|
"New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra
|
The title of the song is actually "Theme from New York, New York," because this song was the theme to the movie starring Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli, directed by Martin Scorcese, called "New York, New York" that was released in 1977.
This song is another late-in-his-career tune that Frank Sinatra made his own, even though it wasn't written for him and was indelibly performed first by someone else (Minnelli, in the showstopping closing number of the movie).
"New York, New York" was written by John Kander (music) and Fred Ebb (lyrics). Ebb's first version was rejected by De Niro, who asked the duo to strengthen the song around which his movie was being built. Thank goodness the actor asked the composers to do that; although Sinatra surely could have soared no matter what form the song took.
Frank Sinatra Albums Including "New York, New York"
• Trilogy: Past, Present & Future
• Duets
(with Tony Bennett)
• Sinatra 80th: Live in Concert
• The Reprise Collection
• The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings
• Nothing But The Best
"New York, New York" Lyrics
Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York
These vagabond shoes
Are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York
I wanna wake up in a city
That doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap
These little town blues
Are melting a way
I'll make a brand-new start of it
In old New York
If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York
New York, New York
I want to wake up
In a city that never sleeps
And find I'm A-number one, top of the list
King of the hill, A-number one*
These little town blues
Are melting a way
I'm gonna make a brand-new start of it
In old New York
And if I can make it there
I'm gonna make it anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York
*Note: Sinatra changed Ebb's original wording when singing this part of the song. Ebb's original lyric here was "king of the hill, head of the list, cream of the crop, at the top of the heap."
"New York, New York" Performance
Watch the video below of Frank Sinatra performing "New York, New York" in concert.
