In 1980, it was recorded by Frank Sinatra, for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future (1980), and has since become closely associated with him. He occasionally performed it live with Minnelli as a duet. Sinatra recorded it a second time in duet with Tony Bennett for his 1993 album Duets.
It should not be confused with the song "New York, New York", from Leonard Bernstein/Adolph Green/Betty Comden's musical On the Town, which features the lyric "New York, New York, is a helluva town / The Bronx is up and the Battery's down..."
Composers Kander and Ebb stated on the A&E Biography episode about 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."
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 songs. The single peaked at #30 in June 1980, becoming one of his final hits on the charts. 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.
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").[1] 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."
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 has been played over the loudspeakers at both the original and current Yankee Stadiums at the end of every Yankee home game. At first, Sinatra's version was played after a Yankees win, and the Minnelli version after a loss. Minnelli also raised some controversy when, in 2001, she demanded that the Yankees play her version after a win, or not play it at all. The Yankees took the latter option, and played Sinatra's version after wins and losses.
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 after the September 11 attacks.
Previously, Mets fans believed that the song 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.
Theme from New York New York
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 want to wake up, in a city that doesn't sleep
Top of the heap
These little town blues
Are melting away
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 away
I'll 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
New York
The lyrics of Frank Sinatra's "Theme From New York, New York" paint a vivid picture of a person who is leaving their current town or city to pursue their dreams and ambitions in the city that never sleeps - New York City. The singer is excited to be a part of the hustle and bustle of this great city and wants to take full advantage of all that it has to offer. They start by proclaiming that they are leaving today and want to be a part of the city that calls itself the "Big Apple". The singer's desire to be a part of this city is exemplified in the line, "These vagabond shoes are longing to stray right through the very heart of it, New York, New York," which suggests that their feet are itching to be a part of the action.
The singer goes on to express their ambition by stating that they want to wake up in a city that never sleeps and find themselves on top of the world. The use of the metaphor "king of the hill, top of the heap" emphasizes the singer's desire to be the best, to succeed, and to be on top. The lyrics continue to emphasize the singer's ambition, "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York." This line illustrates that if they can make it in New York City, they can make it anywhere in the world, indicating that New York is a city where success and ambition are possible.
In conclusion, Frank Sinatra's "Theme From New York, New York" is a song about ambition, a desire to succeed, and the excitement that comes with taking on new challenges, especially in a city like New York which is known for its vibrancy and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Start spreadin' the news, I'm leavin' today
I am telling everyone that I am leaving today.
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York
I want to be a part of the city of New York.
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York
My wandering shoes want to take me right into the center of New York City.
I want to wake up, in a city that doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap
I want to live in a city that is always full of life and find success there.
These little town blues
Are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
My sadness related to my old life will go away, and I'll have a fresh start in New York City.
If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York, New York
If I can succeed in New York City, I can succeed anywhere, and it depends on me and the city.
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
I want to live in a city that is always full of life and be the best.
These little town blues, are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
And
My sadness related to my old life will go away, and I'll have a fresh start in New York City.
If I can make it there
I'm gonna make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York
New York
New York
If I can succeed in New York City, I can succeed anywhere and the city is very important in making that happen.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred Ebb, John Kander
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Giorgi Khutashvili
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