Illusion Of Bliss

Album: Here (2016)
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Songfacts®:

  • This slow-burning slice of gospel blues sees Alicia Keys exploring the pain of addiction from the addict's point of view. "There are so many things you can get addicted to in order to try and find comfort, she told The Guardian. "You can be addicted to fame; you can be addicted to negative love, to people who want to hurt you, because you don't have self worth."
  • Asked if she has faced addiction issues herself, Keys said she's been hooked on pleasing people for a long time. "It's very damaging," she admitted. "It has to do with a certain feeling that you don't deserve certain things that other people do."
  • Keys wrote the song with:

    Producer Mark Batson, who helmed Beyoncé's solo debut, Dangerously In Love.

    Keys' producer husband Swizz Beatz. Their other collaborations include penning "Million Dollar Bill" for Whitney Houston.

    Frequent collaborator Harold Lilly, whose other Keys credits include "You Don't Know My Name," "We Are Here," and "Girl Can't Be Herself ."

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