Baltimore is the “Realest City in America,” according to a song by Zadia

Baltimore has had plenty of nicknames over the years, including Charm City, Clipper City, The Monumental City, The City That Reads, The Greatest City in America, Mobtown, Bodymore, and Smalltimore.

Now it’s being touted as the “Realest City in America” in a campaign launched by Visit Baltimore, the city’s official destination sales and marketing organization. The woman who wrote it, Zadia, performed it last month during the organization’s annual meeting at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.

You know what they say
Those who come, stay
Come and meet your people
Come and find your way
This is Baltimore
You don’t know real until you’ve been to Baltimore
So art, so pure and real for sure, this is Baltimore.
I say you don’t know real until you’ve been to Baltimore
So art, so pure and real for sure, this is Baltimore

“Great tune!” said Visit Baltimore President and CEO Al Hutchinson, after Zadia’s performance at the annual meeting.

“Her soulful vocals and lyrics are exactly what we needed to capture the real spirit of the city and drive people to want to come visit,” Tracey Johnson, communications coordinator for Visit Baltimore, told The Afro newspaper.

Visit Baltimore is using the song in a promotional campaign developed with the Bellweather Agency and called “Your People Are Here.”

As part of the promotion, Visit Baltimore and Bellweather produced a 30-second commercial that features shots of Zadia singing her song with other musicians at Harbor Point, plus additional views of Baltimore hotels, restaurants and other scenes. There are images of the Peabody Library, the Washington Monument, Fells Point and the Inner Harbor.

On its website. Bellweather describes Zadia as “Baltimore’s Next Rising Star.” It notes that she’s a Baltimore native who last year released her debut album, entitled “Vacants,” and sang the National Anthem on Opening Day for the Orioles this year.

In a question and answer feature on Bellweather’s website, Zadia explained how she wrote Realest City in America.

“Realest City in America originally started as an a cappella,” the singer said. “The first question I asked myself was how would I describe Baltimore — the city I’ve known all my life, the city that raised me, the city I learned my toughest lessons and experienced my happiest memories.

“When I think about this city I think about the people, the rawness, and the undiscovered richness in talent and love. I came up with a few words then tried them with different melodies.”

For the video, Zadia said, she wanted to perform with other musicians who reflected Baltimore’s diversity.

“I reached out to some local musicians — Josh Stokes, a good friend of mine and one of the best drummers in Baltimore whom I work with often; Rachel Winder, an amazing saxophonist who I knew would bring forth some Baltimore Jazz energy; and John Tyler, the kid who plays just about EVERY instrument, on guitar,” she said.

“I made sure to include musicians from different sub-cultures in our city to capture a diverse sound that represents how diversified Baltimore truly is. These are just a few of the many artists that contribute to the city musically.”

She said she wanted to perform with a choir as well as a band but was told it couldn’t happen “due to COVID-19 restrictions.”

Zadia said she thinks Baltimore attracts artists, musicians and other creatives because it is so diverse.

“Baltimore is a melting pot,” she said. “No matter where you come from, you will find a community that fits you. If you’re into art, we’ve got it. If you’re into music, we’ve got it. Architecture, got it! Nightlife, got it!”

Baltimore “is full of potential and any creative can see that,” she added. “That’s what drives creatives to live and thrive here.”