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{{Short description|1977 single by Liza Minnelli}}
:''This article is about the theme from the movie "[[New York, New York (film)|New York, New York]]". For other songs called "New York, New York", see [[New York, New York (disambiguation)]].''
{{For|other songs called New York, New York|New York, New York (disambiguation)#Music}}
'''"Theme from ''New York, New York''"''' (or just "'''New York, New York'''") is the [[theme song]] from the [[1977]] [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[New York, New York (film)|New York, New York]]''. It has music by [[John Kander]] and lyrics by [[Fred Ebb]], and is performed in the film by [[Liza Minnelli]]. Two years later, the song was more famously recorded by [[Frank Sinatra]], and has become closely associated with that singer.
{{Use American English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Theme from ''New York, New York''}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Theme from ''New York, New York''
| cover = Theme from New York New York by Liza Minnelli US vinyl.png
| alt = New York New York
| caption = US vinyl label
| type = single
| artist = [[Liza Minnelli]]
| album = [[New York, New York (1977 film)|New York, New York]]
| B-side = "Hazoy" (Ralph Burns and His Orchestra)
| released = June 21, 1977
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
* [[Swing music|Swing]]
* [[Show tune|show tune]]
* [[Jazz|jazz]]
| length = 3:16
| label = [[United Artists Records|United Artists]]
| composer = [[John Kander]]
| lyricist = [[Fred Ebb]]
| producer = Ralph Burns
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Theme from ''New York, New York''
| cover = New York Frank Sinatra.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Frank Sinatra]]
| album = [[Trilogy: Past Present Future]]
| B-side = That's What God Looks Like to Me
| released = April 1980
| recorded = September 19, 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Jazz music|Jazz]]
| length = 3:26
| label = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
| writer = [[Fred Ebb]], [[John Kander]]
| producer = [[Sonny Burke]]
| prev_title = [[Night and Day (song)|Night and Day]]
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = You and Me (We Wanted It All)
| next_year = 1980
}}
"'''Theme from ''New York, New York'''''", often abbreviated to just "'''New York, New York'''", is the [[theme song]] from the [[Martin Scorsese]] [[musical film]] ''[[New York, New York (1977 film)|New York, New York]]'' (1977), composed by [[John Kander]], with lyrics by [[Fred Ebb]]. [[Liza Minnelli]] performs the song in the climax of the film. It was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song]].


Two years later, [[Frank Sinatra]] covered the song, and it became closely identified with both him and [[New York City]].
The first line of the song is ''"Start spreadin' the news, I'm leaving today / I'm gonna be a part of it: New York, New York."'' The song concludes with the line ''"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere, / It's up to you, New York, New York."''

It should not be confused with the song [[New York, New York (On The Town)|"New York, New York"]], from [[Leonard Bernstein]]'s musical "[[On the Town]]," which features the lyric ''"New York, New York, it's a helluva town / The Bronx is up and the Battery's down..."''.


==History==
==History==
Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb attributed the song's success to [[Robert De Niro]], who rejected their original theme for the film because it was "too weak".<ref>"Biography: Liza Minnelli". Directed by Christopher Bruce. A&E. June 11, 2004.</ref> They had been asked to write a handful of songs for ''New York, New York''. When they were ready, Kander & Ebb played the songs for [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Liza Minnelli]] and De Niro. After the recital, De Niro pulled Scorsese aside and convinced him the title song needed to be stronger.<ref name=NPR>Lunden, Jeff. "[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1137093 Songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb discuss the music they wrote for the movie "New York, New York"]". [[NPR]] [[Morning Edition]]. January 28, 2002 Monday.</ref>


[[File:Opening bars of "New York, New York".png|alt=Opening vamp of "New York, New York"|thumb|Opening vamp of "New York, New York"|left]]The original lyrics begin, "They always say it's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here." The melody of the discarded song is also completely different.<ref name=JL>Leve, James. ''Kander and Ebb''. Yale University Press, 2009.</ref>{{rp|310–1}} Kander & Ebb banged out a replacement in "a very short time...and in great anger".<ref name=NPR/> The new song, "Theme from New York, New York", begins with one of Kander's famous [[Ostinato#Vamp|vamps]], this one derived from the [[ragtime]] practice of putting the melody underneath a repeated note.<ref name=JL/>{{rp|25-6}} Liza Minnelli's performance was released as a single from the [[soundtrack album]] and peaked at #104 on the [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] chart.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2000 |publisher=[[Billboard Books]] |location=United States |isbn=9780823076901 |page=576 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=drgq4g0rmVsC&q=bibliogroup:%22BILLBOARD+BOOK+OF+TOP+FORTY+HITS%22|quote=Theme From New York, New York" introduced in the movie musical ''New York, New York'' by Liza Minnelli (her version "Bubbled Under" at #104 in 1977).|accessdate=August 18, 2012 }}</ref>
Composers Kander and Ebb stated on the A&E Biography of [[Liza Minnelli]] that they attribute the song's success to actor [[Robert De Niro]], who rejected their original theme for the film because he thought it was "too weak".


