] Production

Jack Splash — producer Kerry "Krucial" Brothers — producer Dirty Harry — producer Alicia Keys — producer Mark Batson — producer Andrew Chavez — engineer Stuart White — engineer Vincent Creusot — engineer Keith Gretlein — engineer Kristofer Kaufman — engineer

Seamus Tyson — engineer Brendan Dekora — engineer Linda Perry — engineer Seth Waldmann — engineer Chad Franscoviak — engineer Manny Marroquin — engineer Ann Mincieli — engineer Glenn Pittman — engineer Zach Hancock — engineer

[edit] Charts

Chart (2007)[16][17] Peak position Argentinian Albums Chart[18] 9 Australian ARIA Urban Albums Chart[19] 2 Austrian Albums Chart 9 Belgian Ultratop 50 Albums (Wallonia)[20] 5 Canadian Albums Chart 2 Dutch Albums Chart 2 European Top 100 Albums[21] 3 Finnish Albums Chart 24 French Albums Chart 5 German Albums Chart 6 Irish Albums Chart 15 Italian Albums Chart[22] 3 Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[23] 4 New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart 5 Norwegian Albums Chart 20 Polish Albums Chart[24] 7 Spanish Albums Chart[20] 12 Swedish Albums Chart 15

Chart (2007) Peak position Swiss Albums Chart 1 United World Chart 1 U.S. Billboard 200 1 U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1 U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums 1 U.S. Billboard Comprehensive Albums[25] 1 Chart (2008) Peak position Australian ARIA Albums Chart 3 Belgian Ultratop 50 Albums (Flanders) 10 Brazilian Albums Chart[26] 7 Canadian R&B Albums Chart[27] 4 Danish Albums Chart 21 Estonian Albums Chart[28] 6 Greek International Albums Chart[29] 9 Mexican Albums Chart[20] 58 Portuguese Albums Chart 4 UK Albums Chart 11

[edit] Certifications

3× platinum RIAA: 3,382,207[30][31] Platinum IFPI: 30,000[32] ARIA: 70,000[33] BPI: 300,000[34] IFPI: 1,000,000[35]

Gold IRMA: 7,500[36] RIANZ: 7,500[37] IFPI: 10,000[38] OLIS: 15,000[24] SNEP: 75,000[39] IFPI: 100,000[40] Oricon: 180,654[41]

[edit] Release history

Region	Date	Label
Germany	November 9, 2007	J
Australia	November 10, 2007	J
France	November 12, 2007	J
United States	November 13, 2007	J
Canada	November 13, 2007	Sony BMG Music Canada
United Kingdom	November 19, 2007	RCA
Japan	November 21, 2007	BMG Japan

[edit] References

Preceded by e² by Eros Ramazzotti	Swiss Albums Chart number-one album November 25, 2007 – December 12, 2007	Succeeded by Taking Chances by Celine Dion
Preceded by American Gangster by Jay-Z	U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album (first run) December 1, 2007	Succeeded by Noël by Josh Groban
Preceded by Long Road Out of Eden by Eagles	United World Chart number-one album (first run) December 1, 2007 – December 8, 2007
Preceded by Noël by Josh Groban	United World Chart number-one album (second run) January 12, 2008	Succeeded by In Rainbows by Radiohead
Preceded by In Rainbows by Radiohead	U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album (second run) January 26, 2008 – February 2, 2008	Succeeded by Juno by various artists
Preceded by Soushi Souai 2 by Bank Band	United World Chart number-one album (third run) February 9, 2008	Succeeded by Kingdom by Kumi Koda
Preceded by Juno by various artists	U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album (third run) February 16, 2008	Succeeded by Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson

v • d • e Alicia Keys Studio albums Songs in A Minor · The Diary of Alicia Keys · As I Am Other albums Unplugged Singles "Fallin'" · "A Woman's Worth" · "How Come You Don't Call Me" · "Girlfriend" · "You Don't Know My Name" · "If I Ain't Got You" · "Diary" · "Karma" · "Unbreakable" · "Every Little Bit Hurts" · "No One" · "Like You'll Never See Me Again" · "Teenage Love Affair" · "Superwoman" Other singles "Gangsta Lovin'" · "My Boo" · "Ghetto Story Chapter 2" Filmography Smokin' Aces · The Nanny Diaries Related articles Discography · Awards and nominations