Alicia Keys
Courtesy Photo
Alicia Keys’ first-ever Holiday Masquerade Ball will be available to watch later this month, Apple Music said on Friday, December 16.
The singer is seen singing a melancholy rendition of “Please Come Home for Christmas” on the Apple Music Live stage in the preview for the virtual event, which will live on Wednesday, December 21. She sings while wearing a crystal-studded mask and a chic, tuxedo-inspired pantsuit. “Bells will be ringing sad sad news/ Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues/ My baby is gone and I have no friends/ To wish me greetings once again/ Choirs be singing “Silent Night”/ Christmas carols by the candlelight,” she sings.
The Masquerade Ball will include performances by JVKE and Jon Batiste and songs from Keys’ brand-new holiday album, Santa Baby, with help from TikTok. “This is THEE Holiday party of the season,” Keys said in a statement. “I’m grateful to Apple Music and TikTok for helping me create a magic moment to showcase my first holiday album, in such a special way, for everyone around the world.”
Santa Baby, which was only available on Apple Music and the iTunes Store when it was released in November, began in the top 20 of the Top Holiday Albums list on Billboard and has remained there for five weeks and counting. The studio album, which is a sequel to 2021’s KEYS, was preceded by the lead song and original Christmas album “December Back 2 June.”