===Frank Sinatra===
The song did not become a popular hit until it was picked up in concert by [[Frank Sinatra]] during his performances at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in October [[1978]]. Subsequently, Sinatra recorded it in 1979 for his 1980 ''Trilogy'' set ([[Reprise Records]]), and it became one of his [[signature song|signature songs]]. Sinatra made two more studio recordings of the song in 1981 (for his NBC TV special ''The Man and His Music'') and 1993 (for [[Capitol Records]]). From the latter, an electronic duet with [[Tony Bennett]] was produced for Sinatra's ''Duets'' album.
Frank Military, a longtime associate and former employee of Frank Sinatra's publishing company, was adept at choosing songs for the singer.<ref name=WF/>{{rp|250}} Military sent Sinatra a record of "New York, New York" and kept checking in with his secretary to see if he listened to it. Sinatra eventually gave the sheet music to his pianist, Vinnie Falcone, and in October 1978, he began performing it in a medley with "[[New York, New York (On the Town)|New York, New York]]" from ''[[On the Town (film)|On the Town]]''.


He hired [[Don Costa]] to create a medley of "[[Autumn in New York (song)|Autumn in New York]]", "[[The Sidewalks of New York]]", and "Theme from New York, New York" as an overture for his act, entering to Kander's vamp. Audiences loved "New York, New York" so much that he kept moving it later into the set, which he was still closing with "[[My Way]]". It was through those performances that Sinatra developed the massive [[rallentando]] that defines his interpretation of the song and is immortalized on record. By 1980, "New York, New York" had become the closer for his performances.<ref name=WF>Friedwald, Will. ''[https://archive.org/details/sinatrasongisyou00frie_1/page/481/mode/1up Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art]''. Scribner, 1995.</ref>{{rp|480–1}}
The lyrics of the Sinatra versions differ slightly from Ebb's original lyrics. Notably, the phrase "A-number-one," which does not appear at all in the original lyrics, is sung twice at the song's [[rallentando]] climax. (Ebb has said he "didn't even like" Sinatra's use of "A-number-one." [http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/newyorknewyork/]) The phrase is both the first and fourth on a list of four superlative titles the singer strives to achieve — "A-number-one, top of the list, king of the hill, A-number-one" — where Ebb's original lyrics were closer to "king of the hill, head of the list, cream of the crop, at the top of the heap."


Sinatra recorded the song for his [[triple album]] ''[[Trilogy: Past Present Future]]'' (1980), and it eventually became his [[signature song]]. [[Don Costa]] received a [[Grammy]] nomination for the energetic orchestration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/don-costa/10969 |title=Don Costa |website=Grammy Awards |publisher=Recording Academy |access-date=December 26, 2021}}</ref> Sinatra occasionally performed the song live with Minnelli as a duet. Having known him all her life, she referred to him as "Uncle Frank", and Minnelli teased him that his signature song was written for her.<ref>Sinatra, Nancy. ''[https://archive.org/details/franksinatraamer00sina/page/308/mode/1up Frank Sinatra: An American Legend]''. General Publishing Group, 1995. 308.</ref>
==Appearance in Popular Culture==


Sinatra's recording peaked at #32 on June 14, 1980, becoming his final Top 40 hit.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 14, 1980 |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1980-06-14/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> It was also an [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] hit, reaching #10 in the US<ref name="auto1">{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=221}}</ref> and #2 in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0197&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0197.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0197 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1980-07-05 |access-date=2017-04-04}}</ref> In Mexico, it reached #1 on Notitas Musicales' ''Hit Parade'' chart in December 1981,<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Discos Más Populares - Notitas Musicales (15 December) |website=[[Facebook]]|url=https://www.facebook.com/Listas-de-Notitas-Musicales-100143748534379/photos/a.100185338530220/100180471864040/|accessdate=10 March 2024}}</ref> remaining in that position for three fortnights. The song made a minor showing in the UK (#59); however, it recharted several years later and reached #4 in 1986. The song was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male]].
The song has been embraced as a celebration of [[New York City]], and is often heard at New York-area social events, such as weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Many sports teams in the New York area have played this song in their arenas/stadiums, but the [[New York Yankees]] are the most prominent example. It is played over the [[Yankee Stadium]] loudspeakers at the end of every Yankee home game. Sinatra's version is played after a Yankees win, and the Minnelli version after a loss. As of the 2005 season, at the [[Richmond County Bank Ballpark]] following [[Staten Island Yankees]] games, the Sinatra version is heard regardless of the game's outcome, and was formerly done at [[Shea Stadium]] at the end of [[New York Mets]] games.


