Top Alicia Keys Music Moments in TV & Film

A look through Alicia Key’s music catalog featured in hit shows and films.

By Marissa Alvarez Last updated

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The American singer and 15-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys has dominated the music industry since her 2001 debut album, Songs In A Minor. The R&B artist has had multiple hits since the album and has sold over 65 million records, which has led her to numerous accomplishments.

The discography that led her to those accomplishments is filled with romantic, uplifting, and melancholy songs. The mix of all three displays her versatility as an artist, allowing her work to be featured in various forms of media, including films and TV shows. Here are some of the best Alicia Keys sync moments.

Sing 2 - “Girl On Fire (feat. Nicki Minaj)

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Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson

Taron Egerton

Taron Egerton

Bobby Cannavale

Bobby Cannavale

Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly

Nick Kroll

Nick Kroll

Halsey

Halsey

Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman

Letitia Wright

Letitia Wright

Eric André

Eric André

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams

Directed by Garth Jennings

Alicia Keys's 2012 hit “Girl On Fire (feat. Nicki Minaj) " vocalizes confidence and empowers women to overcome life's challenges. The song's rhythm and lyrics will empower anyone to face their fears, as demonstrated in the movie Sing 2.

Porsha (voiced by Halsey) is nervous about swinging on a bungee chord. To help her perform and face her fear, she sings the song to prove to herself that she’s fearless. The scene demonstrated the power of Key’s lyrics and the message she anticipated her audience would take from the song: believing in yourself.

Check out the full Sing 2 soundtrack here.

All American: Homecoming Season 1 Episode 5 - “Unthinkable (I’m Ready)”

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Geffri Maya

Geffri Maya

Cory Hardrict

Cory Hardrict

Sylvester Powell

Sylvester Powell

Camille Hyde

Camille Hyde

Mitchell Edwards

Mitchell Edwards

Netta Walker

Netta Walker

Peyton Alex Smith

Peyton Alex Smith

Kelly Jenrette

Kelly Jenrette

Rhoyle Ivy King

Rhoyle Ivy King

Expressing what it is like to fall in love is Keys “Unthinkable (I’m Ready).” The lyrics communicate a love story and being ready to fully experience a loving relationship with someone it feels right with, “I was wonderin', maybe, could I make you my baby? If we do the unthinkable, would it make us look crazy? If you ask me, I'm ready (I'm ready).”

The song is perfect for any romantic moment, as seen in All American: Homecoming. Simone (Geffri Maya) and Damon (Peyton Alex) share a heartfelt conversation about their struggles and challenges. The song underscores the intensity and vulnerability of their discussion, adding depth to the moment.

Check out the full All American: Homecoming soundtrack here.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 6 Episode 13 - “Wait Til You See My Smile”

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Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Pompeo

Chandra Wilson

Chandra Wilson

James Pickens Jr.

James Pickens Jr.

Justin Chambers

Justin Chambers

Kevin McKidd

Kevin McKidd

Camilla Luddington

Camilla Luddington

Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh

Caterina Scorsone

Caterina Scorsone

Kelly McCreary

Kelly McCreary

Kim Raver

Kim Raver

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl

T.R. Knight

T.R. Knight

The challenges of life can take a smile off of anyone’s face. The struggles can become overwhelming, especially when life changes take place. The lyrics within “Wait Til You See My Smile” describe the overwhelming feeling but also encourage those who are being affected by those challenges to keep going, “Sometimes in life, you don't see straight (Pray to him and he will show) / When your head is in a certain place / Nobody around to make you say (Stand strong and you will grow) / Oooh, wait 'til you see my smile.” The song's theme is displayed in Grey’s Anatomy, season 6, episode 13, “State of Love and Trust.”

The song accompanies various scenes as it plays during the closing montage. It highlights the emotional aftermath of the events in the episode as the characters reflect on their decisions and relationships, adding a hopeful tone to conclude the episode.

Check out the full Grey's Anatomy soundtrack here.

The Rookie Season 6 Episode 2 - “If I Ain’t Got You”

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Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion

Melissa O'Neil

Melissa O'Neil

Eric Winter

Eric Winter

Alyssa Diaz

Alyssa Diaz

Richard T. Jones

Richard T. Jones

Mekia Cox

Mekia Cox

Shawn Ashmore

Shawn Ashmore

Titus Makin Jr.

Titus Makin Jr.

Jenna Dewan

Jenna Dewan

Tru Valentino

Tru Valentino

Afton Williamson

Afton Williamson

Mercedes Mason

Mercedes Mason

Declaring your love for someone may be nerve-racking, but Keys has the perfect song: “If I Ain’t Got You.” The lyrics express people’s different wants and needs, but Key's life isn't complete unless she has the one person she loves the most.

The song's emotional and romantic ambiance is perfect for any scene involving characters falling for each other. The Rookie exemplifies that in season six, episode two, “The Hammer.” The song helps highlight Nolan's (Nathan Fillion) and Bailey’s (Jenna Dewan) connection as they share their vows while underscoring the characters' deep feelings.

Check out the full The Rookie soundtrack here.

Coach Carter - “You Don’t Know My Name”

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Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Rob Brown

Rob Brown

Robert Ri'chard

Robert Ri'chard

Rick Gonzalez

Rick Gonzalez

Nana Gbewonyo

Nana Gbewonyo

Antwon Tanner

Antwon Tanner

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum

Ashanti

Ashanti

Texas Battle

Texas Battle

Lacey Beeman

Lacey Beeman

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer

Allison Kyler

Allison Kyler

Directed by Thomas Carter

“You Don’t Know My Name” lyrically explains a beautiful, one-of-a-kind love story romantics dream about. Going from strangers to getting to know each other’s names, falling in love, and overcoming challenges together. The intimate song is ideal for any romantic on-screen moment to exemplify the characters' love for each other.

