Speechless (Alicia Keys song)

2010 song by Alicia Keys featuring Eve

"Speechless"

Song by Alicia Keys featuring Eve
from the album  Monster Mondays Vol. 1
Released| December 27, 2010
Recorded| 2010
Genre| R&B, hip hop
Length| 4:07
Label| J
Songwriter(s)| Alicia Keys, Kassim Dean, Eve Jeffers
Producer(s)| Swizz Beatz

"Speechless" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, featuring additional vocals from American rapper Eve. It was written by Keys, Eve and Swizz Beatz, and produced by the latter. It samples Kanye West’s 2010 song “Devil in a New Dress”. A dedication to her son Egypt, whom she gave birth to in October 2010, the freestyle collaboration was released as a holiday gift for Keys's fans on Beatz's Monster Mondays program on December 27, 2010. Swizz Beatz later included the song on his mixtape Monster Mondays Vol. 1 (2011).[1] The song charted on number 71 the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in early 2011.

## Background

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On October 14, 2010, Keys gave birth to her first son Egypt Daoud Dean, in New York City.[2][3] That month, the singer revealed on her official blog that motherhood and her son had inspired her to create a song in a post titled "I feel a song coming on."[4] On December 27, 2010, Beatz debuted "Speechless" on his website as part of his Monster Mondays program. In a behind-the-scenes video which documented the recording process and was also posted on the site, Beatz said that the song would not be included on her upcoming album and it was just a fun little gift to Keys' fans. "This should be a treat for the fans [...] almost like a day in the life", he said.[3] Keys noted on Twitter that "Speechless" was just "a little freestyle treat" for the holidays, writing "It’s not a new album, not a single, it's something special for you!”[5]

## Composition and lyrics

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"Speechless" marked Keys' first reunion with rapper Eve since 2002's "Gangsta Lovin'".

"Speechless" samples elements from Kanye West’s “Devil in a New Dress” featuring Rick Ross. The song appears on his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.[3] Lyrically, "Speechless" finds Keys singing about her newborn son. "I'm at a brand-new time in my life and a brand new feeling, and it's like this little guy, man, he takes my breath away," she says on the track before starting the first verse. Midway through the track, the rapper Eve makes an appearance.[3] According to Jocelyn Vena of MTV News, "the piano-heavy tune gets funky once the chorus kicks in", on which Keys expresses her joy over the new love of her life, singing, "Makes you speechless, baby/ Don't know what to say/ I'm just speechless, baby/ The poet in me has gone away." Vena found that Eve "shows her soft side, spitting rhymes like, "In the morning when I rise up/ Go to the window and I smile, put my eyes up/ Stare in the clouds, like, 'Wow, look at my luck.'"[3] "Speechless" marked the pairs' first collaboration in over eight years, having previously appeared together on Eve's 2002 single "Gangsta Lovin'" from her album Eve-Olution.[6]

## Reception

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Idolator found that Keys "may have rushed it out — ”Speechless” comes off as a little generic, despite surely heartfelt lyrics and the rock-guitar fuzz under Alicia’s piano. And the verse from the typically tough-talking Eve doesn’t add much."[6] Jocelyn Vena of MTV News said, "the piano-heavy tune gets funky once the chorus kicks in", on which Keys expresses her joy over the new love of her son, and in her verse Eve "shows her soft side".[3]

## Charts

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Chart (2011)  | Peak
position

|

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] | 71

## References

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1. ^ "Swizz Beatz Releases 'Monster Mondays Vol.1,' The Mixtape". Vibe. July 12, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
2. ^ "Congratulations Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz On Baby Boy!". Billboard. October 15, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
3. ^ a b c d e f Vena, Jocelyn (2010-10-28). "Alicia Keys Drops New Song 'Speechless'". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
4. ^ Ziegbe, Mawuse (2010-10-27). "Alicia Keys Says Son Egypt Inspiring New Music". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
5. ^ "New Music: Alicia Keys f/ Eve – 'Speechless'". Rap-Up. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
6. ^ a b "Alicia Keys Is "Speechless" In New Tribute To Motherhood". Idolator. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
7. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-16.

