Avg Rating: 
4.3 ( 85 total votes )
Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart
Artist: Alicia Keys
Producer: Alici Keys & Jeff Bhasker
Album: The Element of Freedom
Label: RCA
Regular readers know all too well how deep my love for Alicia Keys runs (a love which she’s sadly unaware of) so I won’t rehash my feelings again here, except to say that I love nearly everything the R&B goddess does. Nearly. The rare exception is Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart, the disappointing follow up to her DJBooth-approved lead single Doesn’t Mean Anything. As opposed to her usually piano-oriented word, Broken Heart is an electronically soaked track that booms with heavy bass and dense synths, a production style that gives the cut a distinctly 80s sound. And while Alicia delivers yet another resonant vocal performance, the soul I love so much in her work is almost completely drowned out by the heavy-handed production. I’m all for experimentation, not every track needs to be Fallin’, but I sincerely hope Broken Heart’s sound won’t become a trend for Keys. I’ll now be somewhat nervously awaiting the release of her upcoming album The Element of Freedom, due in stores on Dec. 15.
This song first appeared on the
R&B / Pop Chart
on November 9, 2009
Listen to More: Alicia Keys Written by Nathan S.
More From Alicia Keys
Submit a Review and/or Rating
Member Reviews and Ratings
Showing 50 of 85 Ratings. See All Ratings
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1642 |
Rating:
i want to support everything alicia keys does, (i did NOT like "doesn't mean anything" at all, just hope she does well)
she completely went different on this track and i love how it comes out. |
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 306 |
Rating:
 wow that beat is old school but sounds so knew just a well produced track and Alicia keys has you gripped from the start
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
Rating:
Whoa a little different direction for Alicia, but I like it, seeing as it is Alicia Keys and she really can't do anything bad. I love the way the beat builds on this and the lyrics are on point as well.
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 475 |
Rating:
I agree with Nathan; this is disappointing. It's not bad but it's not good. It's just there. The beat is great but Alicia's voice just doesn't work with it. Something tells me that Ne-Yo would have made a smash with this. Stick to piano tracks, Alicia.
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 42 |
Rating:
i agree wit that1kid13 i didnt dig doesnt mean anything i mean i can look at her all day...and i enjoy her music i need to hear more to even jam much of her new cd
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11662 |
Rating:
Whatever Alicia does is minimally worthy of a 3-star rating. She doesn't even need to sing on the record and its at least a three. With that said, I don't know that this is worth anything more than a 3.5. Because its hard for me to see this being a replay record a few years from now, I am going to round down.
I still love you, Alicia. And if its between Nathan and I... just know he is already taken! 
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1338 |
Rating:
This song is miles betters than "Doesn't Mean Anything", but I will admit it was a grower to me. I love the vibe, but the lyrics had to grow on me. This will definitely be successful!
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
Rating:
First of all, damn Z, how you gonna play me out like that? Although, yes, my fiancee would be none to pleased if Alicia ever took up one of my many marriage proposals.
Anyway, maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, but I just couldn't get behind this track. I love Alicia because she always draws me into her music, but this track left me a little cold and distant. Frankly, I was disapointed, but even on an offf day she's still better than almost anyone else in the game.
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
Rating:
Agree, this song certainly has a 80’s feel to it. It seems she might go for a more pop crossover feel this time around… I wanna follow her but this joint doesn't do that much for me. Still a nice cut though.
Alicia Keys is definitely an exception to the rule - "No girl is worth fighting over!" *rings boxing bell* ;-) |
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker |
Rating:
dope ass song!
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
is a heart touching song
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 21 |
Rating:
she always going outside of her box to make a different sound. she never tries to recapture the same thing twice because that don't make hits these days this song tho something i woulda neva thought she would have done is a winner tho
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Left field, but I can run with this
|
| Posted on Nov 02, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 70 |
Rating:
It's not the typical A-Keys we have all fallen in love with but who are any of us to say that she is not allow to go off of script every now and then. She sure as hell as earned the right to do so. I think Nate is a bit harsh in his assessment of the production. I agree it could be toned down but overall I plays aiight with her voice and doesn't fall flat. I can see this one doing a lil sumthin sumthin'
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 544 |
Rating:
is she trying to go pop or somethin 'cause this dosen't even sound like a Alicia song. hopefully the rest of the album won't sound like this.