Sinatra made two more studio recordings of the song in 1981 (for his NBC TV special ''[[The Man and His Music]]'') and 1993 (for [[Capitol Records]]). The latter recording was edited into a duet with [[Tony Bennett]] for Sinatra's ''[[Duets (Frank Sinatra album)|Duets]]'' album.
Since 1997, the song has also been performed during the post parade of the [[Belmont Stakes]] horse race, either as an edit of the Sinatra version or a live trackside performance by singers such as [[Linda Eder]] or [[Ronan Tynan]]. It replaced "Sidewalks of New York" as the horse race's signature song, although the latter tune is still sung by the on-track crowd before the race.


==Lyrics==
The song is also played a few minutes after the ball drop in [[Times Square]] every New Year's, before [[Auld Lang Syne]].
The first line of the song is:
{{Blockquote|Start spreadin' the news, I'm leavin' today<br />I want to be a part of it: New York, New York.}}


The song concludes with the line:
Despite Sinatra's version becoming more familiar, original singer Minnelli had two of the tune's most memorable live performances -- during the July 4, 1986 ceremony marking the rededication of the [[Statue of Liberty]] after extensive renovations, and in the middle of the seventh inning of a [[New York Mets]] game that was the first pro sports event in the metro area after the [[September 11 Attacks]].
{{Blockquote|If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere,<br />It's up to you, New York, New York.}}


Minnelli's original recording of the song (also used in the Tony Bennett version in ''[[Duets (Frank Sinatra album)|Duets]]'') uses the following closing line:
The line "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere" appears as "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere" above the locker room doors at the [[Arthur Ashe Stadium]] at the [[USTA National Tennis Center]] in [[Flushing Meadows Park]], site of the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] tennis championships.
{{Blockquote|If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere,<br />Come on, come through, New York, New York.}}


Frank Sinatra altered some of Ebb's lyrics during the recording process, likely as a mistake. During the climax, Ebb's original list of superlative titles runs, "king of the hill, head of the list, cream of the crop, and the top of the heap", which rhymes with "the city that doesn't sleep". Sinatra rendered the titles as "A-number-one, top of the list, king of the hill, A-number-one". Ebb was not fond of the revision but was deeply grateful to Sinatra for giving them an "enormous hit".<ref name=NPR/>
This is the closing track every friday and saturday night on Sugg's Party Classics show on Virgin Radio in the UK.


==Charts==
==Other Recordings==
;Liza Minnelli version
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1977)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Bubbling Under the Hot 100]]<ref name="auto">''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|104
|-
|}
;Frank Sinatra version
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1980-1981)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0197&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0197.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0197|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1980-07-05 |access-date=2018-08-09}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|Mexico (Hit Parade)<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Discos Más Populares - Notitas Musicales (15 December) |website=[[Facebook]]|url=https://www.facebook.com/Listas-de-Notitas-Musicales-100143748534379/photos/a.100185338530220/100180471864040/|accessdate=1 October 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Charts Company |url=http://Officialcharts.com |access-date=2018-07-16}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|59
|-
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref name="auto"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|32
|-
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]]<ref name="auto1"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19800705.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 5, 1980 |access-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812022047/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19800705.html |archive-date=August 12, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|align="center"|35
|-
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1986)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|{{single chart|Ireland2|4|song=New York, New York|access-date=June 6, 2018}}
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/theme-from-new-york,-new-york/ |title=Official Charts Company |website=Officialcharts.com |date=1986-02-22 |access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|}
{{col-end}}


==Certifications==
In 1986, the band [[Queen (band)|Queen]] recorded a popular version of this song for the soundtrack to the film [[Highlander (film)|Highlander]]. Sung by [[Freddie Mercury]], an avowed Liza Minnelli fan, it carried a feel reminiscent of classic rock.
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Frank Sinatra version}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Frank Sinatra|title=New York New York|award=Gold|relyear=1986|certyear=2024|access-date=January 19, 2024|id=4559-823-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}


==Legacy==
The band Reel Big Fish also recorded a version of the song on their album Cheer Up.
The song has been embraced as a celebration of [[New York City]], and is often heard at New York City social events, such as weddings and [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|bar mitzvahs]]. Many sports teams in New York City have played this song in their arenas/stadiums, but the [[New York Yankees]] are the most prominent example. It has been played over the loudspeakers at both the [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|original]] and [[Yankee Stadium|current Yankee Stadiums]] at the end of every Yankee home game since July 1980. Originally, Sinatra's version was played after a Yankees win, and the Minnelli version after a loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/music/post/_/id/2174/stadium-songs-new-york-yankees |title=Stadium Songs: New York Yankees |work=ESPN.com |date=2012-07-20 |access-date=2018-10-22}}</ref> However, due to a complaint from Minnelli, the Sinatra version is now heard regardless of the game's outcome.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/19673/quick-10-10-facts-about-yankee-stadium |title=10 Facts About Yankee Stadium |publisher=Mentalfloss.com |date=2008-09-23 |access-date=2014-04-17}}</ref>


