Alicia Keys and Stephen Colbert perform “Empire State of Mind”

Okay, gang, Ann is going to have the full recap for you tomorrow, but I just *had* to get this posted right away, because that performance of “Empire State of Mind” was the best thing to happen in a show of utter gems. Extra mileage out of the pinstripe hoodie would always be funny, but this is just genius.

Video of the performance is posted at Alicia Keys Media; and here’s the official version from ColbertNation.com.

I also transcribed as much of Stephen’s verse as I could, because it’s effing brilliant. There’s one line I couldn’t quite catch; if any of you had better luck, let me know and I’ll edit the post. Edited. Thanks, frank!

    Yeah, yeah, yeah
    I love New York, King of all the Cities
    Lived up by the Guggenheim, ’til I got some kiddies
    Moved to Connecticut, ‘bye George Pataki
    Volvo to the dry-cleaners, pickin’ up my khakis

    Shoppin’ mall is close, my community is gated
    My shorties are all private school educated
    Home theater system, 60-inch plasma
    Clean suburban air, much better for my asthma

    Still hit the city, Times Square, keep it real
    Hard Rock Cafe for the appetizer deal
    M&M Store, Disney Store, I’m in heaven
    I own this town from 41st to 47th

    Take you to The Lion King, that show is fantastic
    Leave half an hour early so I can beat the traffic
    I can get home really fast, driver rocks an E-Z Pass
    Land of cheaper gas and the upper middle class

Comments

  1. Karenatasha says:

    I thought tonight’s ep was incredible from start to finish! I found myself gasping at his audacity throughout, particularly the Glenn Back “KKK” reference. Mr. Colbert shows no fear and dares to take it to the limit!

    And of course I loved the rapping with Alicia Keys. Thanks for posting the lyrics you caught.

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  2. Jordan! says:

    I actually started crying
    I hate myself ;-;

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    • lockhart43 says:

      You are not alone. I had to tell myself out loud not to cry or else I would have. I was soo hoping for this to happen and I was thrilled that it actually did. :)

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  3. captnbunny says:

    omg that was amazing.

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  4. lockhart43 says:

    I laughed so hard during this episode from start to finish. But the song was just…*sigh*…perfect. It was perfect. Easily one of my favorite episodes ever. Just when I think TCR can’t get any better, Stephen goes and pulls off an episode like this. Life is good. :)

    And thank you for posting the lyrics!

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    • kuekue says:

      I feel the same way! This whole episode was filled with great music! Being a band geek, I thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s episode!

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  5. mori says:

    the spinning. oh my god, Stephen Colbert spinning around brings perhaps the largest smile to my face in existance. gaaaaah.

    watched this on tv with my roommate (who’s an Alicia Keys fan so she ran in to watch it) and after a few clips (to explain why i loved the spinning and the hoodie), she is converted to Colbert-fanning. :)

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  6. frank says:

    “Volvo to the dry-cleaners…”

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    • Ms Interpreted says:

      Thank you!! I must have listened to it a half dozen times, but I kept missing the beginning of that line. When I read your comment, I just smacked my head and said, “Of course!”

      I’ve edited the post; thanks for the assist.

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  7. ColbertGirl27 says:

    Wow. So beautiful and Stephen raises the bar yet again! It was so cute at the end when he was dancing with complete abandonment as he twirled, swung off his hoodie, jumped up and down and then looked like he was about to give Alicia Keyes a big kiss as they cut to commercials. Haha! I think he really does love NYC which is a beautiful thing and the catalyst for his love of the song. Sounded like he meant it when he though it better than “New York, New York” though that song it close to my heart.

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  8. Cromptown says:

    I already loved the song and then Colbert came in and made it even better, awesome episode.

    I ripped the song and tagged it correctly for all you last.fm nerds (myself included), so enjoy!

    Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down (feat. Stephen Colbert)
    http://www.mediafire.com/?ixwdtmtmdzj

    Also, if you missed Stephen’s version of Cheap Reward, here’s the link for that too…

    Stephen Colbert – Cheap Reward
    http://www.mediafire.com/?mxudilwkgij

    Enjoy!

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  9. GabbyD says:

    what a great musical performance! suit hoodie rulz!

