One of the most exciting cities in the world is the Big Apple. It's one of the world's main financial and cultural centers and what's trendy here will soon be considered trendy everywhere else. Naturally a visit should include seeing the famous sights. However, to really get under its skin, simply wander around and look for the many places mentioned in music inspired by NYC.
New York has always been at the forefront of what's happening in the world of music and has been home to diverse musicians. Among the greats who were born here are Neil Diamond, Christina Aguilera and Maria Callas. However, countless musicians, including Madonna, have also left their hometowns to look for the big break this city could give them.
The lives of those musicians trying to make it big have been the subject of several movies, including 'New York, New York'. The movie's theme song was a hit for Liza Minnelli but became even bigger when Frank Sinatra made it one of his signature songs. In contrast to the optimistic mood of this song is 'The Boxer' by folk duo Simon and Garfunkel, which is about someone whose NYC dreams didn't quite work out as planned.
Simon and Garfunkel were icons of the folk movement of the Sixties. This movement embraced the streets of areas like the Lower East Side and many hit songs from the era mention locations by name. One of these is the Chelsea Hotel, which Leonard Cohen sang about and which still stands. Chelsea is of course a neighborhood immortalized in song by Joni Mitchell too.
It's not only folk musicians that have made New York their inspiration. You'll find songs about the Big Apple in many different genres too, from East Coast hip hop to good old rock 'n roll. One song that your NYC playlist shouldn't be without is 'New York State of Mind' by rock legend Billy Joel, who grew up on nearby Long Island.
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'.
New York life doesn't always have to be explained in words. Some great composers have used the city as inspiration for instrumental numbers. These include Duke Ellington's jazz classic 'A Tone Parallel to Harlem'. Charles Ives composed 'Central Park in the Dark' in 1906 already and a later piece worth listening to is Aaron Copland's 'Quiet City'. The one that really should be on your playlist though is George Gershwin's sweeping 'Rhapsody in Blue'.
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.
New York has always been at the forefront of what's happening in the world of music and has been home to diverse musicians. Among the greats who were born here are Neil Diamond, Christina Aguilera and Maria Callas. However, countless musicians, including Madonna, have also left their hometowns to look for the big break this city could give them.
The lives of those musicians trying to make it big have been the subject of several movies, including 'New York, New York'. The movie's theme song was a hit for Liza Minnelli but became even bigger when Frank Sinatra made it one of his signature songs. In contrast to the optimistic mood of this song is 'The Boxer' by folk duo Simon and Garfunkel, which is about someone whose NYC dreams didn't quite work out as planned.
Simon and Garfunkel were icons of the folk movement of the Sixties. This movement embraced the streets of areas like the Lower East Side and many hit songs from the era mention locations by name. One of these is the Chelsea Hotel, which Leonard Cohen sang about and which still stands. Chelsea is of course a neighborhood immortalized in song by Joni Mitchell too.
It's not only folk musicians that have made New York their inspiration. You'll find songs about the Big Apple in many different genres too, from East Coast hip hop to good old rock 'n roll. One song that your NYC playlist shouldn't be without is 'New York State of Mind' by rock legend Billy Joel, who grew up on nearby Long Island.
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'.
New York life doesn't always have to be explained in words. Some great composers have used the city as inspiration for instrumental numbers. These include Duke Ellington's jazz classic 'A Tone Parallel to Harlem'. Charles Ives composed 'Central Park in the Dark' in 1906 already and a later piece worth listening to is Aaron Copland's 'Quiet City'. The one that really should be on your playlist though is George Gershwin's sweeping 'Rhapsody in Blue'.
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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