By the mid-80s, the song was ubiquitous as the theme in commercials for [[Kraft Foods|Kraft's]] [[Philadelphia Cream Cheese]].<ref>Newman, Andrew Adam. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/business/media/04adco.html An Accompaniment Moves Beyond the Bagel]", ''The New York Times''. April 3, 2011.</ref>
==Alternate Version==


While collaborating with [[Queen (band)|Queen]] on the soundtrack to ''[[Highlander (film)|Highlander]]'', director [[Russell Mulcahy]] begged [[Freddie Mercury]] to record "New York, New York". The singer obliged and his 30-second performance appears in the film just before the climax.<ref>LeMieux, Patrick, and Unger, Adam. ''The Queen Chronology (2nd Edition)''. Canada, Across The Board Books, 2018. 75f.</ref>
An alternate version of the song was penned in 1979 by musician [[Gerard Kenny]], and was featured as part of a New York medly sung by performer [[Shirley Bassey]]. Parts of the Kander/Ebb version are included, but with the added [[refrain|chorus]] "New York, New York/So good they named it twice/New York, New York/All the scandal and the vice".


Liza Minnelli performed the song live during the July 4, 1986 ceremony marking the rededication of the [[Statue of Liberty]] after [[Conservation-restoration of the Statue of Liberty|extensive renovations]].<ref name="Kyle1">{{cite web |last1=Munzenrieder |first1=Kyle |title=Liza Minnelli Belting "New York, New York" in 1986 Will Enliven Your Spirit |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/liza-minnelli-new-york-new-york-liberty-weekend |website=W Magazine |access-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416115728/https://www.wmagazine.com/story/liza-minnelli-new-york-new-york-liberty-weekend/ |archive-date=16 April 2020 |language=en |date=13 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Goldman1">{{cite web |last1=Goldman |first1=John J. |last2=Mehren |first2=Elizabeth |title=A Glitzy Finale : Cast of 8,000 Performs in Liberty Fete |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-07-mn-20412-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906005153/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-07-mn-20412-story.html |archive-date=6 September 2023 |date=7 July 1986}}</ref>
The song was released on the following albumns released by Kenny:


Minnelli also performed it on September 21, 2001 at [[Shea Stadium]] during the [[seventh-inning stretch]]. It was the first game in New York after the [[September 11 attacks|attacks on the World Trade Center]]. The [[New York Mets|Mets]] beat the [[Atlanta Braves|Braves]] with a dramatic home run by [[Mike Piazza]]. It is known as the "9/11 game".<ref>"[https://nypost.com/2011/08/28/the-rumble-217/ The Rumble]", ''New York Post''. August 28. 2011.</ref><ref name="Fanuzzi1">{{cite book |last1=Fanuzzi |first1=Robert |last2=Wolfe |first2=Michael |title=Recovering 9/11 in New York |date=23 April 2014 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-5959-2 |page=80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5sxBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA80 |access-date=6 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Made it Thru the Rain]] (1981)

*[[The Time Between the Time]] (1994)
In 2004, "New York, New York" ranked #31 on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs]] survey of top tunes in [[Cinema of the United States|American cinema]].
*[[The Best Of Gerrard Kenny]] (1998)

*[[25 Years on the beat]]
In the 2005 ''[[Arrested Development]]'' episode "Queen for a Day" Tobias Fünke starts singing the song in presence of Minnelli's character Lucille Austero, causing her to roll her eyes and complain that "everyone thinks they're Frank Sinatra."<ref>Copeland, Brad. "Queen for a Day", ''Arrested Development''. [[Fox Broadcasting Corporation]]. January 23, 2005.</ref>

