Alicia Keys has repeatedly demonstrated that she is one of the best at generating massive hits, so her collaboration with media powerhouse Netflix is a natural creative fit.
Netflix states on its official Youtube channel: “To celebrate the release of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Netflix, Shondaland, and Alicia Keys created a 74-piece Global Orchestra made up entirely of women of color to perform a rendition of If I Ain’t Got You, on the 20th anniversary of the song. Also featuring cameos by Ofentse, Rimon, Cherrie, Amel Bent, Delara, and Alicia Awa.”
The 15-time Grammy winner’s 2003 album The Diary of Alicia Keys, which featured the hit single, has sold over eight million copies worldwide and boasts other smash singles like “You Don’t Know My Name” and “Diary.”
And as for Bridgerton, the show has enthralled viewers with its love plots and stars (Regé-Jean Page, anyone?) since 2020 and excellent orchestral interpretations of modern pop songs that sound right at home on anyone’s Spotify playlist.
So, to honor Queen Charlotte and the strength of women everywhere, Keys assembled a groundbreaking all-women-of-color global orchestra for the show’s prequel series, Shondaland’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. According to Billboard, the musicians hailed from countries like South Africa, Barbados, Germany, Sweden, and Egypt.
Queen Charlotte’s Global Orchestra performed If I Ain’t Got You to the delight of viewers, who expressed their gratitude for this historic performance by writing comments. One youtube viewer @boldmover wrote, “Thanks to Shonda Rhimes, we can see an Orchestra, an array of beautiful and talented women. This is something for their resume.”
Another Youtuber, @palupiparamarta4815 added, “I love that they chose this all females orchestra. The mini series is truly about several women trying to uphold their lives through the bitter taste of patriarchal and racism era. Exceptionally beautiful orchestra and performance.”