The Big Apple is a fascinating city to explore and even people who've been living there for years constantly discover new aspects to the city. When you visit, you'll want to see the famous sights but you can make your stay even more interesting by, for instance, trying to spot locations from the many movies and television shows filmed here. However, you'll need some tunes too and there is nothing better than a playlist of music inspired by NYC.
The music scene in New York has always reflected the liveliness and the incredible diversity of this city. Many of the world's top musicians were born here, from Maria Callas to Neil Diamond and even Christina Aguilera. Others came here from all over the world to try and make it, including Madonna, who moved to the city with only a few dollars and loads of ambition.
The musical movie 'New York, New York', with Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro, told the story of two people who tried to make it in the world's most exciting city. Its theme song later became Frank Sinatra's signature song and is filled with optimism. However, moving to the big city doesn't work out for everybody and in their song 'The Boxer', Simon and Garfunkel tell the story of one such a person.
In the Sixties, the clubs of the Lower East Side were at the center of the folk movement. Many of the era's best songwriters used the city streets to inspire them. Joni Mitchell wrote about the yellow cabs and about the Chelsea neighborhood, while Leonard Cohen immortalized the iconic Chelsea Hotel in song. Later folk singers such as Suzanne Vega also sang about New York locations.
Musicians in other genres have also mentioned city locations in their songs. For instance, Gogol Bordello sings about Avenue B. Some sing about the atmosphere rather than about specific locations. Billy Joel, for instance, sings about being in a New York state of mind and how he'd rather be here than in Miami Beach or Hollywood.
The gritty city has inspired many a musical too. After all, Broadway is the spiritual home of this genre of the stage. To get a sense of how diverse New Yorkers are, listen to the songs from 'West Side Story'. 'Rent' looks at the struggle of artists and the scourge of HIV in the East Village. Other famous musicals set in NYC include 'Funny Girl', 'Hair', 'A Chorus Line', 'Annie' and the classic 'Guys and Dolls'.
Often, words aren't really necessary to capture the spirit of America's largest city. You simply need to listen to the jazz of Duke Ellington's composition 'A Tone Parallel to Harlem' or to the soaring notes of 'Rhapsody in Blue', the classic by George Gershwin. Aaron Copland captured a different atmosphere in 'Quiet City' and if you want to visit Central Park after nightfall, be sure to have 'Central Park in the Dark', a 1906 composition by Charles Ives, to accompany you.
Compiling a playlist of music about NYC is very easy. You simply need to visit your local record store or an online site that allows you to download the numbers of your choice. While you're online, you may also want to find a map that shows different city locations immortalized in song and then go visit these places.
The music scene in New York has always reflected the liveliness and the incredible diversity of this city. Many of the world's top musicians were born here, from Maria Callas to Neil Diamond and even Christina Aguilera. Others came here from all over the world to try and make it, including Madonna, who moved to the city with only a few dollars and loads of ambition.
The musical movie 'New York, New York', with Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro, told the story of two people who tried to make it in the world's most exciting city. Its theme song later became Frank Sinatra's signature song and is filled with optimism. However, moving to the big city doesn't work out for everybody and in their song 'The Boxer', Simon and Garfunkel tell the story of one such a person.
In the Sixties, the clubs of the Lower East Side were at the center of the folk movement. Many of the era's best songwriters used the city streets to inspire them. Joni Mitchell wrote about the yellow cabs and about the Chelsea neighborhood, while Leonard Cohen immortalized the iconic Chelsea Hotel in song. Later folk singers such as Suzanne Vega also sang about New York locations.
Musicians in other genres have also mentioned city locations in their songs. For instance, Gogol Bordello sings about Avenue B. Some sing about the atmosphere rather than about specific locations. Billy Joel, for instance, sings about being in a New York state of mind and how he'd rather be here than in Miami Beach or Hollywood.
The gritty city has inspired many a musical too. After all, Broadway is the spiritual home of this genre of the stage. To get a sense of how diverse New Yorkers are, listen to the songs from 'West Side Story'. 'Rent' looks at the struggle of artists and the scourge of HIV in the East Village. Other famous musicals set in NYC include 'Funny Girl', 'Hair', 'A Chorus Line', 'Annie' and the classic 'Guys and Dolls'.
Often, words aren't really necessary to capture the spirit of America's largest city. You simply need to listen to the jazz of Duke Ellington's composition 'A Tone Parallel to Harlem' or to the soaring notes of 'Rhapsody in Blue', the classic by George Gershwin. Aaron Copland captured a different atmosphere in 'Quiet City' and if you want to visit Central Park after nightfall, be sure to have 'Central Park in the Dark', a 1906 composition by Charles Ives, to accompany you.
Compiling a playlist of music about NYC is very easy. You simply need to visit your local record store or an online site that allows you to download the numbers of your choice. While you're online, you may also want to find a map that shows different city locations immortalized in song and then go visit these places.
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