"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

The Blueprint

“I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can.” –Jay Z.

 jayz2

Well, not really, but nice try, Jigga. It’s not a bad line.

A few days ago, Emma wrote:

Empire State of Mind, as I said a few weeks ago, has a nice catchy hook but isn’t a great song, and far from Jay-Z’s best. Still, it’s neat that this postseason had such an obvious anthem – if only because now I’ll think of the 2009 Yankees every time I hear it, probably for the rest of my life. And I mean, say what you want about the tune, but the song that makes me think of the 2000 Yankees is “Who Let the Dogs Out,” so count your damn blessings.

I don’t listen to much new music these days so I missed this tune when it first came out. Then I caught a performance of it on TV right before the playoffs began. Can’t say that it moved me much, but I am a sucker for New York City love songs. Pop songs, or whatever. And I like Jay’s rhymes so it wasn’t offensive or anything.

Since then, of course, the song has literally become the anthem for the 2009 Yankees. Like it or not. Jocks and musicians have always loved hanging around each other, so it makes sense that Jay-Z would latch on to these Yankees. It’s all about branding, son, and Jay didn’t just fall off a turnip truck.

Jay loves the Yankees, he raps for the Yankees, he rides in their parade. And the Yanks love Jay in return.

So, for better or worse, we’ll never be able to listen to this song without thinking of the Yankees.

I’m in the new Sinatra, and since I made it here, I can make it anywhere.

Hearing that lyric while watching images of Alex Rodriguez’s heroics this off-season, and yeah, the song fits, man. The fact that it is a pop song makes it ideally suited for this kind of thing.

Emma was right, it’s an upgrade from “Who Let the Dogs Out.”

 

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26 comments

1 edoubletrouble   ~  Nov 7, 2009 1:20 am

I think I'm gonna choreograph Brooklyn 6th graders to Empire State of Mind. A teacher suggested it. I've listened to Empire State of Mind over a dozen times in the last two days and I'll admit ... I like it, especially while riding through Manhattan on my bike. youknowhatiimsayin?

2 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Nov 7, 2009 1:30 am

Nice to see the Yankee organization embracing music from this century. Having Mary J. Blige sing the anthem was great and the sort of thing they should do more often (Alicia Keys should be next). Paul Simon, Billy Joel, etc., yeah, they're all well and good, but, like Alex said, it's all about branding, and the Yankees, hell baseball as a whole, should brand younger and hipper (not that I think we'll ever see the day when they have the equivalent of TV on the Radio or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs out on the field). Bring in the culture of the city today.

As for the tune, I dig it. Properly anthemic and sentimental, even if the line about the Yankee cap is a brag too far.

3 NYYfan22   ~  Nov 7, 2009 1:49 am

I got no qualms with "Empire State of Mind". It's catchy.

[2] that's a good point, Cliff. Related to that point: I get mixed feelings about the whole "God Bless America" tradition at Yankee Stadium-whether it's sooo important for us to hear it every game. Most days, I figure, well.. they're taking a 3 minute break anyway, and there's still time for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" so whatever. BUT - I don't know if it has to be Kate Smith's prehistoric recording of the tune. geesh.

4 monkeypants   ~  Nov 7, 2009 2:21 am

[2] Young and hip is fine and all, but of all north american sports, baseball has the most at stake in its own history and tradition. It can be irritation always to refer back to the old days, but at the same time that is part of baseball's unique charm in the sports landscape. I for one do not want to see the old completely abandoned...there is plenty of room for new songs and Frank Sinatra at Yankee stadium.

5 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Nov 7, 2009 5:53 am

I'm not a Jay-Z fan but love the video!
[4] Careful there, you don't want to open yourself to "old man shaking fist at those meddling kids" jokes.. :)

6 unmoderated   ~  Nov 7, 2009 7:09 am

I think me and Mr. OK are the only people left who aren't Jay Z fans.

7 Shaun P.   ~  Nov 7, 2009 8:40 am

[5] [6] Me neither - though I dig that he loves the Yanks, and I like this song, Jay-Z isn't my cup of tea. I'm pretty sure thelarims is with us too.

Seeing as I never listen to rap/hip-hop, I still haven't gotten the lyrics straight in my head. I wonder how many times I'll have to listen to it to get them?

