uptowngirl
uptowngirl

New York Ditties

The greatest city in the world has been immortalized in numerous songs here are some which I can remember... though a huge list can be found at -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_New_York_City

1. An Englishman in New York - Sting
love the line.. oh I am an alien an illegal alien.. an Englishman in New York
2. Big Apple by Kajagoogoo a 1980's British band which was fronted by a spiky headed blond singer called Limahl
3. New York New York- Frank Sinatra
One of my all time faves that just totally captures the spirit of the city
4. Uptown Girl- Billy Joel Not really sure if it can be included in the list but aren't Uptown /Downtown such New York expressions?
5. Arthur's theme by Christopher Cross
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
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39 Comments

hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I love New York by Frank Sinatra. I also love Uptown Girl by Billy Joel. Two of my favorite singers out of many.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
In a New York Minute?
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Goodness, so someone actually made a wikipedia list of songs about New York City and it is loooong. Check it out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_New_York_City

No Sleep Till Brooklyn by the Beastie Boys holds a special place in my heart.
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
"Do you miss New York?" by Rosemary Clooney
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
NYC from Annie! (NYC! What is it about you? Too hot. Too cold. Too late! I'm sold. Again. In N. Y.C!) Don't laugh, it's SO TRUE
New York State of Mind by Billy Joel.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
During the more classy days of NYC (this was back in the '30s, '40s, and 50's) many singers and songwriters were here in NYC, especially down at St. Marks Place. Back in the '60s, beatniks use to hang around on street corners reading their poetry. Do you remember Bob Denver? He played beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959-1963 TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. That TV show was reported to have been filmed in the area of St. Marks Place.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Did Dylan do anything with NYC specifically mentioned?
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish "Hard Times in New York Town," "Talkin' New York" and in "Just Tom Thumb Blues" Dylan announces that he's "going back to New York City" because he's "had enough."

Seems like there's probably more?
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Hmm. Found a searchable database of Dylan lyrics, but when I type in "New York" not all of the 200 plus songs that pop up actually have New York in the lyrics. Hmm. Still a great database, though.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Perhaps there are songs that list NYC in the phrase in some way. A deeper search may help you find it.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Oh I see now I forgot to post the link to the database:

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Everybody I also love Alicia Key's Empire State of Mind .. think it totally captures the ethos of NYC-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I also love the Fugeees video where they're riding in the back of a convertible in Times Square. Seems pretty classic as an image.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I remember a song that had the lyrics "I have a New York state of mind," but can't quite remember the name of it. Anyone know.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
Why, "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel! No?
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Yep, ajadedidealist, it is the one and only Billy Joel. Carrie Bradshaw makes fun of Big for liking that song because of a girl in Sex and the City. And, the forums come full circle!
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Punkrocker by The Teddybears / Iggy Pop is one of my more recent faves about NY: "see me die on Bleecker St. I'm bored with being God."
There are so many bands that live in Brooklyn (willyburg in particular), it's pretty likely that all of them have written at least one diddy about the good ole NYC.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@JenMac Too true, which reminds me that for someone who loves music deeply, I really need to be in willyburg a lot more often.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Uraniumfish: if you love music, you have to check out Owen Pallett in concert. He was just at Webster Hall on Thursday. I'm not sure for how long he is here or when he is coming back but it is the best concert I have ever been to. And, I've been to a lot. It's the most incredible experience to watch this little man create up to SEVEN loops in front of a starry backdrop and then just wail on his violin. We all felt like lesser people in his presence. Direct quote from my friend: he is really funny . . . for an Angel!
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marinterran
marinterran 2yrs+
What about Ryan Adams / New York. It's not an old song but it's got such a great feel to it.
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thatchick
thatchick 2yrs+
I'm with UptownGirl about the Alicia Keys song, but I'm also younger and less sentimental
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
Nevo Dinova wrote a song called "Brooklyn." Decent indie stuff - but it's more about love than it is about Brooklyn.

And I am kind of more in favor of Jay-Z's cheesy version of "New York State of Mind" featuring Alicia Keys. Can't help myself...
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
I may be really ruffling some feathers here, but, man I hate that Jay Z song. It makes my skin crawl. Maybe it's because when I was working in a nightclub, the biggest posers ever would lift their bottles up and do some lame dance every time that song came on.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@JenMac lol... can somehow picture them...but I have a soft corner for Alicia Keys..love her work..
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@JenMac Understandable. The song is pretty cheesy and it just seems like he was just freestyling whatever dumb rhymes came into his head. My only memories of it come from hearing it on the radio or just wandering around Bushwick and hearing other people play it in their cars... Anyway, Alicia Keys is the best part of that song for sure.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
Haha, I've been scared off nightclubs after reading the controversial "Rachel Uchitel is Not a Madam" in New York magazine a couple of weeks ago
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@ajadeidealist Ha! And rightly so, since, according to JenMac, they're full of lame dudes who do their lame bottle dance whenever the Jay Z song comes on.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
hah, a "bottle dance!" I was reading about those...I just don't understand why anyone would pay $400 for a $40 bottle of gin. I mean, I can understand paying for a markup on FOOD - as chefs can cook better than I can! But a standard bottle of Grey Goose? I get SOME markup for a nice glass of wine in a restaurant, but that's just insane!
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
Clearly it's not the bottle of booze but about showoff points and glitz. You can buy your Grey Goose at your local liquor shop but then nobody's gonna SEE you shaking your butt and drinking it.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@ajadedidealist and DBlack buying a bottle is the only way that you can get into some NY clubs.. I remember once we had friends from overseas and we took them for dinner in the Meatpacking district as they wanted to see NYC's party zone. After dinner they wanted to go to a club and then we tried to get into Cielo which is supposed to be one of the better clubs of the area but the hostess wanted $300 for a bottle of vodka.. at that point we called it a night and headed home..guess we are too old for nightclubs in any case :)
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@uptowngirl Well, seeing and being seen is probably the most expensive activity in this city...
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Freyja4
Freyja4 2yrs+
Whats that new rap song about New York? I can't remember the line but each time I hear it I catch my five year old trying to sing along with it. Something about making your feel brand new or somehing like that. I don't listen to rap much but my husband does when he's out on runs for work.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Freyja4 I dont listen to Rap but you could probably find it on Youtube..
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Ajadedidealist: Thanks for reminding me. Now I remember the song and the singer.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Freyja4:I'm not into Rap. But just as Uptowngirl said, you can probably watch the video on Youtube if it was recorded.
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@Freyja4 It's "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z with Alicia Keys - the song I was talking about above...
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
So, did you know that the ex- "Prince" has pulled off all bootleg copies of his videos circulating on the internet? About a year ago I used to be able to see countless versions of the video of "When Doves Cry" on Youtube, and then one day...poof! All simply disappeared. Who has that kind of time?
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Prince has that kind of time: when was the last time he recorded / toured / refused to make eye contact at public appearances?
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@JenMac Hmph. Good point. You know you're washed up and out of ideas when you spend too long thinking about your legacy.
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