Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
Encyclopedia
"Empire State of Mind Broken Down" is a song performed by American
recording artist Alicia Keys
. It is an answer song
to the Billboard Hot 100
number-one hit "Empire State of Mind
" by Jay-Z
, on which Keys is featured. It was only officially released in the UK
as the second single from her 2009 album The Element of Freedom
although it gained international airplay and download sales.
Before the official release date of "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", it climbed as high as number four on the UK Singles Chart
on downloads alone. The success of the song from a high volume of album downloads, lead to the song being announced as the second single from The Element of Freedom in the UK. The single was released on February 22, 2010. It also appears on the soundtrack for Sex and the City 2
. Alicia Keys and her song "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" is featured on new HP Beats Commercial.
at number fifty-two. As of February 14, 2010 it has reached a new peak of number four on downloads alone (her highest charting solo single since "Fallin" reached number three in 2001). It became Keys' eighth top ten hit in the UK and second from The Element of Freedom. It ended up spending eight straight weeks within the top 10 in the country, the longest stay for any of her songs including the original version, Jay Z's, "Empire State of Mind
" in which she is featured. So far, it has spent 26 consecutive weeks within the top 40 as well as 52 weeks within the top 100, becoming Keys' most successful single ever. In December 2010 the song was announced as the thirteenth biggest selling single of the year in the UK, surpassing a number of chart-toppers and shaping as the biggest selling non-top-two single with 575,500 copies sold.
In May 2011, the song could re-enter the top 100 by jumping from No. 189 to No. 93 in its 76th charting week. On January 21, 2010 the single entered the Irish Singles Chart
at forty-six and reached eight. It also debuted on the Billboard R&B charts at number seventy-seven and peaked at number fifty-five on the Billboard Hot 100
without an official release.
on November 29, 2009, with a medley of "Doesn't Mean Anything" and "No One
". Keys performed the full version of the song on 4Music
Favourites. Keys also performed the song on Saturday Night Live
along with "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart". Stephen Colbert
and Keys also performed the song together on The Colbert Report with Colbert adding his own verses on December 15, 2009. Additionally, UK R&B artist Lemar
covered on the BBC 1Xtra Live Lounge on February 3, 2010. For the 2010 Radio 1 Big Weekend, the track's chorus was changed from "New York..." to "North Wales..." and the new version waxes lyrical about all that the North Wales coast has to offer. Lyrics include; "Yes, today I travelled north from Harlech to the Menai Bridge. What a pretty drive, with so much to see it’s such a privilege." On June 28, 2011, Keys performed the song on Good Morning America
.
used this song in one of its advertisements. The commercial was directed by Spike Lee
and featured children from New York City. In addition the full track was listed on Itunes as a benefit to the National Fallen Firefighters Association.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
recording artist Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
. It is an answer song
Answer song
An answer song is, as the name suggests, a song made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. It is also known as a response song. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s through 1950s...
to the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
number-one hit "Empire State of Mind
Empire State of Mind
"Empire State of Mind" is a song by American rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z, featuring vocals and a chorus from R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys. It was released as the third single from Jay-Z's 11th studio album The Blueprint 3 by his Roc Nation label in October 2009...
" by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, on which Keys is featured. It was only officially released in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as the second single from her 2009 album The Element of Freedom
The Element of Freedom
Keys began working on the album in May 2009. During this time, Keys and her audio engineer bought several vintage keyboards, describing the Moog as her "special best friend". Recording took place in The Oven Studios in Long Island, New York. Keys expressed that she "didn't know what to do" when she...
although it gained international airplay and download sales.
Before the official release date of "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", it climbed as high as number four on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on downloads alone. The success of the song from a high volume of album downloads, lead to the song being announced as the second single from The Element of Freedom in the UK. The single was released on February 22, 2010. It also appears on the soundtrack for Sex and the City 2
Sex and the City 2
Sex and the City 2 is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Patrick King. It is the sequel to the 2008 film Sex and the City, which is based on the HBO TV series of the same name....
. Alicia Keys and her song "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" is featured on new HP Beats Commercial.