8 Paul   ~  Nov 7, 2009 9:19 am

Personally I love the Keys hook. I loved the the early Jay but his part in the anthem seems forced. The arrangement though is pitch perfect for pop.

[2] I wonder how much of that is the Steinbrothers. Hal's wife seemed absolutely smitten that she was so close to Jay.

"Bring in the culture of the city today."

That's a great thought. The stadium should be lens on the city, not the barricade it was during the 80s. Hopefully with the new place it will be. It's certainly more welcoming.

9 OldYanksFan   ~  Nov 7, 2009 9:21 am

As an old anddecaying guy, there are very few contemporary artists I like and respect. I don't really know Jay Z's stuff well enough to like or dislike him. That particular tune however has some real merrit. The problem is the machine like base drum line is not only mixed way too loud, but is terribly inappropriate for that song. Well, at least there was no record scratching involved. Actually, I would like a shot at the musical arrangement of it.

Alex... You are aware that the greatest piano player in the history of Rock'n'Roll has a little tune about NY right?

comes down to reality, and it's fine with me cause I've let it slide.
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.
I don't have any reasons.
I left them all behind.
I'm in a New York state of mind.

Classic.

10 ms october   ~  Nov 7, 2009 9:44 am

i am a jay fan - mostly because of reasonable doubt, but i thought american gangster was a good album too. blueprint 3 is meh. but empire state of mind is a good anthem song. i think there are some good references to older things as well as nyc now.

11 RIYank   ~  Nov 7, 2009 10:23 am

Lady Gaga is also a fan, and apparently has a favorite Yankee.

12 ny2ca2dc   ~  Nov 7, 2009 10:33 am

Goose bumps from that video

13 edoubletrouble   ~  Nov 7, 2009 11:05 am

Empire State Of Mind
by Jay Z

yeah
Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn.
Now I'm down in Tribeca.
Right next to DeNiro
But I'll be hood forever

I'm the new Sinatra
And since I made it here
I can make it anywhere
Yeah they love me everywhere

I used to cop in Harlem
All of my Dominicanos
Right there off of Broadway
Brought me back to that McDonalds

Took it to my stash spot
560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like Simmons whipping Pastry

Cruising down 8th street
Off-white Lexus
Driving so slow
but BK, it's from Texas!!

Me I'm out that BedStuy
Home of that boy Biggie
now I live on Billboard
and I brought my boys with me

Say what up to Ta-ta
Still sipping Mai Tais
Sitting courtside
Knicks and Nets give me high-5

_____, I be Spiked out
I could trip a referee
... tell by my attitude that I'm MOST DEFINITELY FROM ...

New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can’t do,
Now you're in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game,
I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can,

you should know I bleed Blue, but I ain't a crip tho,
but I got a gang of ____ walking with my clique though,

welcome to the melting pot,
corners where we selling rocks,
Afrika bambaataa ____,
home of the hip hop,

yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back,
for foreigners it ain't fitted act like they forgot how to act,

8 million stories out there and they're naked,
city it's a pity half of y’all won’t make it,

Me? I gotta plug a special and I got it made,
If Jeezy's payin LeBron, I’m paying Dwayne Wade,

3 dice cee-lo
3 card marley,
Labor Day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley,

Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade,
long live the king yo,
I’m from the Empire State that’s …

New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can’t do,
Now you're in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

Lights is blinding,
girls need blinders
so they can step out of bounds quick,
the side lines is

blind with casualties,
who sip the lite casually, then gradually become worse,
don’t bite the apple Eve,

caught up in the in crowd,
now you're in-style,
and in the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out,

the city of sin is a pity on a whim.
good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them,

Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out,
everybody ride her, just like a bus route,

Hail Mary to the city you’re a Virgin,
and Jesus can’t save you life starts when the church ends,

came here for school, graduated to the high life,
ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight,

MDMA got you feeling like a champion,
the city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien

New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can’t do,
Now you're in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

One hand in the air for the big city,
Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty,

No place in the World that can compare,
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say
yeaaahh come on, come, yeaaahh, yeah,

New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can’t do,
Now you're in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

14 edoubletrouble   ~  Nov 7, 2009 11:10 am

sorry for the lack of "bad words" - I copy/pasted the version I'll be giving to the kids.

15 monkeypants   ~  Nov 7, 2009 11:16 am

[5] Careful there, you don’t want to open yourself to “old man shaking fist at those meddling kids” jokes.. :)

That's OK. I have been on the receiving end of those...since I was a teenager!

16 matt b   ~  Nov 7, 2009 11:21 am

[9] That's funny - I didn't think Jerry Lee Lewis wrote that song. ;)

17 unmoderated   ~  Nov 7, 2009 12:02 pm

thing is, I love hip hop, but i haven't heard anything newer that i enjoy (my fault, i'm sure there's some fantastic underground stuff out there i haven't heard)

i gave up around the time the first missy elliot album came out. those beats were just not for me.

18 williamnyy23   ~  Nov 7, 2009 1:18 pm

I had never (knowingly) heard Jay Z sing before this song and was really surprised that he doesn't have a very good voice. I am sure he must have other positive qualities to his music, but the voice isn't one of them. Now, the lady who does the song with him does have a nice voice, but I assume its Jay Z who makes it popular.

19 williamnyy23   ~  Nov 7, 2009 1:21 pm

[4] Absolutely...also, more important than "new music" is good music. Quite frankly, the lyrics of the Empire song are kind of silly. I mean, is the following really "good" music?

I used to cop in Harlem
All of my Dominicanos
Right there off of Broadway
Brought me back to that McDonalds

20 51cq24   ~  Nov 7, 2009 1:51 pm

[9] i don't hate billy joel. i like songs like the longest time and only the good die young, but for some reason i find most of his slower songs to be insufferable. i don't usually have anything about slow ballads, but his i just don't like. i'm grateful that we aren't subjected to new york state of mind like mets fans.

21 Yankster   ~  Nov 7, 2009 2:19 pm

[10] Dead on, the Keys hook blows my mind. I'm an immigrant and first lived in New York, it's my America, but I'm not living there now, and honestly, the way Keys does the hook brings tears to my eyes. Makes me want to be back. Reminds me why the Yankees are my team, because New York is my home. Z is no great shakes, but he has a great brand.

[2] I would love to see Keys do the anthem, but not sure even the Yankees can afford to have her around very often...

22 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Nov 7, 2009 2:24 pm

[18] Alicia Keys has one of the best voices going in R&B today, but yeah, Jay could have had anyone sing that hook and had a hit, but Keys is a huge star and a native New Yorker and a great singer (old school soul heads, check out "You Don't Know My Name" or "If I Ain't Got You").

23 Chyll Will   ~  Nov 7, 2009 8:41 pm

I used to cop in Harlem
All of my Dominicanos
Right there off of Broadway
Brought me back to that McDonalds

I love when rappers shout out certain landmarks in neighborhoods that would otherwise be obscure. I went to that Mickey D's quite often when I worked on that side of town... (but not for that!) >;)

The lyrics are cool, not up to Jay Z's usual par, but hey he knew how t reach as many people as possible. I adore Alicia Keys, and her chorus has my adrenaline rushing when I hear it. All-in-all, it's not a bad song.

It could have been a lot worse; it could have been Ja Rule's New York, which is far less appropriate (and Jeter has used that as his intro music too...)

24 monkeypants   ~  Nov 7, 2009 9:03 pm

[18] How about this--I *still* haven;t heard the now-famous Empire State of Mind, or at least if I have, I did not know it. I find most all of the pregame stuff pretty off-putting, so I tune in to some other show (usually something on Sci Fi) until literally right before the first pitch. If Fox (or whoever) cuts to some fluff piece of celebrities, I tune out again. And so on.

So, truth be told, I have no idea if it's a good song or not. I am certainly not hip and I'm probably not considered young. I'm not the target for this branding.

25 rob_smith_51   ~  Nov 8, 2009 12:18 am

Who let the Dogs Out = 2000 or 2001 Seattle Mariners. That was quite annoying. Right up there with Rally monkey/Thunder sticks. I generally don't like fans with props.

26 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Nov 8, 2009 6:08 am

[24] Come on now, tweed coats with elbow patches and a copy of "Critique of Pure Reason" under your arm..what could be hipper?

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
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