When it was announced that Alicia Keys was going to be performing at the New York Knicks Championship parade a few weeks ago, everyone knew her performance was going to be good. After all, Ms. Keys is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 90 million records worldwide and been dubbed one of the best female vocalists of all time.
What viewers didn’t realize, however, was that Alicia Keys’ performance at the New York Knicks Championship parade would actually end up leaving millions of viewers in tears, with her rendition summing up everything that is beautiful about the city of New York and its people. The songs she chose were Billy Joel’s ‘New York State of Mind’, and of course her own ‘Empire State of Mind’, both of which she delivered with the power and passion of someone who truly loves the city in which they were born.
It wasn’t just those who were lucky enough to witness her performance on the day who felt emotional either; many fans have also taken to the YouTube comment section to leave their praise for Alicia’s renditions. “Basketball fan or not, how could you not smile?” said one viewer, while another added “this brings tears to my eyes.”
Of course, it wasn’t just Alicia Keys who contributed to the parade that day. Another video from the celebration, which is also making waves online, is that of New York Mayor Mamdani’s full speech, which is full of words of encouragement and pride for the people of New York City and the Knicks themselves.
With hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube alone, however, it’s the video of Alicia Keys’ performance of ‘New York State of Mind’ and ‘Empire State of Mind’ from the parade that really seems to be leaving a mark on the internet. With her inimitable voice bringing hundreds of fans together, it’s also a video that shows just how powerful music can be.
Alicia Keys’ heartfelt Knicks parade performance captured everything beautiful about New York, moving millions to tears and confirming her place among the city’s true musical voices. Want to watch the set or learn more about her career? Check the useful links below to stream the performance, view fan reactions and read further.