When the pandemic forced all concerts and music performances in the foreseeable future to either cancel or postpone, most of us were just concerned about getting our money back from Ticketmaster. But now that six months have passed and things have settled, we’re realizing just just how much we miss not being able to raise our hands in the air and wave them like we just don’t care (with thousands of other music fans).Alicia Keys, for one, is tired of playing to empty seats, so she joined forces with James Corden on
The Late Late Show (weekdays at 12:30am ET/PT on CTV) Thursday night to sing a creative remix of her hit song, “No One.” And no one can keep them from singing.
In an empty rehearsal studio at CBS, James and Alicia lamented the loss of audiences and how the pandemic has made us all long for each other’s company. “Empty studio, for our safety it’s better. Not a soul in sight, and it echoes forever. We used to be together! There were crowds and lights. But not right now ‘cause nobody can be packed tight,” they sang in alternating lines to the somber piano tune of Alicia’s 2007 song.“Skip the crowd surfing, people stay back six feet. Now all I see are empty rows of blank seats. No one, no one, no one! Is here in the room, it’s a weird feeling," they continued before being interrupted by a gruff janitor who just wants to lock up for the night. Jeez, way to ruin the mood, bud.The duet was part of Alicia's four-night residency on
The Late Late Show this week where she's performed songs off her recent album
with Bebe Rexha and
Khalid. She also
dragged Blake Shelton in a game of "Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts."[video_embed id='2037245']RELATED: Alicia Keys is motivated to make a change [/video_embed]
Last week, James joined forces with Dua Lipa to do another COVID-themed remix of some popular songs, that time about how physical distancing and self-isolation have changed online dating and even sex. That was a fun and silly romp into the quirkiness of our new reality, but as Alicia and James harmonized “no one, no one, no one,” it’s hard not to get a lump in your throat. We miss other people!Course they still had time to insert a joke or two. When James said, “We’re both used to playing for thousands of people,” Alicia countered him with, “I’m used to playing Madison Square Garden.“Is that bigger than my studio? I didn’t grow up here.” Just by a smidge, James.This isn’t the first time Alicia and James have teamed up to offer a different take on a classic song; last year when concerts were still allowed (‘twas a simpler time!), they did their own take on Lady Gaga’s and Bradley Cooper’s “
Shallow” from
A Star Is Born.Maybe one day we’ll be able to gather again and hear all of James’ celebrity remixes in person.Watch
The Late Late Show weekdays at 12:30am ET/PT on CTV.[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Bulldog puppy goes for a ride on a robot vacuum [/video_embed]