Background
Following the release of "Empire State of Mind" in January 2010, Keys stated that she was planning to release a second version of the song featuring only her vocals, as a single the following month. The original takes of Keys' version, entitled "Empire State of Mind Part 2", included both Keys' vocals and a new rap verse from Jay-Z, but the final product did not include Jay-Z. Discussing the record, Keys claimed that it acts as a dichotomy of strength and vulnerability, commenting that "The music is really strong, and the drums are really aggressive, but my voice is vulnerable and delicate".Chart performance
On December 20, 2009, due to high downloads of "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down", the song entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number fifty-two. As of February 14, 2010 it has reached a new peak of number four on downloads alone (her highest charting solo single since "Fallin" reached number three in 2001). It became Keys' eighth top ten hit in the UK and second from The Element of Freedom. It ended up spending eight straight weeks within the top 10 in the country, the longest stay for any of her songs including the original version, Jay Z's, "Empire State of Mind
Empire State of Mind
"Empire State of Mind" is a song by American rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z, featuring vocals and a chorus from R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys. It was released as the third single from Jay-Z's 11th studio album The Blueprint 3 by his Roc Nation label in October 2009...
" in which she is featured. So far, it has spent 26 consecutive weeks within the top 40 as well as 52 weeks within the top 100, becoming Keys' most successful single ever. In December 2010 the song was announced as the thirteenth biggest selling single of the year in the UK, surpassing a number of chart-toppers and shaping as the biggest selling non-top-two single with 575,500 copies sold.
In May 2011, the song could re-enter the top 100 by jumping from No. 189 to No. 93 in its 76th charting week. On January 21, 2010 the single entered the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
at forty-six and reached eight. It also debuted on the Billboard R&B charts at number seventy-seven and peaked at number fifty-five on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
without an official release.
Live performances
Keys performed the chorus of the song on The X FactorThe X Factor (UK series 6)
The sixth series of British television music competition The X Factor started on ITV on 22 August 2009 and was won by Joe McElderry on 13 December 2009. Cheryl Cole emerged as the winning mentor for the second consecutive year, the first time in the show's history that a mentor has won back-to-back...
on November 29, 2009, with a medley of "Doesn't Mean Anything" and "No One
No One (Alicia Keys song)
"No One" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am. Written and produced by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and George M. Harry, and released as the album's lead single in September 2007...
". Keys performed the full version of the song on 4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
Favourites. Keys also performed the song on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
along with "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart". Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
and Keys also performed the song together on The Colbert Report with Colbert adding his own verses on December 15, 2009. Additionally, UK R&B artist Lemar
Lemar
Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia...
covered on the BBC 1Xtra Live Lounge on February 3, 2010. For the 2010 Radio 1 Big Weekend, the track's chorus was changed from "New York..." to "North Wales..." and the new version waxes lyrical about all that the North Wales coast has to offer. Lyrics include; "Yes, today I travelled north from Harlech to the Menai Bridge. What a pretty drive, with so much to see it’s such a privilege." On June 28, 2011, Keys performed the song on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
.
Music video
Currently, there has been no official music video shot for "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down". However, due to the success of the song, leading to the song being released as a single, the 4Music Favourites performance was shown on music channels as the music video.September 11th Remembrance
During football games on September 11th, 2011 State FarmState farm
State farm can refer to:*Sovkhoz, a type of state-owned farm in the Soviet Union*Volkseigenes Gut, a type of state-owned farm in East Germany*Państwowe Gospodarstwo Rolne, a type of state-owned farm in People's Republic of Poland...
used this song in one of its advertisements. The commercial was directed by Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
and featured children from New York City. In addition the full track was listed on Itunes as a benefit to the National Fallen Firefighters Association.
Track listings
-
- UK digital download
- "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" — 3:36
-
- German CD single & digital download
- "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" — 3:36
- "We're Almost There" — 3:35
Chart positions
| Chart (2009/2010) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 35 |
| European Hot 100 Singles | 56 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 75 |
| U.K Singles Chart | 13 |
| U.S Adult Contemporary Songs | 45 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Denmark | Gold |
Radio release
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | February 3, 2010 | Radio airplay |
Purchasable release
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | February 22, 2010 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
RCA Records RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |
| Sweden | March 22, 2010 | Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
|
| Germany | May 28, 2010 | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |