Perfect Way to Die
{{short description|2020 song by Alicia Keys}}
{{use mdy dates |date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Perfect Way to Die
| cover = Alicia Keys - Perfect Way to Die.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Alicia Keys
| album = Alicia
| released = {{Start date|2020|06|19}}
| recorded =
| studio =
- Jungle City Studios (New York, NY){{cite AV media notes |title=Alicia |others=Alicia Keys |year=2020 |type=booklet |publisher=RCA Records}}
- Record Plant (Los Angeles, CA){{cite AV media notes |title=Alicia |others=Alicia Keys |year=2020 |type=booklet |publisher=RCA Records}}
| genre =
| length = 3:31
| label = RCA
| writer = {{hlist|Alicia Keys|Sebastian Kole}}
| producer = {{hlist|Keys|Kole}}
| prev_title = Good Job
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = So Done
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|czqo-zGj4n4|"Perfect Way To Die"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"Perfect Way to Die" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. It was written and produced by Keys and Sebastian Kole. The song was released on July 19, 2020, through RCA Records as the fifth single from Keys' seventh studio album Alicia (2020).
"Perfect Way to Die" is a piano ballad about police brutality and racism, and was inspired by the deaths of Mike Brown and Sandra Bland.{{cite magazine |author1=Kaufman, Gil |title=Alicia Keys' 'Perfect Way to Die' is a Heartbreaking, Moving Tale of a Mother's Grief |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9405663/alicia-keys-perfect-way-to-die |magazine=Billboard |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}} The music video was directed by Chris Robinson, and was premiered at the BET Awards held in June 2020.
Background
Keys appeared on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah on June 15, 2020, to talk about the song and the killings of Mike Brown and Sandra Bland, where she stated that "you hear their stories in these lyrics and the devastating thing is that it's never not going to be relevant".{{cite magazine |author1=Kaufman, Gil |title=Alicia Keys on Speaking Up For Breonna Taylor, 'Verzuz' Battle and New Song 'Perfect Way to Die |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9403104/alicia-keys-breonna-taylor-perfect-way-to-die-verzuz-interview |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2021-07-18 |date=2020-06-16}} Keys officially announced the song on Twitter on June 19, 2020, posting the cover art, and a message explaining the inspiration and meaning of the song. The songs release coincided with Juneteenth and amid weeks of civil unrest across the United States in response to police brutality against African Americans. While posting the single on her Twitter account, Keys commented on its relevancy and condemned "the destructive culture of police violence" as senseless as the song's titular phrase. "Sometimes I don't have the words and music is the only thing that can speak", she went on to say. "I hope this speaks to you."{{cite magazine|last=Romano|first=Nick|date=June 19, 2020|url=https://ew.com/music/alicia-keys-perfect-way-to-die-police-brutality/|title=Alicia Keys Releases Powerful Ballad 'Perfect Way to Die' in Response to Police Brutality|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112162230/https://ew.com/music/alicia-keys-perfect-way-to-die-police-brutality/|url-status=live}}
In an interview with British Vogue, Keys stated that the song is "a musical expression of what we’re seeing every day, this police brutality that is completely out of hand".{{cite web |author1=Mixon, Imani |title=Alicia Keys On Her New Song, Blackness, And Fighting Racial Inequality: "Racism Is The Major Pandemic" |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/alicia-keys-racism |website=British Vogue |date=2020-07-01|publisher=Condé Nast}} Keys has stated that the song wasn't going to be on the Alicia album, but decided to include the song on the album "when all that started happening with Breonna [Taylor], and Ahmaud [Arbery], and George".{{cite web |author1=Robinson, Lisa |title="We Started to See Each Other in a Different Way": Alicia Keys Talks Art and Activism in the Time of COVID |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/09/alicia-keys-talks-art-and-activism-in-the-time-of-covid |website=Vanity Fair |access-date=2021-07-22 |date=2020-09-17}}
Composition and lyrics
The song is written in the key of F-flat major with a Duple and quadruple meter and a tempo of 86 beats per minute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0212878|title=Alicia Keys "Perfect Way to Die" Sheet Music|website=Musicnotes.com|accessdate=2020-12-19}} In the song, Keys discusses killings at the hands of the police, singing about a mother who receives "a call from the coroner" about her son that has been "gunned down". Keys sings about "another king and queen lost", which according to Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone are references to the deaths of Michael Brown and Sandra Bland.{{cite web |author1=Legaspi, Althea |title=Alicia Keys Addresses Police Brutality in Protest Song 'Perfect Way to Die' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-perfect-way-to-die-song-1017922/ |website=Rolling Stone |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}}
As noted by Sal Cinquemani from Slant, the "spare arrangements of piano and vocal" on the song are "functionally effective at highlighting the lyrical content".{{cite magazine|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=2020-09-15|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-alicia-keys-alicia-strikes-a-careful-balance-between-hope-and-despair/|title=Review: Alicia Keys's Alicia Strikes a Careful Balance Between Hope and Despair|magazine=Slant Magazine|accessdate=2020-12-19}} Variety described the song as having "chamber pop vibe" and a "light chorus".{{cite web |author1=Amorosi, A.D. |title=Alicia Keys Pushes the Limits of Her Voice and Imagination on 'Alicia': Album Review |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/alicia-keys-alicia-album-review-1234774773/ |website=Variety |date=2020-09-18|accessdate=2020-12-19}} According to BBC, "Perfect Way to Die" is a protest song inspired by the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.{{cite web |title=Alicia Keys, LL Cool J And the New Wave of Protest Songs |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53105702 |website=BBC |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}} Joe Muggs of The Arts Desk stated that the song contains "fearsomely direct lyrics on police violence, street life and protest" while Nick Smith from musicOMH noted its "desolate sense of despair".{{cite magazine |last=Muggs |first=Joe |date=2020-09-18 |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-alicia-keys-alicia |title=Album: Alicia Keys – Alicia |magazine=The Arts Desk |accessdate=2020-12-19|archive-date=2020-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920213257/https://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-alicia-keys-alicia|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|author=Smith, Nick|date=2020-09-18|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/alicia-keys-alicia|title=Alicia Keys – Alicia|magazine=musicOMH|access-date=2021-07-24|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114225522/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/alicia-keys-alicia|url-status=live}} Atwood Magazine{{'}}s Josh Weiner said that the song's lyrics contain "startling imagery of urban protests" while described the song being a "gentle keyboard number".{{cite magazine|last=Weiner|first=Josh|date=2020-09-29|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/akya-alica-keys-alicia-album-review-2020/|title=Our Take: Alicia Keys Keeps Her 20-Year Streak of Greatness Alive & Well on 'Alicia'|magazine=Atwood Magazine|access-date=2021-07-06}}
Music video
The video is a tribute to people who lost their lives at the hand of police.{{cite web |author1=Drysdale, Jennifer |title=Alicia Keys' Moving Performance of 'Perfect Way to Die' at 2020 BET Awards Has Fans in Tears |url=https://www.etonline.com/alicia-keys-moving-performance-of-perfect-way-to-die-at-2020-bet-awards-has-fans-in-tears-148874 |website=Entertainment Tonight |date=2020-06-28|accessdate=2020-12-19}} The video was directed by Chris Robinson and premiered at the 2020 BET Awards.{{cite web |author1=Richards, Will |title=Alicia Keys Debuts Powerful 'Perfect Way To Die' Video at BET Awards |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alicia-keys-debuts-powerful-perfect-way-to-die-video-at-bet-awards-2700002 |website=NME |date=2020-07-02|accessdate=2020-12-19}} In the video, Keys sits behind a piano on an empty street and sings the song while images of victims were displayed on buildings.