Okay, first off… I get it that today’s modern musicians can’t come up with their own sound. They have to rustle up a sound from a 1970’s R&B track, whether it be a riff, a drum break, or even altered vocals, to create their own music.
Take for example, the popular “Empire State of Mind,” as performed by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Every time I hear this song – which I kinda like, don’t misinterpret my intent – I don’t hear Jay-Z and Alicia Keys right off the bat. I hear the Moments. And I hear a sweet soul ballad of the 1970’s, “Love on a Two-Way Street.”
Here’s a YouTube clip of the Jay-Z track. Take a careful listen to the piano keys in this song.
Now listen to the 1970’s track, “Love on a Two-Way Street” by the Moments.
But as you sow, so shall you reap. Which is why I’m finding a whole cornucopia of “Empire State of Mind” parody clips. Such as this one by the “Super Secret Project,” extolling the virtues of New Hampshire…
Or if you want the land of 10,000 lakes… Here’s one for residents of Minnesota…
It’s not limited to regional songs… here’s one for all you Tiger Woods fans…
Are you addicted to smoking? Then you gotta check out “Newport State of Mind!”
It’s not limited to the United States… check out the song for Australia’s “Sydney State of Mind”!
Really fun stuff here… surprisingly I couldn’t find one for the Capital District… yet…
Chuck The Writer 
hey, also check out one that appeared last month for Newport a town in Wales (UK)
LikeLike
Calm down man. We all know and love that Moments song too. It was hit, you know. They weren’t trying to hide the fact that it was sampled. If you read the credits on the song, you will see that it is listed that the song was sampled which means that the Moments got their fair cut of the publishing off of the record. By no means does that mean that today’s musicians can’t think of their own ideas.
Quite some time after that Moments record was recorded, there was a little machine that was invented called the sampler which gave musicians and audio fanatics the ability to “sample”, manipulate, and organize sound in ways never before imagined. For you to blame today’s composers for using such a device is just completely unfair. Who is to say that The Moments would not have used it, had it been at their disposal?
My next point is that sampling is an art form jsut like any other form of music composition. You may not understand it, but it does not mean that today’s musicians are lacking in creativity. Why don’t you purchase youself a sampler and see how well you do with one? And besides the song, Empire State of Mind is loosely based on that sample. The chords completely change once the chorus comes in. Since you have such great ears, I would imagine you would have hear that too? Also you should try listening to Alicia Keys’ remix of the song which is completely different musically, yet based on the similar chord changes. And the fact that a sample is used doesn not take away from the powerful message and emotion which is conveyed by the song. It’s inspiring and it makes you feel good. And above all, the message is powerful. They’re both from New York and they’re simply talking about their deep love for the city. Is that not what music is all about? Communicating an emotion?
In my opinion, Arnold Shoenberg’s 12-tone composing methd usually results in shitty sounding, atonal garbage. But its a method of composing that I obviously do not understand. However, I have respect for the art form, which is why you don’t see me ranting away on some blog kicking dirt on other peoples’ achievements and trying to discredit them. It’s just plain disrespectful. And that’s exactly what you did with this worthless, disrespectful and hateful post.
I hope you actually open your mind and try to understand things before you start to publicly disrepect them next time. Hip hop is something that I hold dear to my heart and soul, and I was deeply infuriated with your comments.
Good day, sir.
LikeLike
Yes Chuck how dare you spead your vicious hate and disrespect of Jay-Z by saying things such as “which I kinda like” and “residents of Minnesota”!?!
Also if you read Cam’s post in the voice of the Emperor from Star Wars it’s pretty entertaining.
LikeLike
Who says they monments got their cut of Jay Z MEGA million HIT?
LikeLike