Time Machine (Alicia Keys song)

"Time Machine" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys. It was written by Keys, Sebastian Kole and Rob Knox and produced by Keys and Rob Knox.[1] The song was released on November 20, 2019 through RCA Records as the second single from Keys' seventh studio album Alicia (2020).[2][1]

"Time Machine"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album Alicia
ReleasedNovember 20, 2019 (2019-11-20)
Genre
Length4:30
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"Show Me Love"
(2019)		 "Time Machine"
(2019)		 "Underdog"
(2020)
Music video
"Time Machine" on YouTube

As a song with retro-funk sound, the song is departure from Keys' previous singles. The song received a positive critical reception, with many critics complimenting the new musical direction. A music video directed by Art Johnson and Cole Cook was released on the same day and features a cameo from American rapper Tierra Whack. Remixes by Cedric Gervais, MK and KC Lights were released in February 2020.[3] In the United States, the song peaked on the Billboard Dance Club Songs at number 25 in March 2020.[4]

Background

In September 2019, Keys released the first single "Show Me Love" featuring Miguel, from her then untitled seventh studio album.[1][5] In November, it was announced that Keys would host the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, having hosted it also the previous year.[6] Keys released "Time Machine" after announcing 2020 Grammy nominees on November 20, 2019 with Gayle King and Bebe Rexha on CBS This Morning.[7][8]

On the song's release day, Keys tweeted: "You have your roller skates ready? I’ve been dying for you to hear this one!!".[9] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Keys described the song as "a zone — it’s such a vibration and frequency that you can’t help but just feel good”.[10]

Composition and lyrics

"Time Machine" is composed in key of Eb minor with a tempo of 106 beats per minute.[11] It lasts for a duration of four minutes and 30 seconds.[12] As described by Althea Legaspi from Rolling Stone, the lyrics talk about "letting go of hang-ups and finding freedom".[5] On the chorus, Keys "croons": “No we can’t rewind/Life ain’t no time machine. But once you free your mind/There is beauty in everything”.[13][5]

Critical reception

Rap-Up described the song as a "retro-funk bop".[14] Vulture described the song with the words "smooth, old-school" and "throwback".[7] According to New Music Weekly, the song "celebrates the freedom that comes with letting go".[1] Micheal Saponara from Billboard noted that the production of the song is "a stark change compared to the heavy key-laden records we've become accustomed to from Keys recently".[15] Writing for Rated R&B, Anders Hare opined that the "haunting" song "steadily grows in intensity as Keys delivers some of the best vocals to date".[13]

Music video

The music video was released on November 20, 2019. It was directed by Art Johnson and Keys’ brother Cole Cook and filmed at World on Wheels in Los Angeles.[5]

Live performances

Keys performed "Time Machine" along with "Underdog" (2020), "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" (2009), Billie Eilish song "Everything I Wanted" (2019) and "Fallin'" (2001) at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on February 6, 2020.[16] Keys performed the song at a concert to promote the Alicia album held at Bush Hall in London on February 7, 2020.[17]

Track listing
  • Digital download[12]
  1. "Time Machine" – 4:30
  • Digital download (Remixes)[18]
  1. "Time Machine" (Cedrick Gervais Remix) – 3:01
  2. "Time Machine" (MK Remix) – 3:38
  3. "Time Machine" (KC Lights 6am Remix) – 4:08

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[4] 25

References
  1. "Alicia Keys Glows In New Music Video For "Time Machine"". New Music Weekly. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  2. "Music / Singles - Time Machine". AliciaKeys.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  3. Meier, Sam (2020-02-05). "Alicia Keys' 'Time Machine' Gets A Host Of Remixes". Promotionmusicnews.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  4. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  5. Legaspi, Althea (2019-11-20). "Alicia Keys Finds Freedom at a Roller Rink in New 'Time Machine' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  6. Grein, Paul (2019-11-13). "Alicia Keys to Return as Grammy Awards Host in 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  7. Murphy, Chris (2019-11-21). "Grammy Hostess Alicia Keys Tears Up the Roller Rink in 'Time Machine' Video". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  8. "Grammy Awards 2020: Full list of nominees". CBS News. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  9. Price, Joe (2019-11-20). "Alicia Keys Goes Retro for Her "Time Machine" Video". Complex. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  10. Jones, Marcus (2019-11-20). "Behind the scenes of Alicia Keys' dreamy, roller skating-inspired 'Time Machine' video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  11. "Alicia Keys & Splice Launch "Time Machine" Remix Contest For Chance At Official Release, Two GRAMMY Tickets & More". Grammy.com. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  12. "Time Machine - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  13. Hare, Anders (2019-11-22). "Alicia Keys Shares New Song 'Time Machine'". Rated R&B. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  14. "Alicia Keys Debuts New Single 'Time Machine'". Rap-Up. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  15. Saponara, Michael (2020-11-20). "Alicia Keys Hits the Roller Rink in Hazy 'Time Machine' Video Starring Tierra Whack". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  16. "Radio 1's Live Lounge - Alicia Keys". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  17. Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (2020-02-10). "Alicia Keys in London — intimate glimpses of her new album". Financial Times. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  18. "Time Machine (Remixes)". Apple Music. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
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