When "Empire State of Mind" came out, I rocked it all the time. When Alicia Keys hits the chorus, it literally moves me. It really pulls at your New York strings. I find myself singing "these streets will make you feel brand new, the lights will inspire you!" when I'm walking down the street, leaving the office, taking Jake outside at midnight, etc.
What I have never liked, however, are Jay-Z's lyrics - which imho keep the song from becoming a long-lived theme of the city. "MDMA got you feelin like a champion, the city never sleeps better slip you an ambien!?" for real? His attitude and thug lyrics were only bearable since I knew I'd hear Alicia.
Now, I learn that she recorded her own version - "Empire State of Mind II", which appears on her album. AWESOME!! Now I don't need to hear how Jay-Z made the Yankee's cap famous.
Here is the beautiful Ms. Keys performing it live:
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