You Don't Know My Name

"You Don't Know My Name" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, issued by J Records as the lead single from her second studio album, ''The Diary of Alicia Keys'' (2003). Written by Keys, Kanye West and Harold Lilly, its production, handled by the former two, is based on a sample of the 1975 song "Let Me Prove My Love to You", written by J. R. Bailey, Mel Kent and Ken Williams, and performed by the Main Ingredient.

"You Don't Know My Name" became Keys' third top-ten hit in the United States, peaking at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, as well as topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for eight consecutive weeks. Critically acclaimed, the song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female. It was sampled on rapper Lil Wayne's 2008 song "Comfortable", featuring Babyface and produced by West.

Background

"You Don't Know My Name" was written by Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Harold Lilly for her second studio album, ''The Diary of Alicia Keys'' (2003), while production was overseen by Keys and West. The song samples several portions from the 1975 song "Let Me Prove My Love to You" as performed by American soul and R&B group the Main Ingredient, including the vocal backgrounds and the piano. Due to the sample, J. R. Bailey, Mel Kent and Ken Williams are also listed as songwriters. "You Don't Know My Name" marked the first collaboration between Keys and West. Lyrically, the song captures a woman's frustration and heartache as she yearns for a man’s recognition and affection, reflecting the struggles of pursuing someone who may not feel the same way. Introducing this song at a concert in Manchester, England, in 2012, Alicia Keys explained: "It's about that feeling you have when you see somebody that you really, really like, or at least you think you do. And you're trying to figure out, 'how am I supposed to say anything to this person? How am I supposed to introduce myself and get the story started?' It's not an easy thing to do. So maybe you could say something like this."

Critical reception

In a review for ''The Diary of Alicia Keys'', Denise Boyd from BBC Music noted that "You Don't Know My Name" was "clearly the stand-out track. This is Alicia Keys at her best, sweet and soulful with a hint of the tickling piano keys – pure pleasure." In a critical album of ''The Diary of Alicia Keys'', Mark Anthony Neal from ''PopMatters'' called the song the album's "singular moment of brilliance." He found that it was "another example of the real-deal hype surrounding Chi-town producer Kanye West ..that could make Isaac Hayes, Teddy Pendergrass, David Porter and the late Barry White all blush praise. Choosing the song as the lead single is both a testament to J's faith in Keys as a pop artist and an admission that "You Don't Know My Name" is as good as pop-soul gets." ''Today'' described "You Don't Know My Name" as "vastly appealing retro-soul as Keys is both bold and coy, calling a man who has caught her eye to plead her romantic case."

Jim Cooper, writing for '' SFGate'', remarked: "On "You Don't Know My Name," Keys' rich voice floats over sweet Burt Bacharach-influenced strings and cascading harmonies. And even though she throws in a cheap spoken-word thing halfway through, it still ranks right alongside the previous record's hair-raising moments like " A Woman's Worth" and "Rock Wit U"." ''Billboard'' noted: "If this single is any indication of what's to come The Diary of Alicia Keys'', fans will be thrilled ..With creamy harmonizing on background vocals and cascading piano riffs, the Keys- and Kanye West- produced midtempo track is reminiscent of '60s-era ballads ..While Keys' dialogue during the bridge is a little forced, the girl-next-door lyric and sweet sentiment more than compensate. Mainstream and adult R&B radio stations will undoubtedly jump on this one, based on Keys' solid track record and they won't be sorry."

Rankings

''Blender'' placed the song at number 37 on its list of the 100 best songs of 2004. '' Pitchfork