From the 2005 season until 2020, at the [[Richmond County Bank Ballpark]] following [[Staten Island Yankees]] games, the Sinatra version was heard regardless of the game's outcome, and was formerly done at [[Shea Stadium]] at the end of [[New York Mets]] games after the September 11, 2001 attack. Previously, Mets fans felt it was a "Yankee song", and began booing it when it was played. It actually first had snippets of the song played after [[World Series]] home runs by [[Ray Knight]] and [[Darryl Strawberry]] during Game 7 of the [[1986 World Series]]. The song is also sometimes played at [[New York Knicks]] games. The Sinatra version is played at the end of every [[New York Rangers]] game at Madison Square Garden. It was played at the opening faceoff of Game 7 of the [[1994 Stanley Cup Finals]] at the Garden.<ref>{{cite book|last=McKinley|first=Michael|title=Hockey Night in Canada 60 Seasons|year=2012|publisher=Penguin Group|location=Toronto|isbn=978-0670066988|page=233}}</ref> The song has also been the post parade song for the [[Belmont Stakes]] from 1997 to 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://horseracing.about.com/od/belmontstakes/ss/aabeltraditions_4.htm |title=Belmont Stakes Traditions |publisher=Horseracing.about.com |date=2010-06-15 |access-date=2010-10-07 |archive-date=May 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516102410/http://horseracing.about.com/od/belmontstakes/ss/aabeltraditions_4.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and since 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-04/ae/29685780_1_nyra-belmont-stakes-horses-step|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118082742/http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-04/ae/29685780_1_nyra-belmont-stakes-horses-step|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|title=Sinatra's voice returns to Belmont Stakes|agency=Associated Press|date=June 4, 2011|publisher=boston.com|access-date=June 19, 2012}}</ref> Sinatra's version of the song has been played at the end of all four [[Super Bowl]]s that the [[New York Giants]] have won to date, as well as before kickoff of [[Super Bowl XLVIII]], while Minnelli's version was heard after the Giants' [[Super Bowl XXXV]] loss.

In 2013, the 1979 recording by [[Frank Sinatra]] was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#t|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame &#124; Hall of Fame Artists &#124; GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com}}</ref>

The song was the musical basis for Jimmy Picker's 1983 three-minute animated short, ''[[Sundae in New York]]'', which won the [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] for [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film|Best Short Film (Animated)]] that year, with a likeness of then-mayor [[Ed Koch]] somewhat stumbling through the song, with clay caricatures of New York-based celebrities (including [[Alfred E. Neuman]]) and finishing the song with "Basically, I think New York is very therapeutic. Hey, an apple a day is... uh... great for one's constitution!" and burying his face in a big banana split with "THE END" written on his bald head. (Koch used the same ''rallentando'' climax Sinatra used, albeit with one big difference: "A-number one, top of the list, king of the hill..." followed by his impression of [[Groucho Marx]] completing, "...and incidentally a ''heckuva'' nice guy!")<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zappinternet.com/video/TiCmNamDol/Sundae-in-New-York |title=Sundae in New York video |publisher=Zappinternet.com |access-date=2014-04-17}}</ref> In 2013, an organist played "New York, New York" as the final song of Koch's funeral.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ed Koch funeral: Former mayor's coffin exits to 'New York, New York' |work=NJ.com |agency=Associated Press |date=February 4, 2013 |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/ed_koch_funeral_former_mayors.html}}</ref>

==Parodies==
* [[Sweden|Swedish]] comedy group [[Galenskaparna och After Shave]] made a version of the song in 1985, "Borås, Borås", about [[Borås]] (the [[mail order]] center of Sweden).
* [[Martin Short]] sang a parody, "North Pole, North Pole", in the 2006 film ''[[The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]]''.
* In an season 1 episode of ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', Susan ([[Teri Hatcher]]) sings a part of the song while she confronts her cheating ex-husband.
* [[Stephen Colbert]] sang a [[parody]] of the song on the 10 June 2014 episode of ''[[The Colbert Report]]''. His version mocked New York Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]]'s and California Governor [[Jerry Brown]]'s wager on the result of the [[2014 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] between the [[New York Rangers]] and the [[Los Angeles Kings]].
* Professional wrestling team [[The New Day (wrestling)|The New Day]] sang a parody on an episode of ''[[WWE Raw]]'' the night after they won the Tag Team Championships at [[SummerSlam (2015)|SummerSlam]] in 2015 at the [[Barclays Center]] in Brooklyn.
* [[Michael Feinstein]] often sings parody lyrics regarding his hatred of this song in concert.
* The [[YouTube]] puppet web comedy series ''[[Glove and Boots]]'' recorded a parody of the song, "New York, New York ft Johnny T", in 2015.<ref>{{Citation|title=New York, New York ft. Johnny T| date=July 9, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=326RcOeSPGs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/326RcOeSPGs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en-US|access-date=2020-08-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Sung by the character Johnny T (a New Yorker frog), the parody is a more cynical take about the modern New York City, with lyrics about gentrification and rising cost of living forcing residents to move out.
* The animated series ''[[The Simpsons]]'' has parodied the song in multiple episodes. The 1990 episode "[[Dancin' Homer]]" features the song "Capital City", an ode to the state capital of the unnamed [[Springfield (The Simpsons)#Location|state]] the titular family lives in performed by [[Tony Bennett]] (who also performed the original song). The song is also parodied in the 2019 episode "[[D'oh Canada]]" as "Upstate New York", a deprecating look at the [[Upstate New York|northern part of the state]] sung by [[Homer Simpson]].
* A parody of the song, "First Grade, First Grade", is sung at kindergarten graduations.
* Jewish song parody group Rechnitzer Rejects recorded a version of the song in [[Yiddish]] called [[Borough Park, Brooklyn|Boro Park]].

==See also==
{{Portal|New York City}}
* "[[I Love L.A.]]" by [[Randy Newman]]
* "[[I Left My Heart in San Francisco]]" by [[Tony Bennett]], who also covered "New York, New York" in a duet with [[Frank Sinatra|Sinatra]].
* "[[My Kind of Town]]", composed by [[Jimmy Van Heusen]] and [[Sammy Cahn]]
* "[[New York, New York (On the Town)|New York, New York]]' from ''[[On the Town (musical)|On the Town]]''
* "[[Sweet Home Chicago]]" by [[Robert Johnson]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/newyorknewyork/ Present at the Creation] (segment of [[NPR]] radio show ''[[Morning Edition]]'' about the song)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050211211152/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/newyorknewyork/ Present at the Creation] (segment of [[NPR]] radio show ''[[Morning Edition]]'' about the song)
* [https://prolyrical.com/new-york-new-york-lyrics-frank-sinatra/ New York New York Lyrics]
* [http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/newyorknewyork/themefromnewyorknewyork.htm Song lyrics]

* [http://www.songsofshirleybassey.co.uk/song/sng82009.html Songs Of Shirley Bassey]
{{Liza Minnelli}}
* [http://www.mcportsmouth.freeserve.co.uk/gk/gk.htm UNofficial page for Gerard Kenny]
{{New York Knicks}}
{{New York Rangers}}
{{New York Yankees}}
{{Belmont Stakes}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Theme From New York, New York}}
[[Category:Theme music]]
[[Category:Film theme songs]]
[[Category:1977 songs]]
[[Category:1977 songs]]
[[Category:1980 singles]]
[[Category:Liza Minnelli songs]]
[[Category:Liza Minnelli songs]]
[[Category:Frank Sinatra songs]]
[[Category:Frank Sinatra songs]]
[[Category:Songs popular at sporting events]]
[[Category:Michael Bolton songs]]
[[Category:New York City culture]]
[[Category:Michael Ball songs]]
[[Category:Songs about New York City]]

[[Category:Songs with music by John Kander]]
[[da:New York, New York (sang)]]
[[it:Theme from New York, New York]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Fred Ebb]]
[[Category:Traditional pop soundtracks]]
[[sv:New York, New York (sång)]]
[[Category:New York Yankees]]
[[Category:New York Mets]]
[[Category:New York Rangers]]
[[Category:New York Knicks]]
[[Category:Belmont Stakes]]
[[Category:United Artists Records singles]]
[[Category:Reprise Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 07:26, 18 October 2024

For other songs called New York, New York, see New York, New York (disambiguation) § Music.

"Theme from New York, New York"
New York New York
US vinyl label
Single by Liza Minnelli
from the album New York, New York
B-side"Hazoy" (Ralph Burns and His Orchestra)
ReleasedJune 21, 1977
Genre
Length3:16
LabelUnited Artists
Composer(s)John Kander
Lyricist(s)Fred Ebb
Producer(s)Ralph Burns
"Theme from New York, New York"
Single by Frank Sinatra
from the album Trilogy: Past Present Future
B-side"That's What God Looks Like to Me"
ReleasedApril 1980
RecordedSeptember 19, 1979
GenreJazz
Length3:26
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Fred Ebb, John Kander
Producer(s)Sonny Burke
Frank Sinatra singles chronology
"Night and Day"
(1977) 		"Theme from New York, New York"
(1980) 		"You and Me (We Wanted It All)"
(1980)

"Theme from New York, New York", often abbreviated to just "New York, New York", is the theme song from the Martin Scorsese musical film New York, New York (1977), composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb. Liza Minnelli performs the song in the climax of the film. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Two years later, Frank Sinatra covered the song, and it became closely identified with both him and New York City.

