Alicia Keys' KEYS TO THE SUMMER TOUR came to a triumphant end on Aug. 2nd at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA. Keys had been on the road for 23 arena dates across the country. A celebration of her two-decade career, as this summer marked 22 years since the release of Keys’ debut album Songs In A Minor. No one who’s had a trajectory like Keys - she started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Columbia Records. Keys versatility as songwriter, singer and pianist has cemented her as one of the best in the business.
Inside the Kia Forum we were treated to a 360-degree stage, which included an in-the-round main stage and two catwalks on each side. No seat had a bad view as the stage set up allowed Keys to interact with all sides of the arena. The entire arena looked sold-out, not an empty seat in sight.
Key’s started off the night with the classic fan-favorite hit "Fallin’." Chills went down my arm as her powerful vocals so effortlessly glided through different octaves. Performing on her sparkly platinum Yamaha grand piano, she entertained with her immense catalog of R&B, hip-hop and soul hits. The 32-song set list included “New Day,” "You Don’t Know My Name," and "Unthinkable (I'm Ready)." Key’s powerful and vibrant energy kept the whole venue cheering.
The show was well choreographed as Keys would utilize the side catwalks often, never letting one side get all the action. Towards the middle of her set, Keys sat on the elevated steps to perform a solo version of "My Boo" where a dancer appeared for a heartfelt choreographed dance. She disappeared after “My Boo,” giving her musicians time to shine with solo performances. Keys re-emerged on the same stairs with an upright piano to the sound of “City of the Gods (Part II).” The second half of the night was dedicated to her biggest hits including “Like You'll Never See Me Again,” “Girl on Fire, and “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down.” Throughout her tour Key’s had been performing the Eurythmics cover “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” for this show she surprised everyone with the icon Annie Lennox. The crowd went wild as the two duetted the big hit. Keys ended the night on a high note by bringing her son on stage for a sweet performance of “If I Ain't Got You.”
For more on Alicia Keys, visit aliciakeys.com
Setlist
- Falling
- New Day
- Love Looks Better
- Limitedness
- Murder She Wrote (Snippet)
- Ghetto Story (Cham Cover)
- You Don’t Know My Name
- Teenage Love Affair
- Karma
- Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart
- Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)
- Underdog
- Blended Family (What You Do For Love)
- Holy War
- Come For Me
- My Boo
- City Of Gods (Part II)
- How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? (Prince Cover)
- The Thing About Love
- A Woman’s Worth
- Superwoman
- Not Even The King
- Diary
- Like You’ll Never See Me Again
- I Need You
- The Gospel
- Where Do We Go From Here
- Girl On Fire
- Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurythmics cover)
- In Common
- No One
- If I Ain’t Got You
Photo Credit: Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for AK
