Ross King: Alicia Keys’ dress for new video just may be the biggest ever made

Pop stars don’t come much bigger than Alicia Keys. The gorgeous singer, writer and pianist is so massive they had to put a massive dress on her…

Honestly, take a look at the frock she wears in the video for Best Of Me; it’s like a dress they’d create for a carnival float character, except it was designed by legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani so maybe a really classy carnival!

“It is potentially the biggest dress in the world,” laughed Alicia. “I’m standing on a box which was four feet high and the dress is still towering down on it. It’s a custom Valentino and I love it!”

I caught up with the Grammy Award winner last week following the release of her latest album and ahead of a tour which is set to visit the UK in June.

The video for her new song is a family affair, featuring her partner and their two children.

The No One singer, 40, parents two boys, Egypt, 11, and Genesis, six, with husband of 11 years Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Daoud Dean).

I asked if Keys was a showbiz mum or a strict disciplinarian – and, well, she reckoned it’s a bit of both.

“I’m definitely telling them to behave!” she laughed. “The Best Of Me video was shot on the eve of (hers and Kasseem’s) anniversary. Here I was in this white Valentino, like honouring our wedding.

“I added the boys in later. It felt so genuine to talk about this natural family love that I think we all appreciate more than ever.”

Which is lovely to hear but Keys is set for a world tour and she knows only too well it’ll be tough for her boys. “They get a little bit frustrated because they’ll say things like, ‘why do you have to go?’ or, ‘why are you always gone?’,” she said. “That’s the killer. No one wants to hear, ‘why are you always gone’.

“But we talk about why…why is it you have to go.

“I try my best to tell them what’s coming up. I say to them, ‘I’m here this week but next week I’m gonna be gone. It’s gonna feel kinda long but I’m gonna be back!’”

She was talking to me from Dubai about her album, Keys, which I thought was up there with her best work.

In particular a song called Is It Insane showcases her remarkable voice; she has never sounded better. “I feel very proud of that song. I think hundreds of years from now people will listen back and think it was something special,” she beamed.

“For you to say my voice never sounded better, it is growing and I’m growing. It’s so beautiful to witness that growth and for you to feel it too.”

As for celebrating two decades in the business – debut LP Songs In A Minor was released in 2001 – Keys is as surprised as anyone that she’s been around so long!

“The whole 20 years thing is like ‘woah’,” she said. “I still feel like that Alicia. You know this crazy world and crazy business can make you lose yourself, and I haven’t, I’m grateful.”