"[19] The Daily Telegraph described the song's modern sound as "anthemic club pop" on which Keys produces a "singalong" chorus. [83] The VMA performance was the first time Jay-Z and Keys performed the song together. [65] As of June 2014, the song has sold 5,513,000 copies in the US. [2] The next day Platt sent it to Jay-Z, who "loved it and recorded it that night". [49] Complex placed the song at number nine on its list of "The 100 Best Jay-Z Songs" and on number four on its list of "The 25 Best Alicia Keys Songs", noting that the song "has replaced Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" as the city's go-to anthem, and remains one of Keys' greatest contributions to pop culture". [75] "Empire State of Mind"'s music video began filming on September 29, in Tribeca and around Ground Zero,[75] and was released on October 30, 2009. The following month, they submitted it to Jay-Z's label Roc Nation, whose reviews were a discouragement. [3], Jay-Z stated in an interview that after he first heard the track's piano loops, he immediately thought of Keys and wanted her to be featured on the song. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Earn your Psychology Degree at SUNY Empire State College. Keys recorded a sequel entitled "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", which is featured on her fourth studio album The Element of Freedom (2009). [2] Hunte said, "She's never done a record with him and she also has my same vocal tone. [55], "Empire State of Mind" achieved commercial success worldwide. She commented, "We all just looked at each other like, 'if Biggie approves, then, send it to Jay'". JAY Z - Empire State Of Mind (Letra e música para ouvir) - In 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 / Lets here it for New York, New York, New York Interspersed are clips of Keys playing piano and views of the New York skyline. [8], The song is played at a moderate tempo of 84 beats per minute and is written in the key of F# major. [1] The original takes of Keys' version, entitled "Empire State of Mind Part 2", included both Keys' vocals and a new rap verse from Jay-Z,[4] but the final product did not include Jay-Z. [68] The song peaked at number three on the Canadian Hot 100 and was listed as being the top digital gainer on December 12. ", "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010", "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Urban Singles 2010", "Austriancharts.nl - Jahreshitparade 2010", "Dutchcharts.nl - Jaaroverzichten - Single 2010", "Classement Téléchargments Singles - année 2010", "Topul celor mai difuzate piese în România în 2010", "Sverigetopplistan - Årslistan 2010 Note: Go to Sök alla listor > Årslistor > Välj år 2010 > Visa! [26] For the performance Jay-Z wore his signature Yankees cap[81] and Keys wore all black while playing the piano. Towards the end of the performance rapper Lil' Mama got up onto the stage uninvited and posed with Jay-Z and Keys while they were finishing the final verse of the track. At the 53rd Grammy Awards ceremony, the song won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song. Before its official release, "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" had reached number four on the UK Singles Chart on downloads alone. It was originally written by Angela Hunte and Janet Sewell-Ulepic as a tribute to their hometown, New York City. As of June 2014, the single has sold over 5.5 million copies in the United States.[1]. [11], On December 20, 2009, due to high downloads of "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number fifty-two. The piano component that runs throughout the song contains a sample of the 1970 single "Love on a Two-Way Street", written by Burt Keyes and Sylvia Robinson, performed by The Moments. It was also nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The success of the song from a high volume of album downloads, led to it being announced as the second single from The Element of Freedom in the UK. Neil Patrick Harris, Audra McDonald, and Lin-Manuel Miranda performed a parody of "Empire State of Mind" to close the 67th Tony Awards, with modified lyrics to recap the awards show. 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