Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)

The music video "Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)" is a parody of the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys song "Empire State of Mind," replacing references to the "Empire State" of New York with references to the city of Newport in South Wales. The word "ymerodraeth" means "empire" in Welsh.

Production and release

The video was directed by the London-based filmmaker M-J Delaney, and featured London-based actors Alex Warren and Terema Wainwright, rapping and singing respectively.[1] The lyrics were written by Tom Williams, Leo Sloley and M-J Delaney.

Published on the web on 20 July 2010, the video went viral and was featured by BBC News.[2] By the middle of August 2010, nearly 2.5 million people had watched it on YouTube. YouTube removed the video on 10 August due to a copyright claim by music publishers EMI Music Publishing.[3][4]

The lack of a fair dealing exclusion for parody works, exercised by EMI in their takedown notice, was cited in the Hargreaves Review on Copyright, commissioned by the Newport-based Intellectual Property Office.[5] The review evolved into the Copyright (Public Administration) Regulations 2014.[6]

The song includes references to Welsh celebrities such as Shirley Bassey, Craig Bellamy and Gavin Henson, and to Welsh stereotypes such as Welsh rarebit and leeks, along with Newport references such as Newport Gwent Dragons and the A4042 road. Warren and Wainwright were greeted with applause when they performed the song in Newport at the 2010 Newport Cityfest.[7]

Josie d'Arby is name-checked with the explanation: "Yes, it's strange, we didn't know either - Thankyou Wikipedia!"

Responses

Newport-based rap group Goldie Lookin Chain released a "parody of a parody" video in response titled "You're Not From Newport", alleging that their rivals lacked local knowledge.[8]

The song was the inspiration for actor Russell Gomer's parody "Ain't Seen Ruthin Yet", based on the song You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman–Turner Overdrive and the town of Ruthin in Denbighshire.[9]

Comic Relief 2011 included a new parody video directed by MJ Delaney featuring Welsh celebrities lip-synching to the song, including Josie d'Arby and Steve Jones who were namechecked in the original parody. It is available to download via iTunes. Other cast members were [10] Paul Whitehouse, Siân Lloyd, Connie Fisher, John Humphrys, Gethin Jones, Helen Lederer, Robbie Savage, Anneka Rice, Ruth Madoc, Tim Vincent, Howard Marks, Gareth Jones, Lisa Rogers, Helen Adams, Max Boyce, Joe Calzaghe, Dirty Sanchez, Wynne Evans, Goldie Lookin Chain, Colin Jackson, Grant Nicholas, Shakin' Stevens, Michael Sheen, Imogen Thomas, Bonnie Tyler, Alex Jones and Ian Woosnam.

References
  1. James McCarthy (Jul 25, 2010). "Jay-Z video rap spoof set for its millionth hit". Wales On Sunday. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  2. "Spoof 'Newport State of Mind' video becomes web hit". BBC News. 24 July 2010., interview with video clips
  3. "Newport State of Mind removed amid copyright claim". BBC South East Wales. 10 August 2010.
  4. Bloxham, Andy (11 August 2010). "Newport State of Mind parody removed over copyright issues". London: Daily Telegraph.
  5. "Hargreaves Review on Intellectual Property" (PDF). Intellectual Property Office. p. 54. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  6. "New exceptions to copyright reflect digital age".
  7. "YouTube stars return for Newport Cityfest". South Wales Argus. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  8. "Goldie Lookin Chain respond to spoof Newport video". BBC. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  9. "Spoof actor ain't seen Ruthin yet". BBC News. 10 August 2010.
  10. "Comic Relief cast". bbc.co.uk.
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