Doesn't Mean Anything

Keys called the song as "very different—it almost feels like you're flying. It has that piano, heavy-drum feeling." She elaborated the song's meaning, saying, "You dream of having all these things, you dream of going all these places. But what's the point of doing that, having that, if the one you want to be there isn't with you?"{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1623531/20091009/keys_alicia.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011181500/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1623531/20091009/keys_alicia.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2009|title=Alicia Keys to Release The Element of Freedom in December|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=2009-10-09|work=MTV News|access-date=2009-10-16}} The song was released through Keys' YouTube channel on September 22, 2009, after her performance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards along Jay-Z, singing "Empire State of Mind".{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/15/alicia-keys-doesnt-mean-anything/|title=Alicia Keys' 'Doesn't Mean Anything' hits the Web: Hear it here|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=2009-09-15|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time|access-date=2009-10-16}}

The single was released on the iTunes Store on September 22, 2009 and debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 32, making her highest debut on that chart,{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} and has peaked at number 14.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=alicia keys|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}}|title=Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=2009-10-16}} It has also debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 61,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267105/alicia-keys-reveals-freedom-details|title=Alicia Keys Reveals 'Freedom' Details|last=Concepcion|first=Mariel|date=2009-10-09|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=2009-10-10}} making it her highest debut since "No One", which debuted at number 71. It also appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 66.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=alicia keys|chart=Hot 100}} Retrieved on October 22, 2009] Although it had a higher debut than "No One", "Doesn't Mean Anything" failed to chart high on the Billboard Hot 100, unlike the lead single from her previous album. It is one of Keys' least successful singles to date in the United States and her second lowest peaking song on the Billboard Hot 100. "Doesn't Mean Anything" was released on November 30, 2009 in the United Kingdom. Keys performed the song on The X Factor on November 29, 2009, with a medley of "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" and "No One". It debuted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Keys highest-charting debut there since "Fallin'" in 2001, and her seventh top ten single in the UK. "Doesn't Mean Anything" peaked at number four on the UK R&B Singles Chart and has spent, so far, fourteen weeks on the UK Singles Chart.[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Be Official Charts Company]

The song received positive reviews from the critics. Mariel Concepcion of Billboard magazine gave the song a positive review, commenting that "A truly confident woman lets herself be vulnerable at the right time" and compared favorably the song to Keys' previous hits 'No One' and 'Superwoman' by saying that "the comparisons are more than welcome, because—as Keys understands so well—everyone needs love, no matter how independent they may be."{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1070814/alicia-keys-doesnt-mean-a-thing|title = Alicia Keys, "Doesn't Mean a Thing"| magazine=Billboard }} Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a favorable review, saying that "the production is classic and gimmick-free, the chorus has the same timeless feel that turned 'No One' and 'If I Ain't Got You' into modern standards, and the whole thing oozes class the way a ripe brie oozes cheesey goodness" and then adding "the words 'classic' and 'timeless' apply to the lyrics too."{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a179171/alicia-keys-its-great-to-have-you-back.html |title=Music — The Sound — Alicia Keys, it's great to have you back |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2009-09-25 |access-date=2009-10-31}}

The music video for "Doesn't Mean Anything" was filmed on September 27–28, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2009/09/28/on-the-set-alicia-keys-dont-mean-anything/ |title=On The Set: Alicia Keys 'Doesn't Mean Anything' Video |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2009-09-28 |access-date=2009-10-31}}{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2009/09/28/on-the-set-vol-2-alicia-keys-doesnt-mean-anything-video/ |title=On The Set Vol. 2: Alicia Keys 'Doesn't Mean Anything' Video |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2009-09-28 |access-date=2009-10-31}} It was directed by P. R. Brown. The video was released on October 19, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/10/19/video-alicia-keys-doesnt-mean-anything/ |title=Video: Alicia Keys – 'Doesn't Mean Anything' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=2009-10-19 |access-date=2009-12-09}} In the behind-the-scenes of the video, Keys explained the representation of the mountain climb scene, "Because we all have mountains to climb in our life you know? And you can reach the top, you can climb and you can make it. And as you observe the landscape, the question is 'Are you gonna fly or are you gonna fall?'. And I'm gonna fly, and we all gonna fly."{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} The video ranked at number 42 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

The music video begins with Keys walking onto the balcony of her New York City apartment, looking out at the city uttering the words, "This beautiful city seems empty. All the people in the world and you can still feel lonely. What's the point of having it all without the person you love. Sometimes you just need to start again in order to fly."{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} The song then starts to play, with Keys playing the piano in her apartment, and also scenes of her sitting on the couch, and looking out of the window at the sunset. Various objects around the apartment then start to disappear, including a photograph on the piano of her and her lover. The scene then changes once her surroundings have all eventually disappeared, showing Keys in a new outfit, in the middle of a desert-like setting (that appears to be the Grand Canyon), with her piano. She is then seen to walk up the path she is on, eventually leading to a mountain. Keys then climbs the mountain, and once she has reached the top, looks out at the landscape surrounding her.

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• Digital download and European and Australian CD single[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VH31XS Doesn't Mean Anything: Alicia Keys: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads]

1. "Doesn't Mean Anything" – 4:39
2. "Dreaming" – 4:32

• Digital EP{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/doesnt-mean-anything-single/338321238/|title=Doesn't Mean Anything - Single by Alicia Keys|work=Apple Music|date=September 15, 2009}}

1. "Doesn't Mean Anything" – 4:35
2. "Dreaming" – 4:32
3. "Doesn't Mean Anything" (music video)

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• US promotional 12-inch vinyl{{cite AV media notes|title=Doesn't Mean Anything / Put It In A Love Song|others=Alicia Keys|year=2009|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=J Records|id=AKDP1006}}

1. "Doesn't Mean Anything" – 4:38
2. "Doesn't Mean Anything" (instrumental) – 4:38
3. "Put It in a Love Song" (featuring Beyoncé) – 3:16
4. "Put It in a Love Song" (instrumental) – 3:09

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Alicia Keys|title=Doesn't Mean Anything|award=Silver|relyear=2009|certyear=2013|id=12067-3709-1|access-date=April 2, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Alicia Keys|title=Doesn't Mean Anything|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2022|access-date=September 21, 2022}}

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• [http://www.discogs.com/Alicia-Keys-Doesnt-Mean-Anything/master/312347 Doesn't Mean Anything] at Discogs

{{Alicia Keys singles}}

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Category:2000s ballads

Category:2009 singles

Category:2009 songs

Category:Alicia Keys songs

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:J Records singles

Category:Songs written by Alicia Keys

Category:Songs written by Kerry Brothers Jr.

Category:Song recordings produced by Alicia Keys

Category:Music videos directed by P. R. Brown