Hey trusty informed folk… I rarely post on these boards though I read them avidly, but I find myself now in a bit of a quandary. I am a graduate student trying to make a sort of multimedia presentation on New York City, where I reside, and part of that entails making a sort of super-mix of all the songs I can gather that refer to this crazy city of mine. I have certain songs set aside already (Springsteen’s “New York City Serenade” and Moe’s “New York”, for instance) and my partner on the project has been steadily compiling old standards that refer back to the city, but right now I am looking for less obvious choices-- songs that don’t have “New York” in the title, and perhaps only obliquely refer to living in a cramped big city. The only requirement, really, is that the songs have something to do with this city, be it in tone or hints or outright reference…
So now I turn to the Straight Dope. Any recommendations for my monster “academic” mix? BTW, I am leaving out Broadway musicals (too many). Non-American songs that refer to NYC are especially prized. If you can recommend one of those, I will send you my super-unique cookies, which taste a little like marmite but are high in charm. No, sorry, I can’t make cookies, but, uh, I will always remember you with awe and respect.
Talkin’ New York - Bob Dylan
Fairytale of New York - Pogues
New York City - They Might Be Giants
I’ll Take New York - Tom Waits
Central Park (New York) - Tangerine Dream
A Heart In New York - Art Garfunkel
Rockin Around in NYC - Marshall Crenshaw
Forget that modern pop stuff–go to musical theater, a real American art form!
Plenty of songs in Wonderful Town, On the Town, Rent, Company, etc. My favorite is ‘I happen to Like New York’ by Cole Porter. Donna Murphy, soon after 9/11, brought the whole still-shellshocked crowd of us to tears with it. Here’s a review:
Simon and Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in New York
Orange Juice - Salmon Fishing in New York
AC/DC - Safe in New York City
Belle and Sebastian - Chickfactor
Lou Reed - New York Telephone Conversation
The Moldy Peaches - New York City’s Like a Graveyard
Belle and Sebastian - Seymour Stein
The Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven
Iggy Pop - Don’t Look Down
Cat Stevens - New York Times
Oh good good good, keep it coming… remember that NYC doesn’t have to be in the title of the song-- “Downtown Train” by Tom Waits is a good example-- I really appreciate all the help. Also, songs about being miserable in the city are useful too.
Mehitabel, great suggestions all and I am sorely tempted but I have decreed that musicals are most certainly not allowed. Still, though, looking at that list pains me-- but I have to leave 'em out! I HAVE TO!
Yes, but that’s a cover. buncombe, see if you can find the original by a cuddlecore punk band called Cub. If any of your audience knows the TMBG version, this’ll be a surprise. And it’s foreign, they’re from Vancouver.
This is one of my favourite songs ever! I got it on an old beat up tape. I got it from a show on KUSF (San Francisco College Radio) in 1994/1995 when I was an studied in the US.
I love it, love it, love it! “Everyone’s a friend in New York City”- thats so cute!
I didn’t know the band - I could only find the TMBG version.
Thank you!
I saw them live, once, as the opening act for They Might Be Giants, and they rocked. That was in November of '96, and they broke up a month later. It took me a couple years to find copies of all their CD’s, I have no idea how hard they’ll be to find now. If you’re looking for New York City it’s on their CD Come Out, Come Out.