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Alicia Keys defends Queen’s Platinum Jubilee performance after backlash to Empire State Of Mind-Cydney Yeates-Entertainment – Metro
It all makes sense…
Alicia Keys has explained the decision behind the song she performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations (Picture: AP)
Alicia Keys has explained why she sang Empire State Of Mind at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Saturday after sparking backlash.
The 41-year-old singer was among the artists who performed at the Platinum Party at the Palace from the Mall, with the likes of Eurovision’s Sam Ryder and Ed Sheeran also taking to the stage.
Alicia showcased her incredible vocals during her mindblowing set, which saw her perform Superwoman, Girl On Fire, City Of Gods and Empire State Of Mind.
However, the latter tune was met with criticism with viewers claiming the hit didn’t really ‘encapsulate our Queen’.
‘I mean I love Alicia Keys and this song BUT WHAT is an AMERICAN doing at the PLATINUM JUBILEE CONCERT singing about NEW YORK?????’ vented one.
Alicia performed during the Platinum Party at the Palace in front of Buckingham Palace (Picture: AP)
‘Put Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Robbie or even GARY on!!!!!’
Another slammed: ‘Call me old fashioned, but why is Alicia Keys singing about NY when she is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in LONDON?’
Alicia, however, has since defended performing the track.
In a video of all the behind-the-scenes antics from the big day, she told her two sons, Egypt, 12, and Genesis, seven, that her majesty had actually requested the songs.
The singer explained to her two sons that the Queen had personally requested that she sings Empire State Of Mind (Picture: Instagram)
Her son X said ‘you can’t refuse the Queen!’ (Picture: Instagram)
‘[I’m] telling the boys that the Queen requested the songs that I’m singing,’ Alicia told the camera. ‘And they were like, “you cant refuse the Queen!”’
‘You can’t refuse the Queen,’ her eldest son, Egypt, added. ‘It’s against the law here, seriously.’
Well, that explains it.
Alicia blew crowds away with her spectacular performance (Picture: AP)
Alicia totally encapsulated the crowd with her voice on the night, with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall captured applauding.
During her set, she told the crowd: ‘You know when I’m in London, I feel like I’m home. It reminds me so much of New York. I love you London.’
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She then played a transition of the City Of Gods before Empire State Of Mind.
‘If you believe in hope, this song is for you,’ she continued.
‘We’re never going to let go of our dream.’
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