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  10. wildlymissingthemark says:

    I hope someone gets an mp3 of this, please! Stephen is amassing quite a repertoire. :)

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  11. Roland says:

    Its so fun watching the band wildly entertained by Colbert.

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  12. MaryLovesColbert says:

    Oh my goodness!! Now I *really* can’t wait to see this episode!!

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  13. I love the big grins on Alicia and her band watching Stephen rap and spin around. Pinstriped hoodie! Woohoo!

    I have to wait until tomorrow to watch this but I know it’s gonna be worth it.

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  14. Michele says:

    Thanks for transcribing this Ms. I! I couldn’t keep up when I was watching last night and I was hoping the lyrics would end up being posted somewhere. :-)

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  15. Silvarius says:

    Wow, finally getting to see this and all I can say is wow. Stephen rapping was really good, still prefer him singing though, but still it’s good. Nice to see a reappearance from the pinstripe hoodie too.

    I nearly cried too from this. The part where he harmonizes with Alicia (although you can’t really hear him over her) was probably my favorite part.

    Thanks for transcribing the lyrics too, Ms. I.

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  16. luvtcr says:

    So good. I just watched it again. I am in awe!

    Fangirl *squee* — loved when he pulled the hoodie off and his hair was all messed up! — *Squee again!*

    Alright, I think I have composed myself! Thanks for the lyrics!

    The performance has gotten some shout outs [HEY!] from EW Popwatcher blog and NY Times Arts Beat blog! Only Stephen… :)

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  17. Laaaura says:

    That performance was so freakin’ amazing. I loooved Stephen’s rapping part. I’ve been listening to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z’s version of it all day, but now that the mp3 was posted I’m going to switch to listening to that amazing version. So thank you Cromptown for the mp3!!

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  18. Renee says:

    This was SO WONDERFUL! :) Empire State of Mind is possibly the best song of this decade.

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  19. Yahtzee says:

    The performace totally blew me away. Not that whenever Stephen sings I don’t find it massive, but something about this gave it an extra push to make it more incredible. Also, now I feel proud to live in New York (except its Queens not Manhatten, which I think is what the song refers to).

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  20. Roseha says:

    It is indeed fabulous. Not only the rapping but the singing with Stephen and Alicia at the end. And he did the twirling move! Too much. Thanks for transcribing the lyrics!

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  21. Ashley says:

    Hey, do you know where I could find older music performance files from Stephen?

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  22. lockhart43 says:

    You’re welcome! Yes, I do think we would have a lot to talk about, because I could watch that man sing and dance all day, haha! :D I’ve seen those videos multiple times as well.
    So are you looking for a site that has Stephen’s musical performances as mp3 files? Because I haven’t been able to find one of those sites either; if you do end up finding one please let me know, because I would add the songs to my Stephen playlist in a New York minute, lol. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!

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    • luvtcr says:

      I saw a list once posted on The ColbertNation Message Boards at the official sites. Not sure if it is still there or who posted. Ok, I’m not that much help–but if you have a keen eye [and time] you may be able to find it! :)

      I wish I knew how to make them. It could help me pass the downtime during the holidays!

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      • lockhart43 says:

        Ohh I wish I knew how to make them, too. Stephen singing = LOVE.
        I’ll probably be listening to him read “The Lie” by TC Boyle over the holidays a lot, since I love that story so, so much. Oh! And “Jingle Man Christmas Boy” for sure!

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  23. voodoogirly says:

    Oh my God, I love you! Now added to my iPod so I can listen to this on the train (and cry in public)! So homesick…

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  24. Tyler says:

    Here is the link for the .mp3
    http://www.mediafire.com/?hk2zgcnjtdm

    Thanks to this youtube video
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afVFIOSHXKU

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  25. Tyler says:

    Scratch that,
    better copy is actually found higher on this thread:

    http://www.mediafire.com/?ixwdtmtmdzj

    Cromptown
    December 16th, 2009 at 4:33 am
    I already loved the song and then Colbert came in and made it even better, awesome episode.
    I ripped the song and tagged it correctly for all you last.fm nerds (myself included), so enjoy!
    Alicia Keys ? Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down (feat. Stephen Colbert)
    http://www.mediafire.com/?ixwdtmtmdzj

    Read more: http://www.nofactzone.net/2009/12/16/alicia-keys-and-stephen-colbert-perform-empire-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-352951#ixzz0hwR1xnjN

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