Diary (Alicia Keys song)
"Diary" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys. Written by Keys and Kerry Brothers, Jr. and produced by Keys, the song features the American group Tony! Toni! Toné! on bass, piano, guitar, organ and Wurlitzer, while Jermaine Paul provides uncredited additional vocals. It was released on June 29, 2004 as the album's third single. At one time, "Diary" had been released as a double A-side with "If I Ain't Got You".[1]
"Diary" | ||||
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Single by Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! | ||||
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys | ||||
Released | June 29, 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Studio | Kampo (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:44 | |||
Label | J | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
Alicia Keys singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Diary" on YouTube |
"Diary" was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 2005 Grammy Awards. The song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Its Hani remixes topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart in late 2004.
Critical reception
Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters said the "sparse production" of the song "gives Keys ample space to work out her ideas."[2]
Music video
The single's music video, directed by Lamont "Liquid" Burrell, Rod Isaacs, Jeff Robinson, and Brian Campbell, contains footage of several live concerts from both 2004's Verizon Ladies First Tour, which Keys took part in, and her own 2005 The Diary Tour.
The phone number
The song's lyrics tell listeners that they can reach Keys by calling a particular number, 489-4608, which was her former telephone number minus the area code when she lived in New York City, according to Keys' publicist, Lois Najarian. Callers who used the correct code (347) would have received a voicemail from Keys herself. However, after listening to the song, fans tried calling the number with different area codes, and one of them, 912, turned out to be the number of a retired pastor from Statesboro, Georgia, named J.D. Turner. He claims to have received more than twenty calls a day from Keys' fans in the weeks after the song's release.[3] This led to a $95 phone bill resulting from charges associated with the *69 last-call return option, which he used to track down each caller. Turner has declined to change his number, having held it for fourteen years before the song's release.[4][5] As of 2015, the number in the 347 area code is no longer in service and Turner retains it in the 912 code.[6]
Track listings and formats
- U.S. promo CD single
- "Diary" (Radio Edit) – 4:28
- "Diary" (Instrumental) – 4:45
- "Diary" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10
- "Diary" (Radio Edit) (MP3 format) – 4:28
Personnel
- Alicia Keys – piano, producer, background vocals, vocals
- Elijah Baker – bass
- Tony Black – engineer
- Kerry Brothers, Jr. – digital programming
- Manny Marroquin – mixing
- Ann Mincieli – engineer
- Jermaine Paul – background vocals
- Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
- Tim Christian Riley – piano
- John "Jubu" Smith – guitar
- Carl "Rev" Wheeler – Wurlitzer, organ
- Dwayne "D. Wigg" Wiggins – guitar
Charts
Chart positions
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Year-end charts
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Decade-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[18] | Gold | 500,000 |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- "Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You/Diary". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
- Neal, Mark Anthony (December 10, 2003). "The production gives Keys ample space to work out her ideas". PopMatters. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
- http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-08-10-keys-old-number_x.htm
- "Dear Diary". Snopes. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
- "Keys' Fans Reach Out, Touch Wrong Man". E! Online. Yahoo! Music. August 12, 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- http://www.mtv.com/news/2191868/big-sean-jay-z-sir-mix-a-lot-calling-phone-numbers/
- http://www.discogs.com/Alicia-Keys-Diary/release/365716
- http://www.discogs.com/Alicia-Keys-Diary-Hani-Mixes/release/334335
- "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Alicia Keys Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.
- "Alicia Keys Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
- "Alicia Keys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- "2004 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 25, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- "2004 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 25, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- "2005 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 26, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
- "Decade End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – Diary Tony". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.