Alicia Keys Debuts New Song, ‘Good Job,’ Honors Heroes Fighting COVID-19

Alicia Keys debuted her new song, “Good Job,” on CNN’s global town hall on Thursday, April 23. Per CNN, the song will be used as the theme for the network’s “CNN Heroes” campaign, one celebrating ordinary people who have emerged as heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The singer also premiered poignant visuals — using CNN stock footage — to pay tribute to all front-line workers, health care professionals, teachers, parents, and others directly affected by the current state of affairs.

“A lot of times people don’t feel like they’re doing a good job. They feel underwater and like there’s never going to be a brighter day,” she said to CNN. “Fast forward to now, with where we are now, and it’s almost like the song was written for this and I didn’t know it.”

The music video features Alicia singing at her piano intercut with footage of masked people going about life. Several inspiring scenes are included — a young boy reaching out to an elderly woman, stopped by a glass pane; empty streets and roadways; medical professionals, delivery workers, and even a religious official preaching to empty pews.

According to Rolling Stone, Keys wrote “Good Job” last year with her husband, producer Swizz Beatz, being joined by fellow producers The-Dream and Avery Chambliss. The song was meant to pay tribute to the everyday heroes in Keys’ life, but she then realized the song meant so much more amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“It has always been such a personal song and such a poignant song,” Alicia said. “And every time I play it, I want to cry because I’m thinking of my mother, I’m thinking of my grandmother, I’m thinking of friends of mine who can’t make ends meet.”

Starting on April 24, CNN Heroes invites viewers to record a short video to send in, to join the #GoodJobChallenge with Alicia, and to say “thank you” to the people whose actions are inspiring them — or making the world safer and healthier.

CNN plans to share different videos each week, both on-air and online, for audiences interested in following the challenge as it proceeds.

“Alicia Keys and the lyrics of ‘Good Job’ are sending a much-needed message of gratitude to the front line and essential workers of this crisis,” said Whit Friese, CNN vice president and group creative director of creative marketing. Friese would go on to say it was a great honor to work with Keys.

While premiering the song on Thursday, Keys mentioned her upbringing in New York City, one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus, and remembered her mother’s struggle as a single mom who was “often overlooked.”

Keys made her appreciation for everyone working on the front lines throughout the ongoing pandemic known, mentioning a wide variety of professions engaged in keeping things running on a daily basis. Health care workers, service sector employees, and others were given a nod of respect from the award-winning performer.