Singer Alicia Keys has revealed that Queen Elizabeth II requested personally each of the songs performed in her Platinum Jubilee concert setlist after receiving criticism online, in a post to her social media accounts on Monday.
Keys performed a selection of her hit songs including “Superwoman” and “Girl on Fire” at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert outside Buckingham Palace staged to celebrate the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.
The inclusion of the American born Keys in the lineup of stars which included the band Queen with Adam Lambert, as well as Sir Rod Stewart, caused a wave of confusion and backlash when her hit song “Empire State of Mind,” a self confessed love letter to New York was included on the set list.
Though the singer altered the lyrics of the song in the closing verses to substitute “New York” for “London” social media users posted their bemusement online. Columnist Jane Martinson posted to Twitter:
“Alicia Keys and New York – my fave song but one that doesn’t exactly scream the Queen and jubilee tbf”
Another Twitter user commented: “Absurdly funny to me that they got Alicia Keys to perform Empire State of Mind during a celebration of the English Monarchy. Happy jubilee, here’s a song about that colony you lost.”
Additionally, one user suggested: “Still not over the fact that Alicia Keys decided to sing ‘in New Yoooork’ right next to Buckingham Palace, and organisers of this Platinum Jubilee had no issues whatsoever with this setlist.”
Keys seemed to brush off any criticism on social media, posting a behind the scenes video of the experience and stating that the monarch was behind the inclusion of “Empire State of Mind” in her performance. She said:
“Epic night at the jubilee!! Celebrating the Queen and all the Queens!!!! ‘She’s got her feet on the ground and she’s burning it down!’
“FYI: Every song was requested personally by the Queen. Even EMPIRE!!”
A scene in the backstage video also shows Keys with her children during rehearsals for the show where she says: “I’m telling the boys that the Queen requested the songs that I’m singing and they were like ‘you can’t refuse the Queen.'”
To which one of her sons jokingly responded: “You can’t refuse the Queen. It’s against the law here, seriously.”
Keys performed her set before an emotional musical homage to the natural world composed by Hans Zimmer which was concluded with a speech from Prince William.
The royal used the opportunity to celebrate his grandmother while drawing attention to a cause he has displayed a keen passion for, the environment, saying:
“While no one’s grandmother thanks them for talking about their age, my own grandmother has been alive for nearly a century. In that time, mankind has benefited from unimaginable technological developments and scientific breakthroughs.
“And although those breakthroughs have increased our awareness of the impact humans have on our world, our planet has become more fragile.”
He then closed with the remarks: “Tonight has been full of such optimism and joy, and there is hope. Together, if we harness the very best of humankind, and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, for our grandchildren and for future generations to come.
“They will be able to say, with pride at what’s been achieved, “What a Wonderful World”.”
The concert was brought to a close by a performance from Motown star Diana Ross in her first performance in Britain for 15 years
