Girl on Fire (song)

"Girl on Fire"
"Girl on Fire"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album Girl on Fire
Released	September 4, 2012
Recorded	2012
Studio	Jungle City (New York); Oven Studios (New York); Record Plant (Los Angeles);
Genre	R&B
Length	3:44
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Alicia Keys; Salaam Remi; Jeff Bhasker; Billy Squier;
Producer(s)	Alicia Keys; Jeff Bhasker; Salaam Remi;
Alicia Keys singles chronology
Music video
	"Girl on Fire" on YouTube

"Girl on Fire" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her fifth studio album of the same name. Keys co-wrote and co-produced the R&B ballad with Jeff Bhasker and Salaam Remi. The song contains an interpolation of the drums from the 1980 song "The Big Beat" by American rock guitarist Billy Squier, who received a writing credit on "Girl on Fire". Released on September 4, 2012, as the lead single from the album, "Girl on Fire" is Keys' first release under RCA Records following the closure of J Records, after a reorganization at Sony Music Entertainment.

"Girl on Fire" was inspired by Keys' giving birth to her son Egypt and marriage to her husband Swizz Beatz. Keys recorded a three-track suite for the song, consisting of the main version in addition to two remixes. The first remix, titled "Inferno", adds two new verses from American hip hop artist Nicki Minaj, whilst the second mix titled "Bluelight" strips back the drums and piano leaving a sparse bass-led production and re-recorded "smokey" vocals. "Girl on Fire" opened to widespread universal acclaim from critics, with many praising Keys' vocals and the song's production. Keys performed "Girl on Fire" for the first time at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6, 2012, where she was joined by Minaj and American gymnastics gold-medalist Gabby Douglas. The song has been certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.