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Many songs are set in New York City or named after a location or feature of the city, beyond simply "name-checking" New York along with other cities. This is a dynamic list of songs and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness.
- LCD Soundsystem: “New York, I Love You, but You’re Bringing Me Down” As the last song performed during its last show at Madison Square Garden (before returning to the spotlight in 2017), to the surprise of no one, LCD Soundsystem busted out “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down,” the perfect way to conclude such a perfect night.
- Beastie Boys: “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” Few bands evoke The City That Never Sleeps quite like the Beastie Boys, whose standout Licensed to Ill track is a rightful fixture on lists like this one.
- The Strokes: “New York City Cops” “New York City Cops” is one of modern rock’s most mythical songs. Everyone knows any time you ban something, that makes it much more desirable, but even if “New York City Cops” wasn’t removed from the U.S. version of The Strokes’ debut album, it would still be just as good (Funnily enough, even the album cover was banned in America).
- St. Vincent: “New York” Few lyrics have resonated more this decade than “You’re the only motherfucker in the city who can handle me.” But “New York’s” strength doesn’t necessarily come from its refrain as much as its hyper-specific ode to Manhattan crossed with a breakup song.
Dec 9, 2021 · There are thousands of songs about New York, but only a select few are timeless. Here we collect our favorite odes to the Big Apple. You’ll find anthems by New York icons ranging from Lou...
- Andy Kryza
- “New York, New York,” Frank Sinatra
- “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z Ft. Alicia Keys
- “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” The Beastie Boys
- “Welcome to New York,” Taylor Swift
- “Autumn in New York,” Billie Holiday
- “New York Groove,” Russ Ballard
- “New York State of Mind,” Billy Joel
- “Living For The City,” Stevie Wonder
- “Brooklyn’s Finest,” Jay Z & Biggie Smalls
- “N.Y. State of Mind,” Nas
Would it really be a list of iconic songs about New York without this classic by Frank Sinatra? This tune gained popularity on Frank Sinatra’s 1980 album Trilogy: Past Present Future. It’s so famous it has even become the New York Yankees victory song!
Played in every bar and club in NYC, Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” simply never gets old. As a matter of fact, the track is actually one of Jay-Z’s most successful singles, according to Genius and actually nods to Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” and Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind.”
New York-born band, the Beastie Boys, wrote this popular track about their tiring time on tour, anticipating their arrival home.
Swifties will know all about Cornelia Street and how Ms. Taylor made her move to NYC in 2014. This track reflects that monumental time for her, relocating from Nashville to NYC.
Composed by Vernon Duke, “Autumn in New York” has been sung by legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, and most famously, Billie Holiday.
This sing-along song was written by English musician and songwriter, Russ Ballard, but truly came to life after Bronx-born Ace Frehley from Kiss recorded it on solo album.
According to a 2010 interview with Howard Stern, Billy Joel wrote “New York State of Mind” in 15 minutes on an upstate-bound bus. “Piano Man” was actually born in the Bronx but grew up on Long Island.
This song by the legend, Stevie Wonder, reflects on his move from Mississippi to New York City and the difficulties that ensued thereafter.
This iconic duo both got on the track to touch upon growing up in Brooklyn and how their struggles have turned to success.
Nas (Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones) raps about the inescapable violence and dangers surrounding him on the streets of NYC. He was born in Crown Heights and dominated the rap game in the 90s.
- A Letter To The New York Post by Public Enemy. A Letter To The New York Post by Public Enemy is a powerful anthem that captures the spirit of political resistance in late-20th century New York.
- Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack (1972) Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack is an iconic soul song that captures the spirit of Harlem in the 1970s.
- An Open Letter to NYC by Beastie Boys (2004) An Open Letter to NYC by Beastie Boys is a classic tribute to the city of New York. The song has become an anthem for many living in the city and captures its energy and spirit through upbeat, nostalgic lyrics.
- Autumn In New York by Billie Holiday. Autumn In New York by Billie Holiday is a classic jazz standard that captures the beauty and melancholy of the city in autumn.
Jan 28, 2024 · 1. “New York, New York” By Frank Sinatra. First up in this collection of songs about New York has to be the famous “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra. While plenty of other recordings of this song exist, Sinatra’s version is the most renowned. It captures the unique energy of New York City.
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Dec 19, 2023 · By Liam Flynn. December 19, 2023. There have been many songs written across all musical genres about New York. While many of them focus on New York City, that is not always the case. If you are a native New Yorker or love the state, you will want to listen to these top New York songs.