{{cite web |author1=Miller, Korin |title=Alicia Keys Honors Black Lives Lost To Police Brutality And Racism In New Song 'Perfect Way To Die' |url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a33000703/alicia-keys-black-lives-lost-new-song/ |website=Women's Health |date=2020-06-29|accessdate=2020-12-19}} At the end of the video Keys stands up and the street is covered in the names of people who lost their lives due to police brutality, including Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Renisha McBride, Korryn Gaines, Reno Owens, Dante Parker, Jack Lamar Roberson Jr., Darius Tarver and Ahmaud Arbery, among others.{{cite web |author1=Hines, Ree |title=Alicia Keys Gives Moving Performance of New Song 'Perfect Way to Die' at BET Awards |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/alicia-keys-delivers-moving-performance-new-song-perfect-way-die-t185424 |website=Today |date=2020-06-29|accessdate=2020-12-19}} Keys released behind the scenes footage of making of the video on July 5, 2020.{{cite web |title=Perfect Way to Die (Behind the Scenes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2diaRs8_S8U |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2021-07-22 |date=2020-07-05}}
Critical reception
Konstantinos Pappis from Our Culture Mag singled out the song as one of the album's “most illuminating moments” and wrote that the song is a “somber, heart-wrenching piano ballad tackling police brutality and systemic racism” {{cite web | url=https://ourculturemag.com/2020/09/22/album-review-alicia-keys-alicia | title= Album Review: Alicia Keys, 'ALICIA' |author=Pappis, Konstantinos|date=2020-09-22 |work=Our Culture Mag|accessdate=2022-03-05}}Vulture called the song "raw and heart-wrenching" while Entertainment Weekly called it "powerful" and "poignant".{{cite web |author1=Murphy, Chris |title=Alicia Keys Drops Emotional Ballad 'Perfect Way To Die' Inspired by Police Brutality |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/alicia-keys-releases-new-song-perfect-way-to-die.html |website=Vulture |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}}{{cite magazine |author1=Romano, Nick |title=Alicia Keys Releases Powerful Ballad 'Perfect Way to Die' in Response to Police Brutality |url=https://ew.com/music/alicia-keys-perfect-way-to-die-police-brutality/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}} Mike Wass from Idolator noted that "All of the songs from the enduring hitmaker’s upcoming 7th LP have been immaculate, but this is extra special".{{cite web |author1=Wass, Mike |title=Alicia Keys Drops Powerful "Perfect Way To Die" |url=https://www.idolator.com/7911726/alicia-keys-drops-powerful-perfect-way-to-die?chrome=1&A1c=1 |website=Idolator |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}} In Rolling Stone, Jon Dolan wrote of the "powerfully sung" track that it "offers a Black Lives Matter protest ballad in vividly personal terms".{{cite magazine |last=Dolan |first=Jon |date=2020-09-21 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/alicia-keys-alicia-album-1064181/ |title=Alicia Keys Gives Us All a Helping Hand on 'Alicia' |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=2020-12-19|archive-date=2020-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922232049/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/alicia-keys-alicia-album-1064181/|url-status=live}} In a negative review, Shamira Ibrahim of NPR wrote that "the lyrics, in isolation, technically speak towards the current moment gripping Black America", but concluded that the "end result falls flat".{{cite web |author1=Ibrahim, Shamira |title=On 'Perfect Way To Die,' Alicia Keys Attempts To Approximate Black Anxiety |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/we-insist-a-timeline-of-protest-music-in-2020/2020/09/02/903235858/on-perfect-way-to-die-alicia-keys-attempts-to-approximate-black-anxiety |website=NPR |date=2020-06-19|accessdate=2020-12-19}}
Live performances
Keys performed the song during her Verzuz battle with John Legend on June 19, 2020.{{cite web |author1=Cochrane, Naima |title=A Look At Alicia Keys And John Legend's 'Verzuz' Juneteenth Celebration |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-john-legend-verzuz-battle-scorecard-681710/ |website=Vibe |access-date=2021-07-22 |date=2020-06-20}}
Credits and personnel
Adapted from Alicia album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Alicia |others=Alicia Keys |year=2020 |type=booklet |publisher=RCA Records}}
- Produced by Alicia Keys and Sebastan Kole
- Piano by Alicia Keys
- Strings arranged and performed by Davide Rossi
- Engineered and mixed by Ann Mincieli at Jungle City Studios (NYC) and Record Plant (LA)
- Assistant engineer: Brendan Morawski
Track listing
- "Perfect Way to Die" – 3:31