Is Jay-Z Trying to Oust the Chairman of New York Anthems?

By Laura Ferreiro Posted Nov 12th 2009 09:31PM

It seems that everywhere you turn, Jay-Z's ode to New York, 'Empire State of Mind,' is being played at top volume, not just by fans but also by Jay-Z himself. The rap star performed it with Alicia Keys at Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium last month, and used it to close out the NYC-based MTV Video Music Awards. What's more, Bono introduced him as "the Mayor of New York" when he performed at U2's Berlin Wall concert last week.

Could it be that Jay-Z is angling to displace Frank Sinatra's famous song 'New York, New York' with his own 'Empire' as the anthem of the Big Apple? The rapper has long compared himself to Ol' Blue Eyes and makes some boastful claims in the song, which appears on his latest album 'The Blueprint 3'.

"I'm the new Sinatra," he raps, "and since I made it here I can make it anywhere."

The two crooners do, in fact, share a lot in common. Both grew up just outside New York City and transcended poverty with a combination of street smarts, talent and business savvy. They've both paraded around town with beautiful women on their arms and have found themselves hobnobbing with young Democratic presidents. Now it seems that Jay-Z is out to challenge the dominance of Sinatra's enduring ode to their beloved city.

PopEater spoke with several music and pop culture experts to find out if they believe 'Empire' could be the New York anthem for a new generation, and if it has a chance of enduring the way Sinatra's 30-year-old tune has. According to Jessica Robertson, news editor of Spinner.com, Jay-Z's tune has a good shot.

"I believe 'Empire State of Mind' could certainly be the modern anthem of New York," she says. "It's a new city in many respects, and Jay-Z's song, along with Jay-Z himself, represents this new era and does so without neglecting the old, or classic, New York. That said, it would have to stand the test of time. Sinatra's has up to this point. Will Jay-Z's? We have to wait."

Ann Powers, pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times, agrees that the tune must first withstand the test of time. "Other artists have to reference it and/or cover it," she says. "It has to be used in movies, television shows, marketing campaigns. It needs to permeate the culture until it transcends its association with Jay-Z."

Powers points out that when we hear Sinatra's 'New York, New York,' "we only think of Frank peripherally -- we think of the city itself, the buildings lit up at night, the taxicabs, the challenges and glamour of the city. Frank embodies the New York he sings about but he also merges with it -- and whoever's listening also enters the song and imagines herself as the one 'making it there.' If 'Empire State of Mind' becomes THAT kind of song, then it will be definitive for New York."

Sinatra scored a Top 40 hit with 'New York, New York' in 1980, three years after Liza Minnelli debuted it in Martin Scorsese's film of the same name. Since then it has been played at ballgames, political rallies, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and anywhere people want to invoke the grandeur of the Big Apple. Tracey Ford, managing editor of TheBoomBox.com, believes that Jay-Z's tune may function similarly for new generations.

"Jay-Z's 'Empire State of Mind' serves as the perfect anthem for this generation's New York," she says. "A lot has changed since Martin Scorcese's 1977 film, and now, New York is represented by a different type of man/woman. And much like 'New York, New York,' Jay-Z's 'Empire State of Mind' shares the same feeling of "if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere."

Ford points out that Jay-Z's tune may not appeal to the senior set, however. "'Empire State of Mind' may never be as popular to a certain audience, particularly the older generation, just like 'New York, New York' does not resonate with today's teen."

Variety music and film critic Andrew Barker isn't entirely convinced that Jay-Z's hip-hop tune has the cross-over potential necessary to make it into a modern-day anthem.

"There really are still so many people who are uncomfortable with the very idea of hip-hop music, and I can't see it being fully embraced until the generation that grew up with the music starts to occupy the spot that baby-boomers occupy now," he says. "And when you think about it, 'New York, New York' was a very retro-styled number back when it came out -- even people who were still uncomfortable with rock and roll back in the late '70s could still get behind it -- and 'Empire' isn't."

"On the other hand," Barker adds, "I can't see myself ever drunkenly grooving to 'New York, New York,' while I'm pretty sure I already have to 'Empire.'"

Even if Jay-Z's tune is able to reach beyond a hip-hop audience and withstand the test of time, it still has some pretty stiff competition, Powers points out. "What's wrong with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's 'New York, New York' as a hip-hop anthem for the city? Or Billy Joel's 'New York State of Mind'? Jay-Z may want the crown all to himself, but I think he's gonna have to share."

Tags: alicia keys, AliciaKeys, empire state of mind, EmpireStateOfMind, frank sinatra, FrankSinatra, Jay-Z, JayZ, music, new york, new york city, new york new york, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NewYorkNewYork

Comments

(33)

Thursday 12 November

By ay1nd3nycny

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WHAT IS WRONG WITH U PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! they're both really great songs and although New York New York's lyrics were written with a sense of of someone being naive and Jay-Z may sound more gritter which i can see why people are going nuts and the concert at the world series was half-a**ed they are both good songs and Jay-Z does represent this genreation which is my generation but i do have new york new york on my ipod and finally as a New Yorker & I'm Damn proud of it New York all the way

By Sean

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The reason why Jay says he is the new Frank is because Sinatra had Reprise Records(Jimi Hendrix, Rat Pack) and he has Rocafella Records and was responsible for other peoples careers too and he happens to make a new york anthem too. you guys don't listen to rap which is obvious. people it's hard to be good at rapping or to be considered good in the eyes of real lyricists.

