hell of a city deserves a hell of a song or maybe several
or maybe several
or maybe several they got cause Vegas paws make of rivers
they got cause Vegas paws make of rivers
they got cause Vegas paws make of rivers of gold
of gold
of gold windows rock brilliance no place
windows rock brilliance no place
windows rock brilliance no place welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten songs about New York City
for this list we’ve chosen songs written
for this list we’ve chosen songs written about the city of New York based on
about the city of New York based on
about the city of New York based on their overall popularity and recognition
their overall popularity and recognition
their overall popularity and recognition now let’s go to the city that never
now let’s go to the city that never
now let’s go to the city that never sleeps
number ten the message Grandmaster Flash
number ten the message Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five broken glass
and the Furious Five broken glass
and the Furious Five broken glass everywhere people pissing on the stage
everywhere people pissing on the stage
everywhere people pissing on the stage and Noda just don’t catch Grandmaster
and Noda just don’t catch Grandmaster
and Noda just don’t catch Grandmaster Flash and the Furious fives awesome tune
Flash and the Furious fives awesome tune
Flash and the Furious fives awesome tune isn’t just a great song about New York
isn’t just a great song about New York
isn’t just a great song about New York it’s a great song
it’s a great song
it’s a great song period crazy lady living in the bag even
period crazy lady living in the bag even
period crazy lady living in the bag even not a comic fans used to be a fag hag
not a comic fans used to be a fag hag
not a comic fans used to be a fag hag such a desert angle skip the life and
such a desert angle skip the life and
such a desert angle skip the life and angles of all practicing the loss as one
angles of all practicing the loss as one
angles of all practicing the loss as one of the first hip-hop anthems to really
of the first hip-hop anthems to really
of the first hip-hop anthems to really drive home a social point it was a big
drive home a social point it was a big
drive home a social point it was a big influence on future artists including
influence on future artists including
influence on future artists including Public Enemy and Rage Against the
Public Enemy and Rage Against the
Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine push me cause I’m close to the
Machine push me cause I’m close to the
Machine push me cause I’m close to the edge I’m tryin not to lose my head the
edge I’m tryin not to lose my head the
edge I’m tryin not to lose my head the picture it paints up the city may not be
picture it paints up the city may not be
picture it paints up the city may not be flattering comparing it to a jungle it’s
flattering comparing it to a jungle it’s
flattering comparing it to a jungle it’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me
like a jungle sometimes it makes me
like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep them goin end up but
wonder how I keep them goin end up but
wonder how I keep them goin end up but it accurately and vividly captures the
it accurately and vividly captures the
it accurately and vividly captures the sense of struggle alienation and
sense of struggle alienation and
sense of struggle alienation and wrenching willpower that is part of
wrenching willpower that is part of
wrenching willpower that is part of being poor and disenfranchised in New
being poor and disenfranchised in New
being poor and disenfranchised in New York smugglers scramblers burglars
York smugglers scramblers burglars
York smugglers scramblers burglars gamblers pickpocket analyst even
gamblers pickpocket analyst even
gamblers pickpocket analyst even Mandela’s you say I’m cool I’m no fool
Mandela’s you say I’m cool I’m no fool
Mandela’s you say I’m cool I’m no fool but then you wind up dropping out of
but then you wind up dropping out of
but then you wind up dropping out of high
high
high number nine New York City cops The
number nine New York City cops The
number nine New York City cops The Strokes
you
you The Strokes have both legitimate New
The Strokes have both legitimate New
The Strokes have both legitimate New York City Roots and certifiable indie
York City Roots and certifiable indie
York City Roots and certifiable indie cred so it’s no wonder that New York
cred so it’s no wonder that New York
cred so it’s no wonder that New York City cops pulses with the same erratic
City cops pulses with the same erratic
City cops pulses with the same erratic heartbeat of the city
this rebellious anthem sparks a little
this rebellious anthem sparks a little protest in all of us as it contains
protest in all of us as it contains
protest in all of us as it contains lyrics about getting away with a crime
the track features a chorus that shows
the track features a chorus that shows little mercy to the law-enforcement in
little mercy to the law-enforcement in
little mercy to the law-enforcement in the Big Apple taunting and shaming them
the Big Apple taunting and shaming them
