When we were getting ready to move here I made a New York mix CD. I didn't listen to it for most of our time here but it's been my theme music for the last month (again, love the ipod.) There are almost as many songs about New York as there are movies set here (another cool thing about watching movies now is recognizing stuff, especially Ed's building.) The mix represents well the crazy mixed feelings this place evokes. It's such an amazing place with energy, sites, and experiences to offer, but it can also be tough. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with such bipolarity.Unfortunately playlist.com only offers a sampling of the songs for you to hear, and some of the more catchy ones are missing, but here's the list, plus a few of the more relevant lyrics:
#1 New York City - They Might Be Giants
Statue of liberty, staten island ferry, co-op city, katz’s and tiffany’s#2 New York's Not My Home - Jim Croce
Central park, brooklyn bridge, the empire state where dylan lived
Coney island and times square, rockefeller center
Wish I was there
'cause everyone’s your friend in new york city
And everything looks beautiful when you’re young and pretty
The streets are paved with diamonds and there’s just so much to see
But the best thing about new york city is you and me
Things were spinning round me#3 Streets of NYC - American Ambulance
And all my thoughts were cloudy
And I had begun to doubt all the things that were me
Been in so many places
You know I've run so many races
I know that I gotta get outta here
I'm so alone
Don't you know that I gotta get outta here '
Cause New York's not my home
Though all the streets are crowded
There's something strange about it
lived there about a year and I never once felt at home
I thought I'd made the big time
You know I learned a lot of lessons awful quick and
Now I'm telling you that they were not the nice kind
And it's been so long since I have felt fine
Folks down in Virginia(What are the odds of finding those lyrics?)
They could never see
Why the streets of New York City
Look so good to me
Lord, they look so good to me
#4 Leaving New York - R.E.M.
It's easier to leave than to be left behind#5 An Englishman in New York - Sting
Leaving was never my proud
Leaving New York, never easy
I saw the light fading out
#6 New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
#7 New York Groove - Kiss & Ace Frehley
Many years since I was here, on the street I was passin’ my time away#8 A Heart in New York - Art Garfunkel
To the left and to the right, buildings towering to the sky
It’s outta sight in the dead of night
Here I am, and in this city, with a fistful of dollars
And baby, you’d better believe
I’m back, back in the new york groove
I’m back, back in the new york groove
I’m back, back in the new york groove
Back in the new york groove, in the new york groove
#9 New York City Rhythm - Barry Manilow
The poundin' beat of the city's streets#10 New York, New York - Ryan Adams
That keep my dreams alive
I'm lost, I'm found
I'm up, I'm down
But somehow I survive
It's got to be the New York City Rhythm in my life
It's got to be the New York City Rhtym in my life
Hell, I still love you New York#11 Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
#12 New York Boy - Neil Diamond
#13 New York - U2
In New York summers get hot, well into the hundreds#14 I Love NYC - Andrew W.K.
You can't walk around the block without a change of clothing
Hot as a hairdryer in your face Hot as a handbag and a can of mace
In New York, I just got a place in New York
New York, New York Irish, Italians, Jews and Hispanics
Religious nuts, political fanatics in the stew,
Living happily not like me and you
That's where I lost you... New York
I love New York City#15 New York City - Norah Jones
Oh yeah, New York City
love New York City
Oh yeah, New York City
I rode the train for hours on end#16 New York Girls - Gaelic Storm
And watched the people pass me by
It could be that it has no end
Just an action junkie's lullaby
New York City
Such a beautiful disease
New York City
Such a beautiful, Such a beautiful disease
#17 New York, New York - Tony Bennett & Frank Sinatra
If I can make it there,
I’ll make it anywhere!
I’ll make it anywhere!
8 comments:
Funny thing. I guess one of my favorite bands as a teenager (CUB) covered that They Might be Giants Song. It's always been one of my favorites. Another one that I always sing in my head while riding my bike through Brooklyn is "53rd and 3rd" by the Ramones...oh to be 16 again!
Oh yes, and one that you might want to add to the list, just because of what it takes to survive here is: "Don't stop don't give up" from Yo Gabba Gabba. Pierson and I both rock out to that one when we get yelled at by grouchy New Yorkers.
Kristin, you know what, it was originally a CUB song and TMBG covered it. I read about it. One of the Giants heard it on the radio and loved it. They got permission from the label to cover it and CUB never knew until they heard it on the radio themselves. They were pretty excited, as I would be if TMBG wanted to do one of my many songs I've written. I've never heard the CUB version, or the Ramones song but now I'll try to. What's actually at 53rd and 3rd, either in Manhattan or Brooklyn?
What an awesome CD! Makes me want to go dig up some NY music.
I do believe it is referring to Manhattan. The Ramones are from Queens, so I doubt they would be hanging out in Brooklyn a lot, let along making a single about it. I remember the first time I visited NY as a teenager, all I knew about this place was from punk rock songs like theirs...pretty funny.
Nice mix. My only quibble is that I would have gone with "Only Living Boy in New York" (which is one of my all time favorite S&G songs) over Heart in New York.
Matt, did you notice I put it in the playlist.com list? I was looking for heart in ny and found this one which I now like better as well.
I love S7G, as you know, and Only Living Boy in New York is a favorite. I love the line "I can gather all the new I need on the weather report." It runs in my head frequently.
Post a Comment