Karma (Alicia Keys song)

"Karma" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, taken from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Written by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and Taneisha Smith, the track takes influence from hip hop and classical music, and was released as the album's fourth and final single in November 2004, peaking at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart—the album's only single not to top a Billboard chart. A mashup of "Karma" with Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit "Superstition" titled "Karmastition", produced by Go Home Productions, exists.

"Karma"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys
Released	November 16, 2004
Studio	KrucialKeys Studios Quad Recording Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	R&B alternative hip hop classical
Length	4:16
Label	J
Songwriter(s)	Alicia Keys Kerry Brothers, Jr. Taneisha Smith
Producer(s)	Brothers, Jr.
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"My Boo" (2004) "Karma" (2004) "Unbreakable" (2005)
Music video
"Karma" on YouTube

Content

In the song, the narrator's lover who had left her returns and wants to start a new relationship, but she has moved on. Her lover is now in the position she was once in, and in being rejected receives their just deserts ("what goes around comes around"). The title references the popular conception of karma as getting what one deserves.

Music video

The music video for "Karma", directed by Chris Robinson and Keys herself, was filmed over three days in August 2004, with parts shot in New York City and at Casa de Campo resort's Altos de Chavón amphitheatre, in La Romana, Dominican Republic.[1] At the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, the video earned Keys the award for Best R&B Video.

Track listings and formats

• European CD single

1. "Karma" – 4:15
2. "Diary" (Hani Mix) – 3:49

• European CD maxi single

1. "Karma" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
2. "Diary" (Hani Mix) – 3:49
3. "Karma" (The Reggaeton Mix) – 3:32
4. "Karma" (Club Mix) – 3:18
5. "Karma" (Video)

• US promo CD single

1. "Karma" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
2. "Karma" (Instrumental) – 4:11
3. "Karma" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10
4. "Karma" (Radio Version in MP3 format) – 3:39

• US promo 12" single
  • A1 "Karma" (Album Version) – 4:12
  • A2 "Karma" (Instrumental) – 4:11
  • B1 "Karma" (KrucialKeys DJ Mix) – 3:20
  • B2 "Karma" (a cappella) – 3:45

  12"Promo

  • A1 "Karma" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
  • A2 "Heartburn" (Album Version) – 3:25
  • B1 "If I Ain't Got You" (Remix, featuring Usher) – 3:50
  • B2 "Diary" (Album version, featuring Tony! Toni! Toné!) – 4:44
  • B3 "Diary" (Instrumental) – 4:44
• 12" promo - Karma (The Reggaeton Mix)
  • A1 "Karma" (Spanish Version) – 3:32
  • A2 "Karma" (Spanglish Version) – 3:32
  • B1 "Karma" (Spanish Version) – 3:32
  • B2 "Karma" (Spanglish Version) – 3:32

Personnel

• Alicia Keys – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano
• Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – producer, digital programming, engineer, instrumentation
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
• Joe Romano – horn
• David Watson – horn

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[2] 40 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[3] 2 Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[4] 7 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[5] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)[6] 62 Greece (IFPI)[7] 31 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 27 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 40 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 71 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 20 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] 17 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[13] 18

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position US Billboard Hot 100[14] 56 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 38

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] certified in 2005	Gold	500,000^^
United States (RIAA)[17] certified in 2020	Gold	500,000
^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

• Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2005

References

1. "Alicia Keys Goes Gritty And Exotic For New Video". Contactmusic.com. September 13, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
2. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – Karma" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
3. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – Karma" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
4. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1604. April 29, 2005. p. 25. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
5. "Alicia Keys: Karma" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Alicia Keys – Karma". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
7. "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 27/2–5/3" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on March 3, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 13, 2018.
9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Alicia Keys – Karma" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
10. "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – Karma". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
11. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
12. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
13. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
14. "2005 Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. November 26, 2005. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
15. "2005 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. November 26, 2005. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
16. "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – Karma". Recording Industry Association of America. September 27, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
17. "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – Karma". Recording Industry Association of America. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Karma at Discogs
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics