Girl On Fire (Inferno Version)

Alicia Keys Girl on Fire
Features	Nicki Minaj
Released	September 4, 2012
Format	Digital download
Genre	R&B
Length	4:30
Writer	Alicia Keys, Onika Maraj, Billy Squier, Jeff Bhasker, Salaam Remi
Producer	Billy Squier, Jeff Bhasker, and Salaam Remi
Single information
Single release	September 4, 2012
Video release	November 2, 2012
←Last single "Out of My Mind"		Next single→ "The Boys" (promotional)

"Girl On Fire (Inferno Version)" is a song by Alicia Keys featuring Nicki Minaj from her fifth studio album, Girl on Fire. The song was written by Keys, Onika Maraj, Billy Squier, Jeff Bhasker and Salaam Remi, and was produced by Squier, Bhasker, and Remi. It is one of the three multi-formats versions of the song. The other two is the Standard Version and the Bluelight Version which does not feature Nicki. The song was released as the lead single of her album on September 4. It officially impacted Urban and Rhythmic Radio on September 11, 2012, and officially impacted Mainstream Radio on October 16, 2012. It is also the only version of the song to be featured on the standard version of Alicia Keys's album Girl on Fire.

The song has been certified 2x Platinum in Australia, Platinum in New Zealand, Switzerland and the US, and Gold in Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Background

On August 30, 2012, Keys announced that the lead single of her upcoming album is called "Girl On Fire": "Crazy excited!!! My new single #GirlOnFire will be unleashed soon!!! Are you ready?" She also reveal the cover of the single and the release date (September 4).

On September 2, it was revealed that the song would have three versions available for downloading: the standard version, the "Blue Light" version, and the "Inferno" remix featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. The cover artwork for the two other versions was also revealed. The song leaked one day before it's release, on September 3. The song was released (along with the other two versions) on September 4.

Well Nicki's a girl on fire. Nicki and I are maybe what seems like from two different worlds but in actuality, girls on fire are from everywhere. It doesn't matter who you are, how you are, in what way you express it - that's what's important about it. I think the rhyme that she did on the Inferno version of 'Girl On Fire' is really special. I think it's really a very raw, honest Nicki that I really love.

—Alicia Keys, VMA 2012, Red carpet

Composition

The song is a drum-heavy record, written and produced by Billy Squier, Jeff Bhasker, and Salaam Remi. The track opens with a thumping midtempo beat as Minaj spits a verse about not succumbing to the dangers of Marilyn Monroe-inspired excess and self-destruction. Keys soars in the chorus, which is simultaneously simple and glorious: “Got our feet on the ground / And we’re burning it down / She got her head in the clouds / And she’s not backing down / This girl is on fire / This girl is on fire / She’s walking on fire / This girl is on fire.” In her second verse, Minaj prays for strength and resilience to deal with critics and adversity, closing with “X in the box / Ain’t nobody checkin’ me.”

Critical reception

The song received very positive reviews from music critics. Jessica Sager from PopCrush said that the song "doesn’t disappoint" and praise both Keys and Minaj saying that "both artists share the spotlight on this song." TJ from Neon Limelight called the song "powerful". Website Rap-Up.com said that Minaj "adds some fuel to the fire" and that "[Keys] anthem kicks off with a blazing verse from the Young Money diva."

Live performances

The song was performed at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. Alicia Keys performed a special mix of the song along with Nicki Minaj and gymnast Gabby Douglas.

Music Video

Music Video	Information
	Premiere	November 2, 2012
	Filmed	September 2012
	Director	Sophie Muller
	Producer	Jacob Swan-Hyan
	Production co
	Exec. producer
	Editor
	Choreographer
	Length	4:37
	Source

A music video was released for the normal version on October 20, 2012. The music video for the Inferno version was directed by Sophie Muller and premiered on November 2, 2012, on VEVO at 5:45 pm.

Stills

Charts

In the chart week ending September 7, 2012, "Girl on Fire" debuted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number sixty-seven. This in part was driven by 2.1 million radio impressions according to Nielsen BDS.

Chart (2012)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	12
Australia Urban (ARIA)	2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)	1
Belgium (Ultratip 50 Flanders)	6
Belgium (Ultratip 40 Wallonia)	7
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	19
Czech Republic (IFPI)	10
Denmark (Tracklisten)	5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	18
France (SNEP)	5
Germany (Media Control AG)	4
Ireland (IRMA)	15
Israel (Media Forest)	5
Italy (FIMI)	18
Japan (Billboard Japan Hot 100)	5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	5
New Zealand (RIANZ)	7
Norway (VG-lista)	13
Romania (Romanian Top 100)	76
Scotland (Official Charts Company)	6
Slovakia (IFPI)	1
South Korea (Gaon International Chart)	1
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	29
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	5
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	5
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)	2
US Billboard Hot 100	11
US Pop Songs (Billboard)	15
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	2
US R&B Songs (Billboard)	2
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	44
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)	27
US Adult Comtemporary (Billboard)	29

Lyrics

"Girl On Fire (Inferno Version)" (Alicia Keys ft. Nicki Minaj)

{{{lyrics}}} Spirit of Marilyn calling me, audibly Bawling she, said that she would never leave Continued to torture me Telling me to come with her Underneath my comforter And she brought a gun with her Pills and some rum with her Tip me on the balcony telling me to jump with her Yeah I'm in the ghost but I ain't doing stunts with her I ain't tryna be that haters wanna see that But I got 'em aggy cause I win the gold like Gabby {{{lyrics}}} She's just a girl, and she's on fire  Hotter than a fantasy, longer like a highway  She's living in a world, and it's on fire  Feeling the catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away  Oh, she got both feet on the ground  And she's burning it down  Oh, she got her head in the clouds  And she's not backing down {{{lyrics}}} This girl is on fire  This girl is on fire  She's walking on fire  This girl is on fire {{{lyrics}}} Looks like a girl, but she's a flame  So bright, she can burn your eyes  Better look the other way  You can try but you'll never forget her name  She's on top of the world  Hottest of the hottest girls say  Oh, we got our feet on the ground  And we're burning it down  Oh, got our head in the clouds  And we're not coming down {{{lyrics}}} This girl is on fire  This girl is on fire  She's walking on fire  This girl is on fire {{{lyrics}}} Everybody stands as she goes by  'Cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes  Watch her when she's lighting up the night  Nobody knows that she's a lonely girl  And it's a lonely world  But she gon' let it burn, baby, burn, baby {{{lyrics}}} Dear God, If you're here God Make the fire disappear when they stare God Take away my fear when they interfere God Do you fear God? Cause I fear God And in my backyard, that's a deer, God And that's a horse ranch And to my core fans keep repping me Do it to the death of me X in the box cause ain't nobody checking me {{{lyrics}}} This girl is on fire  This girl is on fire  She's walking on fire  This girl is on fire {{{lyrics}}} Oh, oh, oh...  She's just a girl, and she's on fire