A Beautiful Noise - Misplaced Pages

"A Beautiful Noise" is a song recorded by American recording artists Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile. The song was written by Keys, Carlile, Brandy Clark, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Hailey Whitters, Linda Perry and Ruby Amanfu. It was released as a single on October 29, 2020, through RCA Records. The song was performed live on Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy, and they released the single immediately following the song's premiere on CBS. The song was also included on the digital reissue of Keys' seventh studio album Alicia (2020), released on December 18, 2020. The song received a nomination for Song of the Year at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

"A Beautiful Noise" was recorded to inspire American voters to vote in the 2020 presidential election. The song was created by an all-female songwriting team consisting of Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Hailey Whitters, Linda Perry and Ruby Amanfu. Brandy Clark was the first songwriter added to the team, followed by Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and so on. The song was passed around between all eight writers with the goal of representing diversity through a variety of views, voices, and perspectives. In a Variety article, Ali Harnell of Live Nation discussed how the song came to be, stating that they had hoped to celebrate women's suffrage in advance of the 2020 Presidential Election. The year 2020 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the song aims to honor these causes according to Harnell.

The #ABeautifulNoise Challenge was created on social media inspired by the song to encourage voter turnout via social channels. The #ABeautifulNoice Challenge tasks viewers with sharing how and why they plan to make a beautiful noise in the 2020 election and beyond. Keys commented that "Everyone has the power to make beautiful noise and to lift others up with their voice. And now more than ever, we need to let those voices be heard by voting". Carlile stated that the song "is an important reminder that we all have a voice and that our voices count".

Composition and lyrics

The song is a stripped-down, piano-driven R&B/soul track that lasts for a duration of three minutes and nineteen seconds. It is written in the key of A♭ minor with a
₈ time signature and a tempo of 76 beats per minute. Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone described the song as "straightforward but effective bit of piano balladry". Writer for the website PopSugar stated that the "powerful track" offers "a dose of inspiration" in lyrics like "It's believing you belong / It's calling out the wrong". In the song, Keys and Carlile assure that "I have a voice", and writing for the website Live For Live Music, Michael Broerman opined that the song "tell the story of marginalized communities finally gaining their birthright to fully participate in society". Sidney Miller from Country Queer wrote that albeit having "a sense of anger and righteousness", the "calming, melodic" song "masterfully blends both of their piano-playing skills and voices".

Live performance

Alicia Keys hosted CBS' Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy special alongside Kerry Washington and America Ferrera which is where the song was first premiered. Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile sat at separate pianos across from each other as they performed a live rendition of the song. Keys and Carlile performed with no additional musical accompaniment besides their pianos.

Charts

Chart performance for "A Beautiful Noise"
Chart (2020)	Peak position
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)	8

References

Blistein, Jon (October 30, 2020). "Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile Release New Get-Out-the-Vote Duet 'A Beautiful Noise'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
^ Willman, Chris (October 30, 2020). "Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile Release Get-Out-the-Vote Duet, 'A Beautiful Noise': The Story Behind the Song". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
Folk, Antwane (December 18, 2020). "Alicia Keys Reissues 'Alicia' Album With Two New Songs". Rated R&B. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
^ Brereton, Greta (October 30, 2020). "Watch Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile Premiere New Song 'A Beautiful Noise'". NME. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
^ "Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile Join Forces To Create "A Beautiful Noise". Live Nation. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
Stefano, Angela. "WATCH: Brandi Carlile, Alicia Keys Debut Empowering 'A Beautiful Noise'". Taste of Country. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
"A Beautiful Noise - Single by Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile". Apple Music. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
"A Beautiful Noise By Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
Blistein, Jon (October 30, 2020). "Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile Release New Get-Out-the-Vote Duet 'A Beautiful Noise'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
Cubit, Brea (October 30, 2020). "Feel Inspired by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile's Duet of Their New Song, "A Beautiful Noise"". PopSugar. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
^ Broerman, Michael (November 2, 2020). "Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile Team Up For Empowering "A Beautiful Noise" [Watch]". L4LM. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
Deville, Chris (October 30, 2020). "Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile – "A Beautiful Noise"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
Miller, Sidney. "'A Beautiful Noise,' Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys". Country Queer. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
"Brandi Carlile Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.

v t e Alicia Keys songs
Discography
Songs in A Minor	"Girlfriend" "How Come You Don't Call Me" "Fallin'" "A Woman's Worth"
The Diary of Alicia Keys	"Karma" "If I Was Your Woman / Walk On By" "You Don't Know My Name" "If I Ain't Got You" "Diary"
Unplugged	"Unbreakable" "Every Little Bit Hurts" "Wild Horses" "Love It or Leave It Alone / Welcome to Jamrock"
As I Am	"Superwoman" "No One" "Like You'll Never See Me Again" "Teenage Love Affair"
The Element of Freedom	"Doesn't Mean Anything" "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" "Wait Til You See My Smile" "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" "Put It in a Love Song" "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" "We're Almost There"
Girl on Fire	"Brand New Me" "New Day" "Girl on Fire" "Fire We Make" "Tears Always Win" "Not Even the King"
Here	"Blended Family (What You Do for Love)" "In Common"
Alicia	"Show Me Love" "Time Machine" "Underdog" "So Done" "Perfect Way to Die" "Good Job" "Love Looks Better" "A Beautiful Noise" "Wasted Energy"
Keys	"Lala" "Best of Me" "Trillions" "Come for Me"
Santa Baby	"December Back 2 June" "The Christmas Song"
As featured artist	"Brotha" "Calma" "Empire State of Mind" "Fireworks" "Gangsta Lovin'" "Ghetto Story" "I Will Pray (Pregherò)" "International Party" "Looking for Paradise" "New Day" "What's Going On"
Other songs	"28 Thousand Days" "America the Beautiful" "Another Way to Die" "Back to Life" "City of Gods" "Die Without You" "Don't Give Up (Africa)" "Finally" "Lifeline" "If This World Were Mine" "It's On Again" "Kaleidoscope" "Little Drummer Girl" "My Boo" "People Get Ready" "Rapture" "Someday We'll All Be Free" "Speechless" "Us" "Wake Me Up" "We Are Here" "We Gotta Pray"
Category

v t e Brandi Carlile
Albums	Brandi Carlile The Story Give Up the Ghost Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony Bear Creek The Firewatcher's Daughter By the Way, I Forgive You In These Silent Days
EPs	XOBC
Singles	"The Story" "That Wasn't Me" "The Joke" "A Beautiful Noise" "Right on Time" "You and Me on the Rock"
Related	Discography Phil and Tim Hanseroth Cover Stories The Highwomen

Categories: