When you think of New York City - what music comes to mind . . .

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 8:40am

Here's the deal - I'm bringing 35 High School students to the City next month. In preparation, I'm assembling a list of songs that they should listen to. And I know this is a broad request, but if you were stranded in the middle of the midwest (like we are), to what music would you listen to help you feel like you were back in NYC.

Thanks.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:23am

Well, I'll start with the obvious, then:

George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue"

[FrancesFoster]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:33am

"What More Do I Need" by Sondheim

[tazber]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:36am

I was gonna say Rhapsody also.

I always get a jazzy vibe when I think of New York.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:42am

Soul Coughing's "The Incumbant"

Rufus Wainwright's "14th Street"

Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" and/or "Famous Blue Raincoat"


There are so, so, so many songs about NYC, so I'm just posting my favorites and what I think might diversify your lineup.

Updated On: 12/14/10 at 09:42 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:47am

Famous Blue Raincoat is one of my all time favorite songs.

Everytime I hear I get something new. I'm still not entirely sure exactly what it's about.

Jennifer Warnes' version is perfection.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:48am

New York, New York & Broadway Baby

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:55am

Almost anything from "On the Town." Also Harry Nilsson's "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City."

[FunnyGirl617]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 10:02am

Lullaby of Broadway
Another Hundred People
Autumn in New York
I Happen to Like New York
Manhattan
So Many People

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 10:04am

Oh, yes, definitely "Another Hundred People."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 10:09am

New York, New York - On the Town
Another Hundred People - Company
The Night is Young - My Favorite Year
Lullaby of Broadway - 42nd Street
Broadway Baby - Follies
Take Me Back to Manhattan - Anything Goes/The New Yorkers
Take the "A" Train - Play On/Sophisticated Ladies/Bubbling Brown Sugar
Christopher Street - Wonderful Town

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 10:26am

If you want an instrumental piece that just has the vibe of New York at night in the 21st Century, look up "Miles Edgeworth- Great Revival Jazz Soul" on YouTube.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 10:38am

One that instantly transports me to NYC is Harry James' You Made Me Love You. It opens the film Hannah and Her Sisters. Virtually anything from that soundtrack reminds me of NYC.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 11:09am

"New York State of Mind" - any version
The entire "Patti LuPone at Les Mouches" recording
"Another Hundred People" (as mentioned) - in fact, the entire OBC recording of Company
OOBC recording of March of the Falsettos
"Welcome to Brooklyn" (from My Favorite Year)
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
"Dance at the Gym" (West Side Story)
Overture from Subways Are For Sleeping

[Kavana]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 11:28am

Odyssey - Native New Yorker
Jay-z - Encore, Empire State Of Mind
Funny Girl - Im The greatest Star
Ja Rule/Fat Joe - New York
E-Ness - My Hood
Remy Ma - Tech 9
Once on this island - Waiting for life

From the bx so yea

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 12:01pm

Another Hundred People - Company (Agree with entire OBCR)
Our Time - Merrily We Roll Along
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
A Heart in New York - Art Garfunkel
Take the A train - Duke Ellington
Empire State - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 1:04pm

The theme to SEX AND THE CITY!

[Sauja]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 1:06pm

Another Rufus Wainwright vote. This one for "Poses."

"The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkle. Anything by The Ramones. Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train."

And Gershwin already got the nods, so I'll just use this time to post a clip to my favorite film opening of all time. Woody Allen, I'll always love you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o6QKpNK9Cc


Updated On: 12/14/10 at 01:06 PM

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 1:19pm

Sunday in New-York by Bobby Darin.

[xoffender45]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 2:11pm

Carly Simon - Let The River Run.
"Working Girl" always reminds me of New York City, and the music video for it just oozes NYC.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 2:54pm

Overture/Runyonland/Fugue For Tinhorns (Guys and Dolls)

[Leia947]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 3:29pm

"An Open Letter to NYC" by the Beastie Boys
"New York, New York" by Ryan Adams (not a cover of the Frank Sinatra song)

Updated On: 12/14/10 at 03:29 PM

[joeyvalcort]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 3:37pm

Shoot me for this, but... when I think of New York I think of the Milford Plaza commercials from the 80s: "And in the center of it all... is the Milford Plaza... The Milford Plaza is the lullaby of all Broadway!"
Milford Plaza commercial

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 6:37pm

The songstylings of the Naked Cowboy.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 9:01pm

"Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"