12 of 1001 Songs: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind

If I ever go to New York City I will be sure to listen to this song while riding in a taxi. This song is very catchy though, and I remember constantly hearing it for a while after it was released as a single. While I'm not a fan of Jay-Z or Alicia Keys I can see the appeal of why someone would listen to this song. The lyrics to me just are subpar in comparison to instrumentals and Keys' voice.

History: This song would go on to be a huge commercial success, and not just in the United States, but all over the world. It has sold 5 million singles to date. On top of that the performers achieved what they sought out. They wanted the song to capture landmarks and things central to New York City. Keys even styled her voice to capture the grandness of what she felt regarding the city. The song was critically a success as well.