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.
Through the years, New York has been home to a vast variety of musicians. Some were born here, including Christina Aguilera, Neil Diamond and opera diva Maria Callas. Many more moved here later in life to try and find fame and fortune. Madonna famously arrived in New York with only thirty-five dollars to try and become a dancer.
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'.
Not all music inspired by New York has lyrics. There are many orchestral numbers too. George Gershwin, who composed 'Rhapsody in Blue', was a New Yorker, as was jazz legend Duke Ellington, who composed 'A Tone Parallel to Harlem'. Among the classical pieces you may want to listen to are 'Quiet City' by Aaron Copland and 'Central Park in the Dark' by Charles Ives.
It's easy to find New York-inspired music online or at any good record store. Compile yourself a playlist of numbers in your favorite genres. Then find a map online that shows you the locations of places mentioned in song and go exploring with the perfect soundtrack.
Through the years, New York has been home to a vast variety of musicians. Some were born here, including Christina Aguilera, Neil Diamond and opera diva Maria Callas. Many more moved here later in life to try and find fame and fortune. Madonna famously arrived in New York with only thirty-five dollars to try and become a dancer.
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'.
Not all music inspired by New York has lyrics. There are many orchestral numbers too. George Gershwin, who composed 'Rhapsody in Blue', was a New Yorker, as was jazz legend Duke Ellington, who composed 'A Tone Parallel to Harlem'. Among the classical pieces you may want to listen to are 'Quiet City' by Aaron Copland and 'Central Park in the Dark' by Charles Ives.
It's easy to find New York-inspired music online or at any good record store. Compile yourself a playlist of numbers in your favorite genres. Then find a map online that shows you the locations of places mentioned in song and go exploring with the perfect soundtrack.
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