Customer Reviews

Tears for Water: Songbook of Poems and Lyrics

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am an Alicia Keys fan. I love this girl, so I was VERY excited when this book came out. However, her poetry is of the level of things I was writing about when I was 13. The thoughts are often shallow musings pretending to be deep. "Something in your eyes/Is tortured", sounds almost promising, right? Then she continues on with "something is wrong (ya think?)/And it's hurting me." DAMN, Alicia, you had me thinking I would get some deep thoughts for a second there. The metaphors she uses are often trite and some just plain don't work. Also, it's great to have the lyrics to her songs in book form, but without her delivery and fiery piano playing, these lyrics lose their luster. Alicia has writing of greater caliber than this in her head, for proof just check some of her "journal" entries at her official site. I don't know what went wrong with this book. At least it wasn't as bad as T-Boz''s "Thoughts".

I have been looking forward to the release of this book, and I have to say that I was one of the first people in the bookstore when this book came out. It was WELL worth the wait. You can really relate to and feel all the emotion that Alicia put into her poems and lyrics. With the explainations of what she was going through at the time and the way she put her words together, you almost feel as if you are there with her. This book is worth every penny I paid for it. This book grabs you in right at the introduction. In this book, she lets you into her most personal and private thoughts & feelings. You think you know, but you have no idea... This is the real Diary of Alicia Keys.

As soon as you finish reading this review, add this book to your cart, and click "buy".

Many have enjoyed the lyrical stylings of R&B songbird Alicia Keys, making her a Diamond Disc recording artist. Reaching such an accomplishment in the music industry, an artist has earned the love and attention of a large fan base. In return, Alicia has given those fans an intimate look at her innermost thoughts and feelings through her poetry in TEARS FOR WATER.

The intimate collection displays her feelings of loneliness and confusion on her road to stardom, and her feelings against social injustice, something that she has witnessed firsthand and read about in history books. She also writes of her world travels, places that her voice has taken her and the beauty she has discovered while there. After certain selections Alicia has notes giving her motivation for the written piece, which I found engaging.

I enjoyed the collection because it gave me a closer, more endearing look at the person and not just the artist. I was disappointed in the collection because it did not hold as much depth as her musical lyrics, which is what made me a fan in the first place. I expected her poetry to touch me as her songs have, but they fell short. I felt that she only scratched the surface of what she is really capable of producing, which is why I will continue to support her endeavors.

Reviewed by Aiesha Flowers
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I THOUGHT ALICIA'S BOOK WAS WONDERFUL IT DEALT WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT I FELT THAT WE BOTH RELATED TOO. HER POEMS WERE REALITY. IT WAS EXCELLENT!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ALICIA.

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE THAT IS NOT CLOSED MINDED AND VERY OPEN TO AN DIFFERENT SIDE TO AN ARTIST. IT WAS NICE OF HER TO LETT US IN MIND. :)

Alicia Keys is the best female artist out there today. She is pure talent. She's not like most female artists that shake their butts with little to nothing on to sell records. She doesn't try to be something she's not and she does so much to help those in need. She's so deep and everything in this book and writes about in general I think everyone can relate to. And for the record, Beyonce can't hold a match to Alicia. Alicia blows Beyonce out the water.

I wasn't really a big Alicia Keys fan when she came out back in 2001 but when I seen her last year in concert she blew me away & I start getting more into her..She is very talented however I felt like her book could have been better..Even tho I haven't finished reading the whole thing from what I have read her poems seem to be okay..Its nothing special about them in my opinion..Like when I'm reading something I expect to feel what the person is going through reading Alicia's poems I didn't feel that..Her poems are good & shes a great writer just expected a lil more from this book & I still don't get why she put her lyrics from both of her albums in the book that just didn't make sense to me, but buy it if you choose its not a bad book just not really to exciting either overall I give it 4 stars..

ALICIA LETS YOU INTO HER INNERMOST THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. SHE IS SO GENUINE. TEARS FOR WATER IS ALICIA HERSELF IN BOOKFORM.
I ENJOYED THE BOOK FOR MANY REASONS. I COULD DEFINITELY RELATE TO ALOT OF THE POEMS. I LOVE HOW SHE LETS YOU KNOW WHERE SHE WAS IN LIFE WHEN SHE WROTE SOME OF THE POEMS, THUS GIVING YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. THIS IS A BOOK I WILL KEEP AND READ THROUGHOUT THE MANY STAGES OF MY LIFE FOR GUIDANCE.

the "4 Letter Word" poem I think was about LOVE ,
it has to be. That was one of my favorite poems along with "Mind Sex" (cuz it was crazy , lol) , & "Damn You!" , but they all were nice. This book has 27 of Alicia's poems along with the lyrics to "Songs In A Minor" & "Diary of Alicia Keys". Mayne , I loved this book. Alicia is truly a talented poet , writer & musician. I highly recommend this book for her fans & people who like poetry & write poetry. Everyone can relate to this book.
-> 1

This book is wonderful. It brings you inside the mind of Alicia and connects you with her thoughts. Her words are words that we all can relate to whether young or old and she expresses her feelings so clearly. I recommend this book to everyone. I know that you will enjoy it.

Ms. Keys has always come across as being real; there is no fakeness in her.
This book is a perfect example of why I form this opinion of her.

Gary Lloyd James, Author of UNTIED FEELINGS that contains poems such as...

A Woman's Tears

To all women in abusive relationships


The tears she shed were not in vain
There lying on the floor with her dress
Blood stained. Thinking about the pain, the
Pain that was inflicted because she complained.

With her back against the
Wall, she waits for others opinions,
about why she is lying there, curled up
in a fetal position.

When she speaks, she speaks with caution
because she fears her words may cause
confusion, in making a decision.

Whether or not to stay married to this man
this man that said for him, she was the woman
The Queen, the Nubian, the African.
Then why does she cry those tears?

Is it because she fears his breath,
pungent with beer?
Fear his hand across her face, as she lies
there in that small dark space
without a way to erase,
the pain, that caused those tears.