# Does your city have a song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 13, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191 "2022-10-13T15:05:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/1 "2022-10-13T15:05:22Z")
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. ? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/2 "2022-10-13T15:10:47Z")
“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_. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/3 "2022-10-13T15:13:47Z")
Which city was _actually_ built on rock ‘n’ roll? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/4 "2022-10-13T15:13:56Z")
For Chicago, I would say “Sweet Home Chicago” is a bit more of our adopted anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/5 "2022-10-13T15:14:09Z")
“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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXeeY9D9u94)) 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. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/6 "2022-10-13T15:16:48Z")
If this song was called “Regina’s Mighty Shores” it would be a good one. Unfortunately, it’s called “The Last Saskatchewan Pirate”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IehQRVylI0U/maxresdefault.jpg "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IehQRVylI0U) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/7 "2022-10-13T15:22:20Z")
Good point. The Lake Shore Drive song is a bit of a Chicago anthem too, or at least it was when I lived there. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/8 "2022-10-13T15:32:52Z")
Pittsburgh Polka?! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IR7-ret_JNs/maxresdefault.jpg "Pittsburgh Polka") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR7-ret_JNs) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/9 "2022-10-13T15:32:57Z")
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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdFjpA4XyME)’, a ‘Sinatra sings New York New, York’ style anthem. If you want something that rocks out more, there’s ‘[Detroit Rock City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZq3i94mSsQ)’ by KISS. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > …“Dirty Water” (Boston)… [Mitch Ryder did a cover of this song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_g_2jAH4zE), 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. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/10 "2022-10-13T15:34:42Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/11 "2022-10-13T15:35:51Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > The Lake Shore Drive song is a bit of a Chicago anthem too, or at least it was when I lived there. 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). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Zb35-ZRMUE/maxresdefault.jpg "Lake Shore Drive") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zb35-ZRMUE) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/12 "2022-10-13T15:50:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/13 "2022-10-13T16:40:37Z")
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_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NxSRxwx581k/hqdefault.jpg "Frank Sinatra - This Town") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxSRxwx581k) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/14 "2022-10-13T16:43:00Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “Cleveland Rocks” and “Dirty Water” (Boston) are two of the greatest ever rock songs commemorating cities. **Kansas City** would like to have a word with you. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/15 "2022-10-13T16:56:51Z")
Does a satirical song from a local jazz band count? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aZuJTiosJxs/hqdefault.jpg "Freebadge Serenaders "Sacramento California USA"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZuJTiosJxs) 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. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/16 "2022-10-13T16:59:50Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Miam “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? ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/17 "2022-10-13T17:02:41Z")
What would they say? I can’t think of a Kansas City rock song. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/18 "2022-10-13T17:03:19Z")
The Will Smith one is pretty good. I think that counts for Miami. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/19 "2022-10-13T17:28:19Z")
> **[Kansas City (Leiber and Stoller song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_(Leiber_and_Stoller_song))** > > "Kansas City" is a rhythm and blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. First recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year, the song later became a chart-topping hit when it was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959. "Kansas City" is one of Leiber and Stoller's "most recorded tunes, with more than three hundred versions", with several appearing in the R&B and pop record charts. > "Kansas City" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, two nineteen-year-old rhythm and b... Maybe not exactly “rock” but covered by plenty of rock bands. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191/20 "2022-10-13T18:12:08Z")
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_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-song/973191.md?page=2)