Alicia Keys is setting the record straight about her song choice at the Queen's Platinum Jubliee -- saying her NYC-based hit wasn't her pick -- it was the Queen's.
Alicia's been facing some backlash ever since performing "Empire State Of Mind" at Queen Elizabeth's royal ceremony on Saturday, with many thinking the song serves no purpose at an English bash ... but she says she was only giving the 96-year-old Royal what she wanted.
She posted some BTS videos from her big performance on Instagram Tuesday, showing how the whole thing went down.
The clip shows her 11-year-old son Egypt saying, "You can't refuse the Queen. It's against the law here!" She even wrote on her IG caption, "FYI: Every song was requested personally by the Queen ... Even EMPIRE!!"
Call me old fashioned, but why is Alicia Keys singing about NY when she is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in LONDON?
— Des Cassidy (@HonestInjin) June 4, 2022
Of course, fans of both Alicia and the royal family were confused when she sang her classic song about New York for the festivities overseas ... one even tweeted about the odd choice, saying "why the hell were American entertainers even invited."
Bottom line -- QE2's got a great taste for music ... don't question her!!!