Met fans are Met fans. Yankee fans are Yankee fans. My father watched the Yankees when there was absolutely no other baseball on television. Although we lived within spitting distance of the stadium (and I use "spitting" because I'm sure that's what he did when he walked by it), the family never went to a game. We traveled to Queens to see the Mets, by subway I might add.
He hated the Yankees. I mean, HATED the Yankees. All because the team dragged their feet on integration. They were the second to last MLB team to integrate, just before the much hated Boston Red Sox.
Now, if only these politicians stick to important convictions when they are elected, the world would be a better place. #congress
@afterabe: There's a difference between being a fan of a team and being a dick about another team's good fortune. He wasn't being asked to give BJs to the entirety of the Yankees, they just asked him to sign a "Congratulations" letter, basically. It's just kind of a sad move. I mean, do you think every president wants and likes the players of every winning sports team? I mean, my god, can you imagine trying to have a conversation with Ben Roethlisberger? No, of course not, because that would be horrible, but they still invite them over or make a "Nice job!" phone call when teams win anyway.
Thankfully no one will remember this in the future because who cares if a baseball fan (especially Mets fans, these days) acts like a big prick? That is called "Tuesday" so whatever. #congress
I dig this song a great deal, but I keep coming back to one question when asking if "Empire State of Mind" joins or replaces "New York, New York": What happens when Jay-Z is 60?
Sinatra nailed "New York, New York" in his latter years despite his age (64) and that the song wasn't originally written for him (Liza Minnelli). Would anyone wants to hear Jay-Z perform this song in his 60s, or hear someone else try it?
I'm lookin' at this as a turnaround. 2000 was great, then we had the events of 9/11 (R.I.P.), and the Yankees went down the tube. Been that way for a while. I'm going to use this well-deserved win to try and get back some of the feeling I had as a lifelong New Yorker and Yankeess fan. To look forward, enjoy the moment, and build on this success.
I couldn't give a crap about Kate's va-jay-jay (thks Oprah), or Minka's. These are great players, whether they are gettin' it on the regular or not. Kate's crotch didn't do nuthin' to win them games. When it's all said and done, when you've seen one, you've seen em all!
I can't believe no one has invoked the Beastie Boys here. Compare and contrast: "Big lights will inspire you" with "Dear New York this is a love letter/To you and how you brought us together/We can't say enough about all you do/'Cause in the city we're ourselves and electric too." Like, come ON.
Also, have to say it: Zeke Turner was way ahead of the curve on this last week: [www.mediaite.com]
@RachelSklar: Zeke was right at the curve, but I wouldn't say he was ahead of it on this one. The tipping point was City Hall. Jay-Z rapped about running New York in front of Mayor Bloomberg, who was booed. I'd say that's a moment. A VMA, a World Series Performance, and a good video is one moment short of the curve. #jayz
I honestly and unironically enjoy Keys' soaring vocals on this. Fuck haters saying it's trite. She's singing of the beauty, glamour and inspiration NYC does have for the unjaded. I was jaded, away from NY for a long while. To return is to be exhilarated anew. And I love this romantic, hopeful optimism in Alicia's part.
Jay-Z is still bragging about turning nice girls into whores. I'm feeling mightily over praising guys like this merely for their massive success. Ultimately not my thing I guess. #jayz
@Baroness:
Wow, who knew I could comment without signing up?
Just wanted to state for the record that Jay was not "bragging" about corrupting nice girls. Listen to the song more carefully, and you'll hear he was illustrating the flip-side of NYC's hypnotic nature. They come for education, stay for the glamor, and end up far different (and presumably worse-off) people.
That said, I agree that while Keys often grates, there's an undeniable beauty in her theatrical vocals on the hook. #jayz
@Baroness: I don't think he's bragging about that...I think he's talking more about the girls who come to NYC all young, pretty and wanting to make it and get taken advantage of. #jayz
I'm not entrenched in music, and think this is so called music is crap. But I was reminded by a friend that this is the voice of todays' youth much like Dylan's was of his generation. I guess he has a point, but I'm very certain that Boston, and the Styx have nothing to do with me.
@scott.edson.nyc: OMG there is actually a person in 2009 who uses the "rap music? More like CRAP music!" joke? Sir! I like the reference to "the Styx" though, it is an unusual aside in a standard dad post. #jayz
Jay-Z is so overrated. He was lucky enough to be the last guy standing after Tupac and Biggie were murdered. I will give Jay this, he is a master at marketing and publicity. He's also ruthless (check his list of enemies which include Dame, Beans and Biggs, people he used to call his family before he threw them under the bus).
@heywhat: Amen. This is why you'll never see me asskissing this rhyme-jacking dude or making him out to be the GOAT. These fans of his obviously have no clue what hip hop is, but are simply jumping on the bandwagon of one rapper who, for all intents and purposes, is part of the reason why its run into the fucking ground. #jayz
Ok very nice write-up. But let me hip you to the hip-talk. Ty-Ty is Jay-Zs best friend. They grew up together. When the Cavs were playing in the playoffs last year you see both of them salute Lebron at the end of the game.
It's called Empire State of Mind because Nas (onetime-inspiration-turned-nemesis-turned-buddy) recorded NY state of Mind (after Billy of course) for his classic Illmatic album many moons ago and if you really wanted to do a direct comparison, this is the track you'd want to dissect as there are a number of similarities. There were rumors Nas was supposed to appear on the track.
Beanie Sigel was once Jay-Zs protege and when Jay signed his latest deal he had to leave him and the rest of his old roster back at Def Jam. Of course Beanie feel neglected/slighted so he gotta take it to his former mentor/boss. But he's not the only rapper who's got beef, Game from the west coast has thrown a number of lyrical jabs at him.
50 Cent is probably the biggest threat Jay is facing (ironically he was mentor/boss to Game with whom he shares a running beef as well). 50 has the money and the name and the smarts but not the clout. Few outside of rap could give a rats ass about him aside from he beefed with Kanye (publicity stunt) to sell some records.
Aside from these asides, very good assessment. #jayz
Neon McDonald's arches are the most recognizable trademark behind Alicia Keys' piano scenes. Those big lights really will inspire you... Or at least get you a hankering over a Filet-O-Fish. #jayz
11/09/09
Met fans are Met fans. Yankee fans are Yankee fans. My father watched the Yankees when there was absolutely no other baseball on television. Although we lived within spitting distance of the stadium (and I use "spitting" because I'm sure that's what he did when he walked by it), the family never went to a game. We traveled to Queens to see the Mets, by subway I might add.
He hated the Yankees. I mean, HATED the Yankees. All because the team dragged their feet on integration. They were the second to last MLB team to integrate, just before the much hated Boston Red Sox.
Now, if only these politicians stick to important convictions when they are elected, the world would be a better place. #congress
11/09/09
Thankfully no one will remember this in the future because who cares if a baseball fan (especially Mets fans, these days) acts like a big prick? That is called "Tuesday" so whatever. #congress
11/08/09
Jay-Z is frat-boy rap. Sinatra is frat boy crooning. #jayz
11/08/09
Sinatra nailed "New York, New York" in his latter years despite his age (64) and that the song wasn't originally written for him (Liza Minnelli). Would anyone wants to hear Jay-Z perform this song in his 60s, or hear someone else try it?
It might be cliché these days, but "New York, New York" has proven it's staying power. The jury's still out on "Empire State of Mind." #jayz
11/08/09
I couldn't give a crap about Kate's va-jay-jay (thks Oprah), or Minka's. These are great players, whether they are gettin' it on the regular or not. Kate's crotch didn't do nuthin' to win them games. When it's all said and done, when you've seen one, you've seen em all!
Go Yankees!!!
11/08/09
11/08/09
Also, have to say it: Zeke Turner was way ahead of the curve on this last week: [www.mediaite.com]
But it's still a pretty great hook. #jayz
11/08/09
11/07/09
11/07/09
Jay-Z is still bragging about turning nice girls into whores. I'm feeling mightily over praising guys like this merely for their massive success. Ultimately not my thing I guess. #jayz
11/08/09
Wow, who knew I could comment without signing up?
Just wanted to state for the record that Jay was not "bragging" about corrupting nice girls. Listen to the song more carefully, and you'll hear he was illustrating the flip-side of NYC's hypnotic nature. They come for education, stay for the glamor, and end up far different (and presumably worse-off) people.
That said, I agree that while Keys often grates, there's an undeniable beauty in her theatrical vocals on the hook. #jayz
11/08/09
11/08/09
11/07/09
11/09/09
11/07/09
11/07/09
Oh, and Ty-Ty is his childhood friend. #jayz
11/08/09
11/07/09
It's called Empire State of Mind because Nas (onetime-inspiration-turned-nemesis-turned-buddy) recorded NY state of Mind (after Billy of course) for his classic Illmatic album many moons ago and if you really wanted to do a direct comparison, this is the track you'd want to dissect as there are a number of similarities. There were rumors Nas was supposed to appear on the track.
Beanie Sigel was once Jay-Zs protege and when Jay signed his latest deal he had to leave him and the rest of his old roster back at Def Jam. Of course Beanie feel neglected/slighted so he gotta take it to his former mentor/boss. But he's not the only rapper who's got beef, Game from the west coast has thrown a number of lyrical jabs at him.
50 Cent is probably the biggest threat Jay is facing (ironically he was mentor/boss to Game with whom he shares a running beef as well). 50 has the money and the name and the smarts but not the clout. Few outside of rap could give a rats ass about him aside from he beefed with Kanye (publicity stunt) to sell some records.
Aside from these asides, very good assessment. #jayz
11/07/09
11/07/09
11/07/09
11/07/09
11/07/09