Diary

Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This features the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! The success of this single gave them their first US Top 20 chart entry in 11 years.
  • The phone number in this song's lyrics "489-4608" was Keys' when she lived in New York. After recording the song it was kept active and her fans were able to reach her with a recorded message if they dialed it with the area code 347. However, people in other area codes also had the number, including a Georgia man named JD Turner. He was totally unaware of this song until fans of Keys in Georgia started ringing his number. Turner complained at the time to the Statesboro Herald: "I get 20 to 25 calls a day. Sometimes at 4:30 a.m., and they say, 'I want to talk to Alicia Keys.'"

    Other songs that drove the phone companies and customers nuts were "Jenny (867-5309)" by Tommy Tutone, "853-5937" by Squeeze, "Whatever You Want" by Tony! Toni! Tone and "777-9311" by Morris Day & The Time. Songwriters rarely use the generic "555" like Hollywood does. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Nikki - Chicago, IL

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.