the Big Apple taunting and shaming them which caused the song to be pulled from
which caused the song to be pulled from
which caused the song to be pulled from the US release of their debut album
the US release of their debut album
the US release of their debut album after the traumatic events of 9/11
New York I love you but you’re bringing
New York I love you but you’re bringing me down number eight
me down number eight
me down number eight New York I love you but you’re bringing
New York I love you but you’re bringing
New York I love you but you’re bringing me down LCD Soundsystem like a rat in a
me down LCD Soundsystem like a rat in a
me down LCD Soundsystem like a rat in a cage pulling me wake LCD Soundsystem was
cage pulling me wake LCD Soundsystem was
cage pulling me wake LCD Soundsystem was acclaimed for their innovative and
acclaimed for their innovative and
acclaimed for their innovative and sometimes hectic blend of punk and disco
sometimes hectic blend of punk and disco
sometimes hectic blend of punk and disco but they took things down a notch for
but they took things down a notch for
but they took things down a notch for this plaintively beautiful ballad your
this plaintively beautiful ballad your
this plaintively beautiful ballad your mild billionaire mares now convinced
mild billionaire mares now convinced
mild billionaire mares now convinced he’s a king it’s a love letter to the
he’s a king it’s a love letter to the
he’s a king it’s a love letter to the city but really to the city that once
city but really to the city that once
city but really to the city that once was what’s yours
the drone
the drone singer James Murphy’s pan loads the
singer James Murphy’s pan loads the
singer James Murphy’s pan loads the cleaning up of Times Square and the
cleaning up of Times Square and the
cleaning up of Times Square and the Disneyfication of New York longing for
Disneyfication of New York longing for
Disneyfication of New York longing for the days when there was more squalor but
the days when there was more squalor but
the days when there was more squalor but also more character maybe alright maybe
also more character maybe alright maybe
also more character maybe alright maybe I run
Murphy the city may be safer and saner
Murphy the city may be safer and saner but it’s less distinctive and sadly
but it’s less distinctive and sadly
but it’s less distinctive and sadly bringing him down New York I love but
bringing him down New York I love but
bringing him down New York I love but you’re freaking me out
number seven fairytale of New York The
number seven fairytale of New York The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl I was
Pogues and Kirsty MacColl I was
Pogues and Kirsty MacColl I was Christmases
oh the Dechaine McGowan and the Pogues
oh the Dechaine McGowan and the Pogues to create a Christmas song full of
to create a Christmas song full of
to create a Christmas song full of rueful Beauty anger remorse and
rueful Beauty anger remorse and
rueful Beauty anger remorse and drunkenness you are pretty natural swing
drunkenness you are pretty natural swing
drunkenness you are pretty natural swing halogen-free was singing we kissed uncle
halogen-free was singing we kissed uncle
halogen-free was singing we kissed uncle telling the tale of an Irish immigrant
telling the tale of an Irish immigrant
telling the tale of an Irish immigrant sleeping one off in New York City the
sleeping one off in New York City the
sleeping one off in New York City the fairytale is full of recriminations
fairytale is full of recriminations
fairytale is full of recriminations between a man and a woman who have
between a man and a woman who have
between a man and a woman who have clearly disappointed each other
Christmas you’re also I’m very good
Christmas you’re also I’m very good the Flies
your disillusionment is focused on their
your disillusionment is focused on their time in New York a city that promises
time in New York a city that promises
time in New York a city that promises dreams but too often forces people to
dreams but too often forces people to
dreams but too often forces people to settle instead for illusions like it
settle instead for illusions like it
settle instead for illusions like it well the trains are
good
good it’d be
it’d be
it’d be springsteen maybe a native of New Jersey
springsteen maybe a native of New Jersey
springsteen maybe a native of New Jersey but New York embraces him as a native
but New York embraces him as a native
but New York embraces him as a native son
his New York City serenade is a great
his New York City serenade is a great New York song
the 9/11 attacks were a traumatic event
the 9/11 attacks were a traumatic event for New York and Springsteen’s
for New York and Springsteen’s
for New York and Springsteen’s unbelievable anthem managed to address
unbelievable anthem managed to address
unbelievable anthem managed to address the sad realities and tragedy of the
the sad realities and tragedy of the
the sad realities and tragedy of the experience while simultaneously
experience while simultaneously
experience while simultaneously inspiring hope
it comes from a place of tremendous
it comes from a place of tremendous personal emotion and applies that
