You might not think Alicia Keys has much in common with Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen or Santana. But you'd be wrong. They all share the support and grooming of legendary record mogul Clive Davis. Keys is Davis' latest project, and after three years of relentlessly hyping the piano-playing prodigy, Davis has hit pay dirt ... again. Few predicted that Keys' debut, Songs in A Minor, would debut at #1 on the Billboard album charts. And no one could have foreseen the album — propelled by the seductive hit "Fallin' "— topping the charts for three weeks. Now, the singer, who counts everyone from Beethoven to Aretha Franklin as influences, explains to Franklin Cumberbatch why she gives big ups to her mom, what it feels like to have Prince mad at you and why she didn't sweat the "next big thing" tag. ***MTV: Before your album came out everyone was already calling you the next big thing. How much pressure was that? Alicia Keys: In one sense, it was amazing to be compared to all these wonderful artists that having been doing it for so long and making wonderful records. I was honored. In another sense, I was like, "You can't compare me to these people that have been doing this for so many years." I need at least six years in the game to be compared to these people! On the other hand, I do remember a time in the beginning where I did feel a little ... nervousness or apprehension. I realized there's really no need to be nervous, because you just have to be you. You have to love it and do it from your heart and that's where the goodness comes from. Everything else is just words, it doesn't matter.MTV: So, c'mon, is Alicia Keys your real name? Even the Keys part?Keys: You better believe it!MTV: How perfect is that, you play the piano and your last name is Keys?Keys: It's pretty perfect.
Why she has to do it all, finding her place next to Whitney and Janis Joplin and how sometimes even mom needs to step off ... NEXT >>
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