Put It In A Love Song
by Alicia Keys (featuring Beyoncé)

Album: The Element of Freedom (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this beat-driven duet with Beyoncé, the superstar duo deliver an ultimatum to their men, in which they dare them to demonstrate they're not all front by writing them a love song.
  • Keys said of her collaboration with Beyoncé: "We had a lot of fun. It's nice that we just celebrate each other's careers, that's what the song is about, coming together to empower each other. This song was meant for us at this time. We've become really good friends. We've both been in the business about the same amount of time and both signed to Columbia records together when we were 14. It was like a party in the studio, the energy was so high and the chemistry was genuine."
  • Keys and Knowles shot the song's music video in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 9, 2010. The two singers were outfitted in Carnival-inspired costumes and filmed against the backdrop of Rio's landscape. Melina Matsoukas, who had previously worked with Beyoncé several times but not with Keys, directed the video. Keys said of the clip: "Shooting 'Put It in a Love Song' in Rio, in Brazil, was very incredible. I feel that the energy of the city matches the energy of the song. It's sensual, it's exciting, it's so rich with color. I loved it. The people came out so heavy and so hard. I think it was exciting, especially to participate and experience it with them like that. Me and B have a great relationship. And to be able to have the chemistry we have and do it in a city that's so unique like that is unforgettable. The pictures speak a thousand words. So you saw the energy out there. It was great."

    Despite high anticipation for the video, it never was released. Keys told Essence magazine why the clip didn't see the light of day. "Sometimes with creative things [it] all comes together and it's [perfect], and sometimes things almost come together and it's better to just leave it," she explained. "We had a ball shooting the video. It just so happens that the whole thing, for some reason or another, didn't quite come together, so we just decided to leave it."
  • As compared with the subject matter of Keys' previous albums, The Element of Freedom focuses more on love and other aspects regarding matters of the heart. "Love does play a prominent role in the album because I believe love is the most important thing in the world," Keys told Gotham magazine in an interview. "It's the one thing we can all understand."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.