Gothamist: A Song for New York

Michelle

Sun, 01 May 2005 23:48:52 -0500

No one ever pays attention to the very underrated Rodgers and Hart (Columbia alums, too) tune "Manhattan" -- that sounds like the song that this guy was trying to rip off. You know, it has lines like "It's very fancy / on old Delancey street, you know", "We'll go to Coney / and eat baloney on a roll", and "And tell me what street / compares with Mott Street in July"? It's my favourite New York song out of the lot of them. (Though Billy Joel runs it a close second.)

bob denver

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 22:55:14 -0500

oh, I've never laughed that hard while reading the gothamist. It started when I read the line about sailing sheapeshead bay and reached it's height when I got to a "bagel and a schmeer" and a "waiter named tony."

Shingo

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 21:01:37 -0500

Man, those lyrics are are just Shit-tastic! I'd much rather see Billy Joel's New York State of Mind used as the city's theme song.

Josh

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:50:15 -0500

The lyrics are oddly reminiscent of the Foxwoods song ("get yourself a front-row seat"), but I'd bet the music isn't nearly as catchy.

Justin

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:20:22 -0500

Oh. My. God. My stomach hurts just reading the lyrics...

mmonk

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:21:09 -0500

agreed. why does new york need a new song when everyone knows about gershwin's "rhapsody in blue" and kander-and-ebb's "new york, new york"?

Richie Boy

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 11:47:02 -0500

Due to the complete lack of coverage about NYC in music, movies, and writing, this song has filled a deep and pressing need. Isn't there already kind of a song sung in a "brassy, Sinatra-esque voice" about New York, NY? Keith is right, it sounds like a Simpson’s joke. I wish I could be there when it is sung at the presentation of European tour operators. They will have that same heading shaking weariness that glazed student's faces when watching an anti-smoking song at a school assembly. Well, if they added a throbbing techno beat to the song, maybe the Euros would love it.

Mike B.

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 11:41:33 -0500

How many disasters does one composer have to be associated with before people stop giving him money to write? Wildhorn's Broadway shows have all gotten pathetic reviews and flopped hard--naturally, he's the first one the city calls to make it look good. Incredible.

Rose

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 11:29:23 -0500

Rhapsody in Blue. Proof that a song that IS New York can just be music.

Keith

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 11:06:01 -0500

That song must have been penned while someone was watching that episode of the Simpsons where Tony Bennett sings about Capitol City.