On Thursday, July 27, Ball Arena came to life with a stunning performance by one of the most talented musicians of our time. Alicia Keys, a Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum singer, pianist, songwriter, and composer filled every inch of the arena with an impressive two-hour delivery of her most-loved songs. The music, lights, and entire vibe of the “Keys to the Summer Tour” were a gift that will keep on giving long after the final note was played. Clearly the key to this summer – is love. 

Love songs are Keys’ specialty, with a body of work that plays as a heartfelt message to people from all walks of life. The audience, which represented Denver’s beautiful diversity, was full of impassioned fans from every race, color, generation, and creed. As the queue lined up outside of the doors, excitement buzzed in the air and it was evident that loyal supporters of Keys’ music have been rocking with her since the very beginning. 

Keys was just 14 years old when she began writing songs for her debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” released in 2001. The classically trained pianist arranged and produced a majority of the project herself, introducing an innovative hybrid neo-soul subgenre that blended influences of hip-hop, R&B, jazz, blues, soul, and the delectable classical sound she became known for.

When the album dropped, the music world changed forever. “Songs in A Minor,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, earned five Grammy Awards and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. In 2022, the Library of Congress preserved the septuple platinum recording in the National Recording Registry, certifying its status as a classic and important contribution to the world. 

Since her debut, Keys has gone on to create several more masterpieces. Fans were delighted when she released “The Diary of Alicia Keys” two years after her first monumental work of art. After her second consecutive number-one debut, she released a live “Unplugged” album in 2005, followed by “As I Am,” (2007), “The Element of Freedom,” (2009), “Girl on Fire,” (2012), “Here,” (2016), “Alicia,” (2020), “Keys,” (2021), and a Christmas album titled, “Santa Baby,” (2022).

The succession of her stardom has followed the course of our lives; for many, the songs listened to in the early days of a decades-long romance are now enjoyed by children and grandchildren. Keys somehow composed timeless songs, tracing her journey of love and self-discovery in a way that listeners have related to for all these years. Yet on stage, Keys embodies the energy and charisma of the 20-year-old woman she was when her first single, Fallin’, was released. 

This review was originally published for Denver Urban Spectrum, read it HERE.