Wednesday 18 November

By arona

leave jay alone.heis not trying to be frank sinatra .Isn't frank sinatra deceased?

By Doc

No matter what you think of Jay Z , the man is
a genius... How many of you wouldn't change places
with him in a NY minute... I am sure he don't
give a crap , what you think of rap when he's
waking up looking into Beyonce eyes....

Friday 13 November

By Bill

Lets keep it real, Jay-Z does not have Sinatra's class.....end of story.

By ruonpoint09

Gay-Z refers to himself as the new Sinatra. That's an insult to Ol' Blue Eyes. He is feeling himself WAAAAAAAAAAAY to much! No wonder him and Beyonce are together...to idiots who think they are better than anyone else. Somebody needs to take him down a notch.

By leolux10

Amen!!!! I couldn't agree with you more!

Let's get serious. Jay-Z is an over-rated rapper. He's an ex-drug dealer, who NOW praises the very city he helps pollute! Leave it to one of his (young, or young-minded) PUPPETS, to consider anyone who doesn't idolize him (as they do), as a "hater". LOL With his glamorous lifestyle as their ONLY standpoint, they miss the entire issue. Throughout the song, Jay-Z basically used this great city of ours, to GLORIFY HIMSELF!!! 'Ol "Mickey Blue Eyes", never had to do that. In MOST of his songs, that's all he (Jay-Z) EVER does! Not saying he's the ONLY one..... which only makes him even MORE ordinary! Yeah, he has rhymes. But, so do MANY other GREAT rappers out there, who DON'T share his level of "glory"! Reason being, they're not as braggadocious, or self-centered. Notice how concious rappers (those whose rhymes have substance, and meaning), such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, The Roots, etc., don't get the same noteriety? Take this from a real Hip Hop head.

Another twisted system? Yes. A "new" Frank Sinatra? Defintely not.

Let's get serious. Jay-Z is an over-rated rapper. he's an ex-drug dealer, who NOW praises the very city he helps pollute! Leave it to one of his (young,and young-minded) PUPPETS, to label anyone who doesn't idolize him, as a "hater". LOL With his glamorous lifestyle as their only standpoint, they miss the entire issue. Throughout the song, Jay-Z basically used this great city of ours, to glorify himself. "Mickey Blue Eyes", never had to do that. In most of his songs, that's all he (Jay-Z) EVER does! Not saying he's the ONLY one..... which only makes him even MORE ordinary! Yeah, he has rhymes. But, so do MANY other GREAT rappers out there, who don't share his level of "glory"! Reason being, they're not as braggadocious, or self-centered. Notice how concious rappers (those whose rhymes have substance, and meaning) don't get the same notariety? take this from a Hip Hop head.

Another twisted system? Yes. A "new" Frank Sinatra? Defintely not.

By ART

don't mind rappers......love forever to Ol'Blue Eyes

By RL

Replace Sinatra???? LMAO!

By HotGranny

I don't like Jay Z cuz he is not really about respecting other artists' potential for longevity, only how big they think HE makes them look at the moment, which in reality can be fleeting. Keyz used to perform memorable and lasting work; now she's hooking up with the thugsters (just like Rihanna)and that makes me feel less inclined to take their work seriously. When Alcia burst onto the scene, her songs were filled with a timeless emotion, something that made people stop and think about what was going on. My son, his wife, me (and I've got 4 grandkids)...we all had Key's on our MySpace (now it's Facebook, lol) music players. I would NEVER put Jay Z on my pages. I can understand Rihanna going that route with Jay Z, because he's her Professor Higgins, but Alicia Keys? She is pure raw talent and could go any which way she chose...her way of mixing classical instruments with popular standards and vocals was amazing. It looks like youth is catching up to the maturity that she originally displayed. When she's ready, I will gladly listen to any new "timeless" creations she has to offer us. The New York, New York thing, though, it won't go down in music history like Sinatra's did, even with Key's backup vocals. Some things you just cannot update, because if you do, that means someone will someday in the future update too and knck the old aupdate out of the picture. But the original will stand the test of time...

By KTing

I say just add "Empire" to the list of greats paying their tribute.

Now my question is when is Chicago gonna get another anthem!

Tuesday 01 December

By jc

It's interesting Jay-Z highlights that the 'older set' might take time with hip-hop. This generation's New Yorker is Jay-Z. He calls himself 'the new Sinatra'. Jay-Z's rap is the only New York anthem that includes living through the 9/11 attacks. The singers who crooned before sing about their time. "State of Mind" is now.

Being billed New York's new anthem is a badge of honor. The defeat of Elvis' number 1s in the news, this is Jay-Z's next step in his super-star life.

Jay-Z talks about 'the apple' in the now and historically, in his raps. 'State of Mind' is inclusive of some musical odes to New York but it's edgy and daring.

Jay-Z raps about the Empire State building, World Trade, Statue of Liberty and New Yorkers. He talks about the dynamics of private lives and world wide news coverage.

Jay-Z's portrayal of New York is mulit-faceted and is a melting-pot. "State of Mind" shows the world why so many are drawn The Apple.

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