Being criticized for performing her 2009 hit ‘Empire State of Mind’ at the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign, the Grammy winner insists the sovereign ‘personally’ requested the setlist.
AceShowbiz –Alicia Keys has clapped back at criticism over her performance at Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee concert. Being booked as one of the headliners at the “Party at the Palace” on Saturday, June 4, the American singer has received backlash for her song choices at the celebration of the Queen’s 70-year reign.
For the concert, Keys sang three songs, “Empire State of Mind”, “Girl on Fire” and “Superwoman”. While “Girl on Fire” and “Superwoman” were not written with the royal in mind, the song’s lyrics aptly serve as ode to the Queen. However, British viewers were confused when the songstress sang her 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind”, which is a love letter to New York City, on a London stage.
Taking to her Instagram page, Keys has addressed the matter. In a video uploaded on Monday, June 6, the Grammy winner took fans behind-the-scenes of her performance while telling everyone that the Queen herself “personally” requested every song on her setlist.
“Telling the boys that the Queen requested the songs that I’m singing,” Keys said in the clip as she sat with her sons in the back of a golf cart. “And they were like, ‘You can’t refuse the Queen.’ ” Her 11-year-old son Egypt chimed in, “You can’t refuse the Queen. It’s against the law here.”
Keys stressed in the caption, “Every song was requested personally by the Queen. Even EMPIRE!!”
In the video, Keys also showed her preparation for the concert. “We here at Buckingham Palace. We are about to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, which to me is for all the queens,” she said with a wink.
“Today was amazing, just to see where we’re performing. The content that would usually be placed on a screen is all going to be projected onto the palace,” she gushed. “I can’t wait to see how it looks, just sprawled with those beautiful songs, that 80-piece orchestra, the music, now with this look together with Moschino. It’s about to be crazy.”
During her wardrobe fittings for the show, the 41-year-old artist shared, “Still trying to decide if we go with the frame amazing arms and shoulders or do we go for the cape. They are both so beautiful. I think the cape is really the one that feels the most royal, powerful, the whole vibe.”
Keys eventually went with a black gown with a cap embellished with gold detailing on both shoulders for the performance. She completed the look with gold hoops and speckles of gold in her updo.
Queen Elizabeth didn’t attend the concert in person due to her ongoing mobility issues, but she watched the show on TV at home in Windsor Castle. Andrea Bocelli, Diana Ross, Elton John, Duran Duran, Rod Stewart and Lin-Manuel Miranda were among other performers at the show.
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