personal emotion and applies that
personal emotion and applies that emotion to a city in need of healing
number five walk on the wild side Lou
number five walk on the wild side Lou Reed Halle came from Miami and Billy
attacked away across USA New York City
attacked away across USA New York City is usually somewhere in any song by Lou
is usually somewhere in any song by Lou
is usually somewhere in any song by Lou Reed but the portraits he paints and
Reed but the portraits he paints and
Reed but the portraits he paints and walk on the wild side served to move the
walk on the wild side served to move the
walk on the wild side served to move the city front and center on the island
city front and center on the island
city front and center on the island in the backroom huh – she was
in the backroom huh – she was
in the backroom huh – she was everybody’s garden the subject of this
everybody’s garden the subject of this
everybody’s garden the subject of this glam rock classic is a group of
glam rock classic is a group of
glam rock classic is a group of travelers who arrive to the big city and
travelers who arrive to the big city and
travelers who arrive to the big city and how the city has changed them
you take a look at the last side songs
you take a look at the last side songs bassline and do do refrain are
bassline and do do refrain are
bassline and do do refrain are mesmerizing lyrics make the listener
mesmerizing lyrics make the listener
mesmerizing lyrics make the listener feel like they’re somehow plugged into
feel like they’re somehow plugged into
feel like they’re somehow plugged into the part of New York City that defines
the part of New York City that defines
the part of New York City that defines cool even if only as a lawyer
number four New York state of mind Billy
number four New York state of mind Billy Joel has there ever been a more
Joel has there ever been a more
Joel has there ever been a more comforting song about the city that
comforting song about the city that
comforting song about the city that never sleeps and Billy Joel’s lovely
never sleeps and Billy Joel’s lovely
never sleeps and Billy Joel’s lovely tribute some people are born with the
tribute some people are born with the
tribute some people are born with the city in their soul and this serenade is
city in their soul and this serenade is
city in their soul and this serenade is a tribute to them
no matter where a true New Yorker goes
no matter where a true New Yorker goes he never really feels at home or at ease
he never really feels at home or at ease
he never really feels at home or at ease for long times
he needs the smell of the city and the
he needs the smell of the city and the slightly gritty feel of its air in order
slightly gritty feel of its air in order
slightly gritty feel of its air in order to be able to relax and kick his feet up
New York state of mind captures that
New York state of mind captures that feeling perfectly
number three no sleep till Brooklyn
number three no sleep till Brooklyn Beastie Boys
while this Beastie Boys rant is
while this Beastie Boys rant is ostensibly about the drudgery of being
ostensibly about the drudgery of being
ostensibly about the drudgery of being on the road it’s really about the fact
on the road it’s really about the fact
on the road it’s really about the fact that no place compares to Brooklyn
saucily tongue-in-cheek the boys detail
saucily tongue-in-cheek the boys detail all of the trials one goes through went
all of the trials one goes through went
all of the trials one goes through went away from the big borough
they don’t go into detail about the
they don’t go into detail about the positives of Brooklyn but the contrast
positives of Brooklyn but the contrast
positives of Brooklyn but the contrast is clear while their libidos and egos
is clear while their libidos and egos
is clear while their libidos and egos may get stroked on tour the only place
may get stroked on tour the only place
may get stroked on tour the only place they feel really at home is Brooklyn
number two Empire State of Mind jay-z
number two Empire State of Mind jay-z and Alicia Keys yeah I’m up at Brooklyn
and Alicia Keys yeah I’m up at Brooklyn
and Alicia Keys yeah I’m up at Brooklyn down down in Tribeca right next to the
down down in Tribeca right next to the
down down in Tribeca right next to the narrow but I’ll be hood fast up in
narrow but I’ll be hood fast up in
narrow but I’ll be hood fast up in referencing famous New Yorkers Sinatra
referencing famous New Yorkers Sinatra
referencing famous New Yorkers Sinatra and DeNiro Empire State of Mind one of
and DeNiro Empire State of Mind one of
and DeNiro Empire State of Mind one of the songs jay-z is most associated with
the songs jay-z is most associated with
the songs jay-z is most associated with is an infectious hip hop anthem with
is an infectious hip hop anthem with
is an infectious hip hop anthem with some awesome pop trappings
jay-z and Alicia Keys are in great form
jay-z and Alicia Keys are in great form here and both capture the upbeat spirit
here and both capture the upbeat spirit
here and both capture the upbeat spirit of the piece perfectly match would
of the piece perfectly match would
