Which cathegory does Alicia Keys fall into? Rap? Because, it just occured to me, she LOVES piano and makes all her songs on piano! Then she makes re-arrangements in studio. I think she has some pretty good songs.
By the way, I can not resist, I have to mention Britney Spears again - I simply do not understand how can people swollow her... Without judging her efforts to make music, because it is good that people try to be creative, and if she keeps trying, maybe one day she will manage to really make some quality music, and we should all support her in her efforts, but not allow her to terrorise us (remotes are so usefull little tools). However, the fact that she is so popular today, with her annoying screams and ridiculous songs, that really hurts. I think it is a cataclismic natural disaster. But, it is not her fault, it is the publishers, so even if we catch and lock Britney in a deaf-room to keep her away with her efforts untill she learns how to make music (my neighbors would probobly do that to me too), the publishers will find an other "Britney" to keep the mass entertained and make money...
And one more thing: for the best bend ever walked the face of the earth, I vote, the one and the only, the best: Pink Floyd. I also need to mention Supertramp and Dire Straits.