![]() ![]() How did one of the oldest NYC subway lines inspire one of the greatest jazz anthems of all time? "Take the 'A' Train" was released in 1941, written by longtime Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn. "You must take the "A" train/ To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem/ If you miss the "A" train/ You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem" The lyrics reflect the beauty and grace that exists between the hot summer and brutal winter, which every New Yorker learns to appreciate. ![]() Regardless of the singer, each version captures the song's message of the picture-perfect season of autumn. ![]() The song was recorded by many, from Louis Armstrong to Frank Sinatra to Billie Holiday. Where else can you enjoy Central Park foliage but in New York City? Autumn in New York by Vernon Duke is a song that has no definitive owner. "Autumn in New York, it spells the thrill of first-nighting/ Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds in canyons of steel/ They're making me feel I'm home…" ln the interlude, Stevie sings, "Wow! New York! Just like I pictured it: skyscrapers and everything!" Although the lyrics don't mention NYC specifically, it is evident which city Wonder is talking about. It tells the story of a young boy from Mississippi who migrates to the Big Apple and is one of the first soul singles to deal so explicitly with systemic racism in America. The song reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won a GRAMMY for best rhythm and blues song in 1974. "Living for the City" is a 1973 single by legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his Innervisions album. "A boy is born in hard time Mississippi/ Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty/ His parents give him love and affection/ To keep him strong moving in the right direction" This song has become an iconic tune both for Joel and for the Big Apple. In one verse he sings that he doesn't care if he's in "Chinatown or on Riverside," that he will always be in a New York state of mind. The lyrics contrast his experiences outside of NYC, which for him cannot compare to the grittiness and beauty of New York. The Bronx-born musician wrote this song upon his return to New York in 1975, after years spent breaking into the LA music industry. "Some folks like to get away/ Take a holiday from the neighborhood/ Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood/ But I'm taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line/ I'm in a New York state of mind"įor Billy Joel, there's truly no place like home. In 2011, the song won two GRAMMYS for best rap song and song collaboration. Its lyrics pay homage to New York's most famous neighborhoods, from Bedford Stuyvesant to downtown Brooklyn to TriBeCa. The song is a gritty update to Sinatra's "Theme From New York, New York" because it uses Jay-Z's personal narratives as a tribute to the Big Apple. Rapper Jay-Z infuses his Brooklyn experience in just about everything he performs or produces, but nothing is quite as affecting as this popular hip-hop ode to New York City. "In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of/ There's nothin' you can't do/ Now you're in New York/ These streets will make you feel brand new/ Big lights will inspire you" Jay-Z and Alicia Keys: Empire State of Mind ![]() Today, the song is played after a Yankee victory home game. Although this song never won a GRAMMY, it is deemed the unofficial anthem of NYC. It captures what it means to be a New Yorker, because quite frankly if you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere. This classic ode to New York can be heard across the city - from Radio City Music Hall to Yankee Stadium. "Start spreading the news/ I am leaving today/ I want to be a part of it/ New York, New York" Frank Sinatra: Theme From New York, New York To commemorate this moment in music history, we've compiled a list of some of the greatest NYC odes and lyrics in its honor. But this year's GRAMMY show will be one to remember, marking the return to New York City after 15 years. For years, the GRAMMY telecast has alternated between Los Angeles and New York since 2004 the awards have taken place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Award season is here, which means the biggest night in music is upon us. ![]()
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