“What they’re gonna do ’cause we’re the same sex, and we’re spending all this time?” Alicia Keys asks in the opening line of her gayest move since spending all of 2002-2005 dressing like that cute girl you knew in college who had Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott and Girlfight (2000) posters hanging up in her dorm room. On her new album HERE, her first in three years, she has a lot of songs, but none as specifically suited to our interests here at Autostraddle than “Where Do We Begin Now,” a song about first-time sapphic attraction.
These are just a few of the many queer lady fashion statements Alicia made in the early 2000s.
This song is very very much about the time when you’re a baby gay and you’re having your first relationship with another girl. Instead of just a gay love song, Alicia is singing about being unsure how to tell her friends, how to tell if it’s love or something more like the “Girl Crush” in that Little Big Town song, how to tell if it goes wrong and other questions someone who’s never dated a girl might have. It should be noted, also, that the exact wording of some of the lyrics are potentially up for debate. Feel free to weigh in. Anyhow, let’s answer a few of those questions for Alicia and anyone who listens to the song and is like “girl, I feel you.”
“What they’re gonna do ’cause we’re the same sex and we’re spending all this time?”
Well, Alicia, they’ll probably think you’re gay.
“How will I know this love is strong?”
(these are the lyrics according to multiple websites)
Does she cook vegan stir fry for you? Does she take you to Ikea and Home Depot? Does she buy toys for your cat? If yes then the love is strong.
“How would it tells when it goes wrong?”
(again, the lyrics according to multiple websites)
Does she think Kissing Jessica Stein is a better movie than Carol? Does she think voting for Trump “makes some sense?” Does she wear socks in bed? If yes, then it’s going wrong.
“How many know this love song?”
(these are those same lyrics the way I hear them)
Well, some studies show it’s as little as 2%, but I think that probably more like 15% or 20% of people are gay. Also once this album has been out for a little longer, probably a sizeable number of people will know this literal love song to one degree or another. Very meta.
“How many times it goes wrong?”
(this is the lyric according to the super helpful Laura) I mean, lesbians have a lot of feelings, we’re kind of famous for our drama; it’s almost certainly gonna go wrong sometimes. Sorry about that.
“Where do we begin now?”
How about going to a Tegan and Sara concert? Or if that’s jumping in too far in the deep end, a Carly Rae Jepsen concert? If you’re asking about something else, you can check out this helpful article.
“What will we tell our friends now?”
They’ll probably pick up the clues, and if not, you can just say “Hey, friends, we’re gay.”
No matter what the lyrics are, this song is definitely a step in a direction for Keys. Lyrically it’s a queerer direction, but who knows if it means anything for her life (probably not, but we can hope, right?) But no matter what, yay for Alicia! I hope this leads to a lot more gay stuff in your life!
I wear socks to bed….does it make a difference if they are thigh high and usually rainbow? Also, I live where the weather is cold.
Agree.
The way I see it, you get a choice between me wearing socks in bed or me putting my always freezing feet between your warm calves.
Sounds sexy to me…really sexy actually lol
Came here to defend socks in bed. SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN CANADA OK
I live in Idaho! It gets below zero here! I still don’t want socks in my bed!
Well I personally can’t sleep if my toes are cold so I refuse to be shamed for my socks-in-bed lifestyle choices. Hmph
I’m tall, I’m wearing socks to bed so when my feet stick out from under blankets I don’t flip out. Have fun being snatched by lizard monsters!
Ha, I love this article!
ALSO… so we both went out with the same woman I see… my last date thought voting for Trump “made some sense” also and there couldn’t be more than 1, right?
BLESS. Thank you Alicia Keys.
I finally realized just this year that the huge crush I had on her since 2001 was (and IS!) so, so gay.
My relationship to that “Falling” song was very,very gay, back then.
It was the anthem to my gayness at the time, in fact.
What I’m trying to say is, Good Luck Alicia, may the force be with you.
Love Alicia Keys! Now I love her even more, for this new song!
Well this is very interesting….
I’m pretty sure the pre chorus lyrics are ‘how many know this love song/how many times it goes wrong’ but in any case it’s a lovely song, thank you for calling my attention to it <3
Unthinkable was also super gay and fuckin sexy, let’s not forget!
That post wad hilarious, May. Also, Ima just leave this here https://goo.gl/images/BoSkDG
Poor, Alicia.
Ask not how many times it goes wrong. The answer is sad. It goes wrong. Every. Fucking. Time.
Instead ask how many times it goes right. The answer is, “there was that one time; Portia and Ellen, maybe?”
uok Mavi?
Nuthin’ to worry about, Queer Girl; it’s just that my inner optimist has taken a leave of absence. As a result I now find that the silver lining belongs to a cloud who is over-accesorizing. I’m sure it’ll pass, but thank you for the concern :)
<3 <3 <3
I saw her perform Unthinkable back in 09 and she was rubbing herself and climbed up on the piano all sexy and laid on it. And I remember looking around thinking is no one else seeing this? I was so turned on. Pretty sure she’s my root.
I feel so justified in my middle and high school crush on Alicia Keys.
Mey! You have made my life so much better by posting thing. Thank you.
Shame you turn every women gay. Thought maybe she might be bisexual? Makes a million times more sense than her being a Lesbian. This is a woman who is married to a man
Even trashy sites managed to provide a less biphobic coverage to this
http://mtonews.com/mto-shocker-rb-singer-alicia-keys-appears-come-bisexual-new-song-check-lyrics-decide/
I can bet 100 bucks alicia read this post lol
Sorry to burst a bubble but in Alicia’s comments on this song she wrote she stated it’s about her gay friends’ experience and Alicia’s own support of ‘love is love’.