History

[edit]

Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb attributed the song's success to Robert De Niro, who rejected their original theme for the film because it was "too weak".[1] They had been asked to write a handful of songs for New York, New York. When they were ready, Kander & Ebb played the songs for Martin Scorsese, Liza Minnelli and De Niro. After the recital, De Niro pulled Scorsese aside and convinced him the title song needed to be stronger.[2]

Opening vamp of "New York, New York"
Opening vamp of "New York, New York"

The original lyrics begin, "They always say it's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here." The melody of the discarded song is also completely different.[3]: 310–1  Kander & Ebb banged out a replacement in "a very short time...and in great anger".[2] The new song, "Theme from New York, New York", begins with one of Kander's famous vamps, this one derived from the ragtime practice of putting the melody underneath a repeated note.[3]: 25–6  Liza Minnelli's performance was released as a single from the soundtrack album and peaked at #104 on the Billboard chart.[4]

Frank Sinatra

[edit]

Frank Military, a longtime associate and former employee of Frank Sinatra's publishing company, was adept at choosing songs for the singer.[5]: 250  Military sent Sinatra a record of "New York, New York" and kept checking in with his secretary to see if he listened to it. Sinatra eventually gave the sheet music to his pianist, Vinnie Falcone, and in October 1978, he began performing it in a medley with "New York, New York" from On the Town.

He hired Don Costa to create a medley of "Autumn in New York", "The Sidewalks of New York", and "Theme from New York, New York" as an overture for his act, entering to Kander's vamp. Audiences loved "New York, New York" so much that he kept moving it later into the set, which he was still closing with "My Way". It was through those performances that Sinatra developed the massive rallentando that defines his interpretation of the song and is immortalized on record. By 1980, "New York, New York" had become the closer for his performances.[5]: 480–1 

Sinatra recorded the song for his triple album Trilogy: Past Present Future (1980), and it eventually became his signature song. Don Costa received a Grammy nomination for the energetic orchestration.[6] Sinatra occasionally performed the song live with Minnelli as a duet. Having known him all her life, she referred to him as "Uncle Frank", and Minnelli teased him that his signature song was written for her.[7]

Sinatra's recording peaked at #32 on June 14, 1980, becoming his final Top 40 hit.[8] It was also an Adult Contemporary hit, reaching #10 in the US[9] and #2 in Canada.[10] In Mexico, it reached #1 on Notitas Musicales' Hit Parade chart in December 1981,[11] remaining in that position for three fortnights. The song made a minor showing in the UK (#59); however, it recharted several years later and reached #4 in 1986. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.

Sinatra made two more studio recordings of the song in 1981 (for his NBC TV special The Man and His Music) and 1993 (for Capitol Records). The latter recording was edited into a duet with Tony Bennett for Sinatra's Duets album.

Lyrics

[edit]

The first line of the song is:

Start spreadin' the news, I'm leavin' today
I want to be a part of it: New York, New York.

The song concludes with the line:

If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere,
It's up to you, New York, New York.

Minnelli's original recording of the song (also used in the Tony Bennett version in Duets) uses the following closing line:

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere,
Come on, come through, New York, New York.

Frank Sinatra altered some of Ebb's lyrics during the recording process, likely as a mistake. During the climax, Ebb's original list of superlative titles runs, "king of the hill, head of the list, cream of the crop, and the top of the heap", which rhymes with "the city that doesn't sleep". Sinatra rendered the titles as "A-number-one, top of the list, king of the hill, A-number-one". Ebb was not fond of the revision but was deeply grateful to Sinatra for giving them an "enormous hit".[2]

Charts

[edit]
Liza Minnelli version
Chart (1977) Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100[12] 104
Frank Sinatra version

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Frank Sinatra version
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Legacy

[edit]

The song has been embraced as a celebration of New York City, and is often heard at New York City social events, such as weddings and bar mitzvahs. Many sports teams in New York City have played this song in their arenas/stadiums, but the New York Yankees are the most prominent example. It has been played over the loudspeakers at both the original and current Yankee Stadiums at the end of every Yankee home game since July 1980. Originally, Sinatra's version was played after a Yankees win, and the Minnelli version after a loss.[20] However, due to a complaint from Minnelli, the Sinatra version is now heard regardless of the game's outcome.[21]

By the mid-80s, the song was ubiquitous as the theme in commercials for Kraft's Philadelphia Cream Cheese.[22]

While collaborating with Queen on the soundtrack to Highlander, director Russell Mulcahy begged Freddie Mercury to record "New York, New York". The singer obliged and his 30-second performance appears in the film just before the climax.[23]

Liza Minnelli performed the song live during the July 4, 1986 ceremony marking the rededication of the Statue of Liberty after extensive renovations.[24][25]

Minnelli also performed it on September 21, 2001 at Shea Stadium during the seventh-inning stretch. It was the first game in New York after the attacks on the World Trade Center. The Mets beat the Braves with a dramatic home run by Mike Piazza. It is known as the "9/11 game".[26][27]

In 2004, "New York, New York" ranked #31 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.