In Coach Carter, the song plays during a scene where Kenyon and his girlfriend, Kyra, spend time together. The song helps set the tone for their relationship while adding depth to their connection as they reflect on their emotions and challenges.

Check out the full Coach Carter soundtrack here.

The Great Gatsby - “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down”

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Rotten tomatoes48%
iMBD55
Metacritic7.2
Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton

Elizabeth Debicki

Elizabeth Debicki

Isla Fisher

Isla Fisher

Jason Clarke

Jason Clarke

Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan

Callan McAuliffe

Callan McAuliffe

Adelaide Clemens

Adelaide Clemens

Steve Bisley

Steve Bisley

Richard Carter

Richard Carter

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Jay-Z and Alicia Key's homage to the city they were born and raised in, “Empire State of Mind,” became a massive hit in 2009 and still rattles speakers to this day. The song became so popular that Keys released her rendition, “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down.” Unlike the original, her song is low-tempo and consists of calm vocals.

The song is ideal for people living in a big city with big dreams, like the characters in The Great Gatsby. It plays during the closing credits, tying in with the movie’s themes of ambition and dreams. Its somber tone also portrays Gatby’s journey well and the bittersweet conclusion of his pursuit of the American Dream.

Check out the full The Great Gatsby soundtrack here.

Drumline - “Butterflyz”

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Nick Cannon

Nick Cannon

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña

Orlando Jones

Orlando Jones

Leonard Roberts

Leonard Roberts

Earl Poitier

Jason Weaver

Jason Weaver

Candace Carey

Shay Roundtree

Shay Roundtree

Miguel A. Gaetan

Miguel A. Gaetan

J. Anthony Brown

J. Anthony Brown

Afemo Omilami

Afemo Omilami

Tyreese Burnett

Tyreese Burnett

Directed by Charles Stone III

Romance decorates the lyrics in “Butterflyz.” The song beautifully illustrates your love for a partner: “You give me butterflyz/ Have me flying so high in the sky/ I can’t control the butterflyz.” The feelings explained throughout the song paint a relatable picture for many who have fallen in love.

The 2002 musical comedy Drumline exemplifies this in a tender moment between two characters, Devon (Nick Cannon) and Laila (Zoe Saldana). The song allows the audience to understand their growing connection and adds a soft and emotional backdrop to their developing relationship throughout the film.

Check out the full Drumline soundtrack here.

All American Season 3 Episode 1 - “Good Job”

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Daniel Ezra

Daniel Ezra

Bre-Z

Bre-Z

Greta Onieogou

Greta Onieogou

Samantha Logan

Samantha Logan

Michael Evans Behling

Michael Evans Behling

Cody Christian

Cody Christian

Karimah Westbrook

Karimah Westbrook

Monet Mazur

Monet Mazur

Jalyn Hall

Jalyn Hall

Chelsea Tavares

Chelsea Tavares

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs

Hunter Clowdus

Hunter Clowdus

Hardships can blind us from our successes and make us forget how good of a job we do despite life’s challenges. Keys has the perfect song to remind you that you’re doing everything right, “Good Job.” It’s essential not to allow life’s challenges to drown you and make you forget everything you have accomplished. The heartfelt lyrics can lift listeners' spirits and remind them to keep going.

The song can also be used to reflect on the hardships one has faced. “Butterflyz” was used for a significant moment of reflection in All American, season 3, episode 1, “Season Pass.” It highlighted the characters' perseverance and aligned with the episode’s theme of overcoming personal and community challenges.

Check out the full All American soundtrack here.

Queen of Katwe - “Back To Life”

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Madina Nalwanga

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o

Martin Kabanza

Taryn "Kay" Kyaze

Esther Tebandeke

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine

Ethan Nazario Lubega

Nikita Waligwa

Ronald Ssemaganda

Peter Odeke

Philip Luswata

Philip Luswata

Directed by Mira Nair

Feeling like an outcast in your environment takes from one’s confidence and can hold someone back from new experiences. To help overcome those feelings and push you through those challenges is the uplifting song, “Back To Life.” The song has themes of overcoming adversity and being resilient. It reflects her journey of overcoming adversity and rising above her circumstances, resonating with the film’s message of hope and perseverance.

The song’s theme fits perfectly with the 2016 Disney film Queen of Katwe. The song plays during the end credits, tying together the film’s message of triumph and celebrating the real-life story of Phiana Mutesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy.

Check out the full Queen of Katwe soundtrack here.

Always Be My Maybe - “Pawn It All”

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Ali Wong

Ali Wong

Randall Park

Randall Park

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves

James Saito

James Saito

Michelle Buteau

Michelle Buteau

Vivian Bang

Vivian Bang

Daniel Dae Kim

Daniel Dae Kim

Karan Soni

Karan Soni

Charlyne Yi

Charlyne Yi

Susan Park

Susan Park

Lyrics Born

Lyrics Born

Casey Wilson

Casey Wilson

Directed by Nahnatchka Khan

“Pawn It All” reflects on knowing when to let go of something and the willingness to lose anything to do what you must do. Keys expresses throughout the song how she’ll pawn anything to get through the struggles, “I would give you everything/ Just so I can start my life over again/ Sometimes you gotta let it go/ Just to make it possible.”

The song is featured in the 2019 Netflix original film Always Be My Maybe. The song’s theme of starting over fits the film’s plot well, as both characters experience struggles, reflect on their life choices, and decide whether or not starting over is right.

Check out the full Always Be My Maybe soundtrack here.

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