Alicia Keys Says Queen Elizabeth Requested "Empire State of Mind"
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When Alicia Keys started singing "Empire State of Mind" at a concert for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, many viewers were confused. Why sing a song famously about New York City during a celebration of a British monarch's historic 70-year-reign?
As it turns out, Keys sang about New York because Queen Elizabeth wanted her to. "Telling the boys that the Queen requested the songs that I'm singing," Keys shared on Instagram. Her son Egypt replied, "It's pretty cool. You can't refuse the Queen. It's against the law here."
"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," Keys said ahead of the performance. "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."
Keys performed "Girl on Fire" and "Empire State of Mind" during the show. And though the Queen herself didn't attend the concert, she made an appearance in a clip having tea with Paddington Bear. The concert was attended by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and Princes Charles and Prince William made speeches.
In addition to Keys, performers included Diana Ross, Queen (the band), Sir Rod Stewart, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow, George Ezra, Duran Duran, and Andrea Bocelli.
"I have had the honor of meeting The Queen many times throughout my life, including when I was with my family," Ross said ahead of her performance. "Her Majesty has and continues to be such an incredible inspiration to so many across the world and I was absolutely delighted to receive an invitation to perform on such a momentous and historic occasion."
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