Alicia Keys thinks she did a “damn good job” with Fallin’.
The 45-year-old singer marks the 25th anniversary of the soulful track next month – an achievement she is “very proud” of.
Alicia – who was just 20 when she released Fallin’ in March 2001 – told People: “I’m not sure how I wrap my head around this whole existence called life.
“It’s very crazy and wonderful and exciting and amazing.
“And just thinking back to that girl in me at that time and how she had no idea, none. That she was completely what you call ‘fake it till you make it’ — that’s what she was doing, and she did a damn good job.”
As the star – who topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks with Fallin’ – has matured, she appreciates her younger self staying strong and true to authenticity, honesty, and music
Alicia explained: “The more I grew, the more I learned.
“And so I think about her, and I’m so appreciative of her because she was strong, she was clear. Even though she didn’t know everything, she knew what she didn’t want, and she knew what she had to hold onto — and that was authenticity and truth and honesty and music.”
She went on: “So I’m very proud because I recognise her in me today. So that’s a beautiful thing. So to be able to come all this way and have all these years to be creating and to have not even hit the tiny bit of where I’m going is a really, really exciting thing. So I’m grateful.”
Fallin’ was written and produced for her debut album, Songs in A Minor.
Asked about the inspiration behind the track, Alicia told Billboard in May 2001: “I wanted to write a song for someone who was 10 or 12 years old – like a young Michael Jackson.
“Even though he was young, he was singing some deep stuff back then. [The song] is about the ins and outs of a relationship.
“Sometimes, you’re completely head-over-heels in love with someone, and sometimes you can’t stand that person.
“You fall in and out, sometimes it goes back and forth, and that’s just what relationships are about.”