The largest American cities have popular songs associated with them:
New York CIty has “New York” by Frank Sinatra; Los Angeles has “I Love L.A.” by Randy Newman, Chicago has “That Toddlin Town” …
but what about Miami, Atlanta, or cities outside the U.S. ?
“Cleveland Rocks” by Ian Hunter, made more more famous by Presidents of the USA when their cover was used as the theme song for The Drew Carey Show.
Which city was actually built on rock ‘n’ roll?
For Chicago, I would say “Sweet Home Chicago” is a bit more of our adopted anthem.
“Cleveland Rocks” and “Dirty Water” (Boston) are two of the greatest ever rock songs commemorating cities.
I would respectfully submit “New York Groove” (especially this version) as the quintessential NYC song (used to great effect in the movie “American Animals”).
Kentucky cities have just one realistic entrant as far as I know - “Bowling Green” by the Everly Brothers.
If this song was called “Regina’s Mighty Shores” it would be a good one. Unfortunately, it’s called “The Last Saskatchewan Pirate”.
Good point.
The Lake Shore Drive song is a bit of a Chicago anthem too, or at least it was when I lived there.
Pittsburgh Polka?!
I’m pretty far from Detroit, but still in the outskirts of the greater Detroit Metro area, so I guess it’s ‘my’ city.
Sammy Davis Jr. did ‘Hello Detroit’, a ‘Sinatra sings New York New, York’ style anthem.
If you want something that rocks out more, there’s ‘Detroit Rock City’ by KISS.
Mitch Ryder did a cover of this song, substituting Detroit for Boston, that used to get a lot of airplay on the Detroit rock stations. So for years I thought it was originally written about Detroit.
Chicago, Chicago that toddling town
Chicago, Chicago I will show you around
I bet your bottom dollar you’ll have some fin in Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn’t shut down
On State Street, that great street, I just like to say
They do things they don’t do on Broadway
You’ll have the time, the time of your life
I saw a man who danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago my home town
Chicago, Chicago that toddlin’ town
Chicago, Chicago
Bet your bottom dollar you’ll have some fun Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday could not shut down
On State Street, that great street, I just want to say
You’ll see things won’t see on Broadway
I have the time, the time of my life
I saw a man who danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago, Chicago, my home town
Agreed, though these days, I think there’s a correlation between people who listen to Chicago’s classic rock stations, and those who know the song (though it did appear in the second Guardians of the Galaxy film).
I only just recently learned (I believe via a Curious City segment on Chicago Public Radio) that the “toddlin’” in “toddlin’ town” refers to a dance craze called “the Toddle.” I just imagined it was a made-up word referring to the frenetic energy of a toddler, or something.
It is not my city, but Viva Las Vegas came to mind when i read the thread title.
And any town without a song could just adapt Frankie’s This Town
Kansas City would like to have a word with you.
Does a satirical song from a local jazz band count?
ETA: Cake has mentioned Sacramento in a song or two, but I can’t think of a song of theirs that could be said to be really “about” Sacramento.
“Welcome to Miami” by Will Smith?
Though I suppose there must be songs featuring Pitbull or whatnot.
For Atlanta, the delightfully parallel title: “Welcome to Atlanta” by Jermaine Dupri/Ludacris?
What would they say? I can’t think of a Kansas City rock song.
The Will Smith one is pretty good. I think that counts for Miami.
Maybe not exactly “rock” but covered by plenty of rock bands.
A certain Texas seacoast city has its own song. But I was never sure that Glen Campbell was remembering it fondly when he sang:
I clean my gun
And dream of Galveston