Media Research and Writing by Candela Spirit
"New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York."
As a New Yorker you know that I can certainly identify with these lyrics, they touch my heart in a very special way. And when this song, Empire State of Mind, is sung by Grammy Award winners Jay-Z and Alicia Keys it makes the song so much more powerful.
These two super talented singers are nominated this year for a Grammy for “Record of the Year”. They are going head to head with other amazing artists like Bruno Mars, Eminem & Rihanna, Cee Lo Green, and Lady Antebellum. How difficult is it to pick one winner for this category, incredibly hard if you ask me! Don’t forget to watch the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards which will be held in Los Angeles on February 13, 2011.
So let me tell you a little bit about Shawn Corey Carter aka Jay-Z, a down to earth person who went from the projects to huge business success. According to the series “Bloomberg Game Changers”, Jay-Z’s rise to global fame is very inspiring when taken into account all the obstacles that he had to overcome. His unorthodox business style and entrepreneurial instincts have contributed to his incredible creative genius. Jay-Z is a very busy man as he is co-owner of the 40/40 Club, part owner of the New Jersey Nets and he also has his own clothing line, Rocawear. He is also the CEO of Def Jam Recordings, one of the three founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, and last but not least the founder of Roc Nation. And aside from all this he holds the record for the most number of albums by a solo artist on the Billboards. Wow, how does he do it all and still have time for his beautiful wife Beyonce? I guess he must make the time because they have been married now for almost three years and they both look very happy together.
Now let’s talk about my girl Alicia Augello Cook and her amazing, rich, and soulful voice. Aside from being a very beautiful woman, Alicia Keys is extremely talented. According to MTV.com, Alicia Keys became an international star in 2001 with the release of her album “Songs in a Minor”, which sold more than 50,000 on the first day and moved over 10 million units worldwide. She won 5 Grammy awards just from this one record…way to go Alicia! I guess that the mix of R&B with a sultry dose of neo-soul is the perfect combination to win Grammies and become a superstar. Alicia has also made guest appearances on several television shows such as Charmed and made her film debut in “Smoking Aces”. In May 2010 Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, a record producer which she had collaborated with, got engaged and were expecting a child together. Keys and Beatz held their wedding ceremony on the French Island of Corsica this past July and she gave birth to beautiful baby boy whom she named Egypt Daoud Dean.
So these two talented artists have their hands pretty full but they know how to handle all this work and their fame too! Want to know one of the reasons why they get along so well and they come together as one in this amazing song that they are nominated for? I will tell you why – they are both New Yorkers, born and raised, which means they feel this song very deep in their heart just like I do!
"Let’s hear it for Empire State of Mind – best of luck to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z!
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, yeah!!!!!!!"
Peace and Love!
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