Tyler Gildin thinks the world’s best bagels exist in Nassau County and wants the whole world to know it.

Long Island bagels, along with Ralph’s Italian Ices and the Roosevelt Field Mall, are subjects of Gildin’s YouTube video, ‘Nassau (County) State of Mind,’ a satirical rap about Long Island’s Nassau County, set to the tune of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ ‘Empire State of Mind.’

Gildin, a senior television, radio and film major, teamed up with three of his high school friends to write, produce, and shoot the parody of their hometown of Nassau. The video has gained more than half a million views since its posting on Aug. 13.

‘I knew the video would be pretty good, but I completely underestimated how big it would be,’ said Gildin, who stars in the video. ‘I was shocked by how many people, especially parents and older people, were posting the video on their Facebooks and mass e-mailing it.’

The rap pokes fun at life in Nassau County while simultaneously promoting Long Island pride. One line proclaims, ‘Got a house in the Hamptons/ Apartment on the East Side/ While everyone’s homes are being repossessed nationwide,’ while in the next breath Gildin raps, ‘Nassau is the place to go/ Ain’t no place I’d rather be.’

‘It’s all about having pride in local places and loyalty to certain local customs and culture,’ Gildin said. The video features local hotspots on the North and South shores, recognizes the group’s alma mater, George W. Hewlett High School, and covers Nassau landmarks from sandwich shops to tuxedo stores.

‘Most local people loved the video, and a lot of the places we rapped about really appreciated the publicity,’ Gildin said. ‘Storeowners whose stores weren’t in it were even a little upset, asking why they weren’t included.’

The popularity of the video has turned Gildin into a mini-celebrity. He said his friends are always cracking jokes and play the song whenever he walks into a room. ‘I appreciate all the publicity, but it can be a little too much at times,’ he said, with a laugh.

Since his return to Syracuse University, he has heard whispers of recognition on campus. ‘I’m from Nassau County, and I think it’s really funny and pretty accurate,’ said Dana Falcone, a sophomore magazine journalism major. ‘It makes me proud to be a Long Islander.’

Although the response to the video has been largely positive, some people were offended by it.

‘I like the second and third verses, they were funny,’ said Rita Akumuo, a sophomore nutrition major and New Jersey native. ‘But I was not pleased with how they kept saying Jersey smells.’

Gildin said he knows some people did not find the video very amusing. ‘It’s not for everyone, and especially if you didn’t grow up in Nassau County you might not understand it,’ he said. ‘But I think most people can get the parody and appreciate the humor behind it.’

Gildin is no stranger to humor. He is a member of SU’s Woo Hoo Comedy group and has performed stand-up comedy in New York City. ‘I’ve always been into comedy and entertainment,’ he said, noting the lyrics were not difficult to write. ‘Comedy is just a fun thing to do, and I’m always in the mood for anything funny.’

Gildin co-wrote the rap with University of Miami senior Evan Krumholz. Nash Prince, also a University of Miami senior, produced the video, and University of Wisconsin senior Cody Milch directed it. The song took four days to write, a day to shoot and three days to edit.

The video was meant to be a way for Gildin and his friends to have some fun and give shout-outs to their hometown. But they are now planning to capitalize on their unforeseen success by selling T-shirts with references to the song and donating the profits to a Nassau County charity.

‘We figured if it’s doing this well, there must be some sort of market for T-shirts,’ Gildin said. ‘So hopefully we can keep it alive for a little bit longer and raise some extra money for charity, and get the most out of this as possible.’

ertocci@syr.edu

 

Published on August 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm