Alicia Keys Comes Into Her Own

Singer To Perform "As I Am" Tracks On The Early Show

(CBS)  By the ShowBuzz's Karl Moats

Alicia Keys visited The Early Show for a mini-concert of her newly-released album "As I Am."

The singer played three tracks from her latest album, opening with the smash-hit "No One." Co-host Hannah Storm interviews the star between songs.

A theme of the "As I Am" album and Keys' personal life this year has been a newfound confidence. The New York Times called Keys' latest album "her strongest effort yet."

Of the rave reviews, Keys said, "There has been an overall feeling that I've come into my own. That's why I named this album: 'As I Am' because this is really who I am."

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Photos: Alicia Keys Live

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Earlier known for her reserve, Keys has grown more self-assured and she credits much of her surging empowerment to a globe-trotting vacation taken earlier this year. The star left her entourage for a solo journey to Egypt before venturing to Italy and finally Greece, where she ran in a marathon to get in shape for her role as a hit-woman - as in murder, not music - in "Smoking Aces."

"I saw all these temples, and tombs, and pyramids and I learned that we as people are really so powerful and it's all in our mind," Keys said. "We can really create and have anything that we want. That's what I learned and that's why I came back and made this music."

Asked about her boldness, Keys joked, "I've started to become more vocal and more open and people are scared of me now."

Keys has lent her celebrity to raise awareness for the charity "Keep A Child Alive," a non-profit organization that funds AIDs medication for afflicted African children and families.

"I consider myself a child of the world," Keys said. "We need attention to have better school situations. We need attention even all the way in Africa with my organization."

"As I Am" was released Nov. 13 and features appearances by John Mayer, Marsha Ambrosius, and Linda Perry. The single "No One" has soared to third on the Billboard Hot 100.

[sharncedar]

she seems like a parody of a phony, hungry, self-interested pop wannabe. her music is totally lost in her relentless corporate promotion. What music is left when you work night and day according to the script of big business and their cynical sucees formula? She might as well just sing the words "money money money fame sell sell sell" in a monotone, that''s all the artist she is. A nothing in a big, ugly, meaningless corporate machine. Who could possibly be interested in the "art" of a soul-less sucker like her.

[dapsugarwily]

SharnCedar.... Are you a frustrated musician? You sound kind of jealous.

[keithle1]

This is the kind of music an upscale young woman puts on when her bofriend comes over for dinner.

She is attractive. Saw a B & W photo of her in a magazine. Pretty hot. Not my kind of music. Like Norah Jones. It comes & it goes. It''s too quiet. You can''t remember it. It won''t last. People won''t be listening to it 40 years from now.

Why do so many so-called music critics make a fuss over music that is so average & mediocre? Music to be played in trendy yuppie bars where the pretentious & self-impressed hang out.