* v
* t
* e

Alicia Keys

* Discography
* Videography
* Awards and nominations
* Songs written

Studio albums|

* Songs in A Minor
* The Diary of Alicia Keys
* As I Am
* The Element of Freedom
* Girl on Fire
* Here
* Alicia
* Keys
* Santa Baby

Live albums|

* Unplugged
* VH1 Storytellers

Box sets|

* The Platinum Collection

Remix albums|

* Remixed

Extended plays|

* The Vault Playlist, Vol. 1

Tours|

* Songs in A Minor Tour
* Verizon Ladies First Tour
* Diary Tour
* As I Am Tour
* Freedom Tour
* Piano & I
* Set the World on Fire Tour
* Alicia + Keys World Tour
* Keys to the Summer Tour

Books|

* Tears for Water
* More Myself

Related articles|

* Here in Times Square
* Swizz Beatz
* Keep a Child Alive
* Kerry Brothers Jr.
* Oven Studios
* Five
* Hell's Kitchen

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Alicia Keys songs

* Discography

Songs in A Minor|

* "Girlfriend"
* "How Come You Don't Call Me"
* "Fallin'"
* "A Woman's Worth"

The Diary of Alicia Keys|

* "Karma"
* "If I Was Your Woman / Walk On By"
* "You Don't Know My Name"
* "If I Ain't Got You"
* "Diary"

Unplugged|

* "Unbreakable"
* "Every Little Bit Hurts"
* "Wild Horses"
* "Love It or Leave It Alone / Welcome to Jamrock"

As I Am|

* "Superwoman"
* "No One"
* "Like You'll Never See Me Again"
* "Teenage Love Affair"

The Element of Freedom|

* "Doesn't Mean Anything"
* "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart"
* "Wait Til You See My Smile"
* "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)"
* "Put It in a Love Song"
* "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"
* "We're Almost There"

Girl on Fire|

* "Brand New Me"
* "New Day"
* "Girl on Fire"
* "Fire We Make"
* "Tears Always Win"
* "Not Even the King"

Here|

* "Blended Family (What You Do for Love)"
* "In Common"

Alicia|

* "Show Me Love"
* "Time Machine"
* "Underdog"
* "So Done"
* "Perfect Way to Die"
* "Good Job"
* "Love Looks Better"
* "A Beautiful Noise"
* "Wasted Energy"

Keys|

* "Lala"
* "Best of Me"
* "Trillions"
* "Come for Me"

Santa Baby|

* "December Back 2 June"
* "The Christmas Song"

As featured artist|

* "Brotha"
* "Calma"
* "Empire State of Mind"
* "Fireworks"
* "Gangsta Lovin'"
* "Ghetto Story"
* "I Will Pray (Pregherò)"
* "International Party"
* "Looking for Paradise"
* "New Day"
* "What's Going On"

Other songs|

* "28 Thousand Days"
* "America the Beautiful"
* "Another Way to Die"
* "Back to Life"
* "City of Gods"
* "Die Without You"
* "Don't Give Up (Africa)"
* "Finally"
* "Lifeline"
* "If This World Were Mine"
* "It's On Again"
* "Kaleidoscope"
* "Little Drummer Girl"
* "My Boo"
* "People Get Ready"
* "Rapture"
* "Someday We'll All Be Free"
* "Speechless"
* "Us"
* "Wake Me Up"
* "We Are Here"
* "We Gotta Pray"

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Eve

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady
* Scorpion
* Eve-Olution
* Lip Lock

Singles|

* "What Ya Want"
* "Gotta Man"
* "Love Is Blind"
* "Got It All"
* "Who's That Girl?"
* "Let Me Blow Ya Mind"
* "Gangsta Lovin'"
* "Satisfaction"
* "Tambourine"
* "Give It to You"

Featured singles|

* "You Got Me"
* "Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
* "Hot Boyz (Remix)"
* "Ruff Ryders' Anthem (Remix)"
* "Ryde or Die, Bitch"
* "Brotha"
* "Caramel"
* "4 My People"
* "Get Up"
* "Not Today"
* "Never"
* "Rich Girl"
* "Like This"
* "Patron Tequila"
* "Who's That Girl"
* "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
* "Immortal Queen (Remix)"

Other songs|

* "Speechless"
* "Tonight"

Related articles|

* Eve
* episodes
* Ruff Ryders Entertainment

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