of the piece perfectly match would limine roamed in the world renown to the
limine roamed in the world renown to the
limine roamed in the world renown to the king come from the Empire State dropping
king come from the Empire State dropping
king come from the Empire State dropping the names of celebrities landmarks and
the names of celebrities landmarks and
the names of celebrities landmarks and other icons associated with the city
other icons associated with the city
other icons associated with the city Empire State of Mind becomes a love
Empire State of Mind becomes a love
Empire State of Mind becomes a love letter to the city from two of its most
letter to the city from two of its most
letter to the city from two of its most musically exciting contemporary natives
musically exciting contemporary natives
musically exciting contemporary natives came even school graduated set a hot
came even school graduated set a hot
came even school graduated set a hot life for players rap stars as if this at
life for players rap stars as if this at
life for players rap stars as if this at a time like empty and mein gott you’re
a time like empty and mein gott you’re
a time like empty and mein gott you’re feeling like a champion the city never
feeling like a champion the city never
feeling like a champion the city never sleeps whether slippy what
before we reveal our top pick here are
before we reveal our top pick here are some honorable mentions a new y’all
some honorable mentions a new y’all
some honorable mentions a new y’all cookin me soon a canned meat his
cookin me soon a canned meat his
cookin me soon a canned meat his daughter one boob at home in Jackson
daughter one boob at home in Jackson
daughter one boob at home in Jackson Tennessee and those were the reasons and
Tennessee and those were the reasons and
Tennessee and those were the reasons and that was New York
that was New York
that was New York we were running for the money
for a down
for a down you don’t know what you do until you put
you don’t know what you do until you put
you don’t know what you do until you put under pressure across 110th Street is a
under pressure across 110th Street is a
under pressure across 110th Street is a hell of a tester
hell of a tester
hell of a tester it’s autumn in New York that brings the
it’s autumn in New York that brings the
it’s autumn in New York that brings the promise of new love number one theme
promise of new love number one theme
promise of new love number one theme from New York New York Frank Sinatra
from New York New York Frank Sinatra
from New York New York Frank Sinatra Todd spreading the news I’m leaving
Todd spreading the news I’m leaving
Todd spreading the news I’m leaving today Liza Minnelli may have introduced
today Liza Minnelli may have introduced
today Liza Minnelli may have introduced the song I wanna be a part of it but
the song I wanna be a part of it but
the song I wanna be a part of it but Sinatra owns it and why not all blue I
Sinatra owns it and why not all blue I
Sinatra owns it and why not all blue I swagger perfectly matches that of the
swagger perfectly matches that of the
swagger perfectly matches that of the song and of the city itself I’ll make a
song and of the city itself I’ll make a
song and of the city itself I’ll make a brand new start of it New York New York
brand new start of it New York New York
brand new start of it New York New York an irresistable jazz tune that’s as
an irresistable jazz tune that’s as
an irresistable jazz tune that’s as iconic as the star that sings it the
iconic as the star that sings it the
iconic as the star that sings it the song is a celebration of the Big Apple’s
song is a celebration of the Big Apple’s
song is a celebration of the Big Apple’s particular mix of guts pride and
particular mix of guts pride and
particular mix of guts pride and in-your-face determination aa little
in-your-face determination aa little
in-your-face determination aa little town blue they have melted away the
town blue they have melted away the
town blue they have melted away the lyrics especially the idea that if I can
lyrics especially the idea that if I can
lyrics especially the idea that if I can make it there I’ll make it anywhere have
make it there I’ll make it anywhere have
make it there I’ll make it anywhere have become an indelible part of popular
become an indelible part of popular
become an indelible part of popular culture if I can
culture if I can
culture if I can make it their fake anywhere all in all
make it their fake anywhere all in all
make it their fake anywhere all in all there couldn’t be a more fitting at them
there couldn’t be a more fitting at them
there couldn’t be a more fitting at them for the city that never sleeps
do you agree with our choices what other
do you agree with our choices what other songs about the Big Apple deserve to be
songs about the Big Apple deserve to be
songs about the Big Apple deserve to be on this list thanks Jane for more on
on this list thanks Jane for more on
on this list thanks Jane for more on throttling top 10s published every day
throttling top 10s published every day
throttling top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com it’s up to you
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