In the 2005 Arrested Development episode "Queen for a Day" Tobias Fünke starts singing the song in presence of Minnelli's character Lucille Austero, causing her to roll her eyes and complain that "everyone thinks they're Frank Sinatra."[28]

From the 2005 season until 2020, at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark following Staten Island Yankees games, the Sinatra version was heard regardless of the game's outcome, and was formerly done at Shea Stadium at the end of New York Mets games after the September 11, 2001 attack. Previously, Mets fans felt it was a "Yankee song", and began booing it when it was played. It actually first had snippets of the song played after World Series home runs by Ray Knight and Darryl Strawberry during Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. The song is also sometimes played at New York Knicks games. The Sinatra version is played at the end of every New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden. It was played at the opening faceoff of Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals at the Garden.[29] The song has also been the post parade song for the Belmont Stakes from 1997 to 2009,[30] and since 2011.[31] Sinatra's version of the song has been played at the end of all four Super Bowls that the New York Giants have won to date, as well as before kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII, while Minnelli's version was heard after the Giants' Super Bowl XXXV loss.

In 2013, the 1979 recording by Frank Sinatra was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[32]

The song was the musical basis for Jimmy Picker's 1983 three-minute animated short, Sundae in New York, which won the Oscar for Best Short Film (Animated) that year, with a likeness of then-mayor Ed Koch somewhat stumbling through the song, with clay caricatures of New York-based celebrities (including Alfred E. Neuman) and finishing the song with "Basically, I think New York is very therapeutic. Hey, an apple a day is... uh... great for one's constitution!" and burying his face in a big banana split with "THE END" written on his bald head. (Koch used the same rallentando climax Sinatra used, albeit with one big difference: "A-number one, top of the list, king of the hill..." followed by his impression of Groucho Marx completing, "...and incidentally a heckuva nice guy!")[33] In 2013, an organist played "New York, New York" as the final song of Koch's funeral.[34]

Parodies

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Biography: Liza Minnelli". Directed by Christopher Bruce. A&E. June 11, 2004.
  2. ^ a b c Lunden, Jeff. "Songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb discuss the music they wrote for the movie "New York, New York"". NPR Morning Edition. January 28, 2002 Monday.
  3. ^ a b Leve, James. Kander and Ebb. Yale University Press, 2009.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. United States: Billboard Books. p. 576. ISBN 9780823076901. Retrieved August 18, 2012. Theme From New York, New York" introduced in the movie musical New York, New York by Liza Minnelli (her version "Bubbled Under" at #104 in 1977).
  5. ^ a b Friedwald, Will. Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art. Scribner, 1995.
  6. ^ "Don Costa". Grammy Awards. Recording Academy. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Sinatra, Nancy. Frank Sinatra: An American Legend. General Publishing Group, 1995. 308.
  8. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. June 14, 1980. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 221.
  10. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 5, 1980. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  11. ^ "Los Discos Más Populares - Notitas Musicales (15 December)". Facebook. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  13. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 5, 1980. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  14. ^ "Los Discos Más Populares - Notitas Musicales (15 December)". Facebook. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Charts Company". Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  16. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 5, 1980". Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – New York, New York". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  18. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. February 22, 1986. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "British single certifications – Frank Sinatra – New York New York". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Stadium Songs: New York Yankees". ESPN.com. July 20, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "10 Facts About Yankee Stadium". Mentalfloss.com. September 23, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  22. ^ Newman, Andrew Adam. "An Accompaniment Moves Beyond the Bagel", The New York Times. April 3, 2011.
  23. ^ LeMieux, Patrick, and Unger, Adam. The Queen Chronology (2nd Edition). Canada, Across The Board Books, 2018. 75f.
  24. ^ Munzenrieder, Kyle (April 13, 2020). "Liza Minnelli Belting "New York, New York" in 1986 Will Enliven Your Spirit". W Magazine. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  25. ^ Goldman, John J.; Mehren, Elizabeth (July 7, 1986). "A Glitzy Finale : Cast of 8,000 Performs in Liberty Fete". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  26. ^ "The Rumble", New York Post. August 28. 2011.
  27. ^ Fanuzzi, Robert; Wolfe, Michael (April 23, 2014). Recovering 9/11 in New York. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-4438-5959-2. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  28. ^ Copeland, Brad. "Queen for a Day", Arrested Development. Fox Broadcasting Corporation. January 23, 2005.
  29. ^ McKinley, Michael (2012). Hockey Night in Canada 60 Seasons. Toronto: Penguin Group. p. 233. ISBN 978-0670066988.
  30. ^ "Belmont Stakes Traditions". Horseracing.about.com. June 15, 2010. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  31. ^ "Sinatra's voice returns to Belmont Stakes". boston.com. Associated Press. June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  32. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
  33. ^ "Sundae in New York video". Zappinternet.com. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  34. ^ "Ed Koch funeral: Former mayor's coffin exits to 'New York, New York'". NJ.com. Associated Press. February 4, 2013.
  35. ^ New York, New York ft. Johnny T, July 9, 2015, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved August 9, 2020
[edit]
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