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Girl On Fire Alicia Keys is making waves with her sensual new music video Fire We Make.
The stunning 32-year-old teamed up with sultry R&B singer Maxwell to create the steamy period piece set in the French Quarter of old New Orleans.
Alicia wears a long cream-coloured dress and narrates: “It was an amazing time, an amazing time to be in New Orleans.”
“The heat, the French Quarter. And him. And we fell in love.”
Alicia races downstairs to the reception of Battiers Boarding House where she meets Maxwell – and their attraction is instant.
The two resist the temptation to be together and Alicia is seen working up a sweat then cooling herself down with ice cubes.
The love story unfolds at a smoke-filled old New Orleans jazz club where Maxwell sings on-stage while Alicia writhes on the wall on the other side of the room, enthralled.
The video reaches a climax when the pair finally unite on the stoop of the grand old hotel.
Chris Robinson also directed some of Alicia’s previous videos including Fallin, Superwoman and Karma.
After securing a date with her man Alicia is seen tinkling the ivories in the dark.
It’s not Alicia’s first turn as a minimum-wage assistant. Who could forget her turn as New York’s most beautiful waitress in hair-net and gold hoops in 2003’s You Don’t Know My Name.
Alicia stars alongside a dapper Mos Def who plays the love interest Michael, who comes in every Wednesday and asks for the ‘Special’ and the ‘hot chocolate’ (perhaps code for an ‘extra special side order’ as in L.A’s In N Out Burger?)
Alicia reveals what what’s keeping him hooked on her ‘hot chocolate’: “My boss be tripping.. but I always use milk and cream for you ‘cos I think you’re kinda sweet.”
And once she phones Michael she convinces him to take her out on a date: “I’m the waitress at the coffee shop. You know? The one with the braids. I do look a lot different outside my work clothes…”
The next time Michael comes in for lunch, Alicia says: “You want the special, right? And the hot chocolate.”
Thursday’s perfect.
You Don’t Know My Name was written and produced by Kanye West and Alicia Keys and the music video remains one of Purple Revolver’s all-time faves alongside Jodeci’s Freek’n You and Mariah Carey and ODB’s Fantasy.