Alicia Keys clapped back at the haters who bashed her song choices at Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee concert on June 4.
The “No One” crooner, 41, performed her hits “Empire State of Mind,” “Girl on Fire” and “Superwoman.”
However, British viewers were especially confused when Keys decided to harmonize her 2009 single, a love letter to New York City, on a London stage.
The Manhattan native took to social media on Monday and revealed in a behind-the-scenes featurette that the 96-year-old monarch herself “personally” requested the concert’s playlist.
“Telling the boys that the queen requested the songs that I’m singing,” she said in her clip as she lounged with her sons Egypt, 11, and Genesis, 7, in a golf cart. “And they were like, ‘You can’t refuse the queen.’ “
“You can’t refuse the queen. It’s against the law here,” Egypt jokingly noted.
“We here at Buckingham Palace. We are about to celebrate the queen’s Jubilee, which to me is for all the queens,” she chortled.
The “Nanny Diaries” actress also expressed her excitement about performing in front of the royal family.
“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 said. “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.”
Alicia Keys was among the many A-listers who performed during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee concert on June 4. Getty Images
The monarch commemorated her seven decades on the British throne with a slew of Platinum Jubilee festivities last weekend. Getty ImagesDuring her evening performance, fans tweeted their bewilderment over Keys’ performance of “Empire State of Mind.”
“She’s singing about New York in London… She can’t do that,” one observer tweeted.
“Although I love the song about New York, you’re in London baby,” one more tweeter commented.
After the “Fallin'” singer caught on to the crowd’s surprise, she rapidly switched the lyrics in one verse from “New York” to “London.”
Alicia Keys serenaded the audience during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee concert on June 4. APWhile the sovereign wasn’t able to attend the show due to experiencing “some discomfort” during kickoff events on June 2, other members of the royal family attended including heir apparent Prince Charles and wife Camilla; Prince George and Princess Charlotte and their parents Kate Middleton and Prince William.
Diana Ross, Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers, Stefflon Don, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rod Stewart and Andrea Bocelli also took center stage at the music fest to celebrate Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne.