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 3212 |
Rating:
this seems an 80s song! it's amazing, so unusual for Alicia..classic!
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
i cant help but love ms. keys...
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
This is hot!!
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 123 |
Rating:
agree with that1kid13
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 18 |
Rating:
Produced by Jeff Bhasker & Keys, this beat is something new for the beautiful Ms. Keys. She said she was doing a lot of different things on her album and this song shows it. I'm like the creativity and that old school vibe but I feel like its missing someting.
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 13 |
Rating:
WHAT MORE CAN I SAY SHE'S DONE IT AGAIN IT'S CRAZY I'M LOVING IT IT'S A CLASSIC U NEVER LOST THAT TOUCH
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 487 |
Rating:
This is going to be a hit on a mix tape. Love Alicia, but this song just sound like it was put together all wrong. I like the track and I like Alicia's voice but just not together.
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker |
Rating:
hey babe, sry im late on the comment on this one....been busy. im goin to keep it short and sweat here, im feelin this and im feelin u lol. seriously tho.
|
| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
damn... i love this song. its different but thats what she does.
Im glad shes trying something different. Its a different sound but i know i will buy her album, everthing is does is awesome!! |
| Posted on Nov 04, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 222 |
Rating:
Lol time to cuddle.
|
| Posted on Nov 05, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
THIS IS GREAT!!!!!! I really like her new singles so far, definitely getting her album. this is so lovely!
|
| Posted on Nov 05, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 05, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
tHIS IS A SOUL & SMMOTH. TOUCHING. IT HAS A OLD SKOOL VIBE 2 IT & YOU JUST CAN GET ENOUGH OF IT.
|
| Posted on Nov 05, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2130 |
Rating:
This song was dope. It definitely had that 80s vibe. I guess this is what she meant when she said during a 106 and Park interview last month, that she'd be doing types of music that we've never heard from her before. This is good. I'm loving it. #NoMcDonalds.
|
| Posted on Nov 07, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
beutiful voice
|
| Posted on Nov 07, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 07, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 736 |
Rating:
she did a great job here, but the production kind of stole the show (in a bay way), the bass is od
|
| Posted on Nov 07, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 08, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I'm surprised at all the low ratings! I love Alicia Keys and this song just shows what an amazing artist she is. She tried something a bit different than her usual style and she pulled it off. I don't know if it'll get any radio play, but for me, this song is classic.
|
| Posted on Nov 08, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
this women is amazing she is constantly finding new ways to renew herself... wth every new track. Hype
|
| Posted on Nov 09, 2009 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 861 |
Rating:
I LIKE THIS!!!...LOVE ALICIA KEYS!!!
|
| Posted on Nov 10, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 203 |
Rating:
I love me some Alicia.
|
| Posted on Nov 11, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I give it to her; She did a good job, but i wonder who this sonq go to...swizz beatsz?
|
| Posted on Nov 12, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 37 |
Rating:
=( disappointing... i really don't like the pop sound in this... it's just not alicia!
|
| Posted on Nov 12, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 109 |
Rating:
OMG!!! I like dis cut. Very vunerable but strong n sweet like her.
|
| Posted on Nov 12, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 5 |
Rating:
It's definitely different from what we've come to know and love from Alicia, so I applaud her for trying something new. It's a cool nod to 80's pop with her own special twist, but I don't think I'll find myself listening to it very often.
|
| Posted on Nov 12, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
First time I heard this song, I loved it immediately. There is nothing that sounds like this right now. AK crawled out of that box and brought something new and groundbreaking to the table. Other female R&B artists will soon be pushing tracks like this... just watch.
|
| Posted on Nov 13, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
tune!!
once again she has sang her heart out!! she is very special!!!!! |
| Posted on Nov 15, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Alicia did a good job on dis song
|
| Posted on Nov 15, 2009 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Nov 17, 2009 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
i like this song a lot because she has her own thing going on and does not care what people say......this song is the shit
|
| Posted on Nov 19, 2009 |
Showing 50 of 85 Ratings. See All Ratings
FEATURED ARTIST
FEATURED ALBUM
TOP 20 MUSIC CHARTS
The top rated new Hip Hop & R&B songs on DJBooth, updated every Sunday.
