When at 13 she enrolled at Roberto Menescal's guitar academy, Wanda Sá (als… Read Full Bio ↴When at 13 she enrolled at Roberto Menescal's guitar academy, Wanda Sá (also known as Wanda de Sah - Wanda Maria Ferreira de Sá - Jul 11,1944 São Paulo), a successful bossa nova artist, was spotted by Ronaldo Bôscoli and invited to appear on the programs Dois no Balanço (TV Excelsior) and O Fino da Bossa (TV Record). Starting her professional career at 19 with Wanda Vagamente (1964), one of the earliest arranging assignments by Eumir Deodato, Sá launched "Inútil Paisagem" (Tom Jobim/Aloysio de Oliveira) and the earliest compositions by Edú Lobo, Francis Hime, and Marcos Valle. The album, launched at the Fino da Bossa show (at the Paramount Theater in São Paulo), was a success (having been reissued in Japan in the decade of the 2000s) and had a hit with "Vagamente" (Roberto Menescal/Ronaldo Bôscoli). By the end of the same year, she joined Sérgio Mendes' Brasil '65 (with Rosinha de Valença and Jorge Ben Jor), realizing successful shows in Brazil and the U.S., where Brasil '65 was recorded (with the participation of Bud Shank and the Sérgio Mendes Trio). She also recorded in the U.S. the solo Softly and performed both in Brazil and the U.S. with the Sérgio Mendes Trio. In 1966, she returned to Brazil where she did shows with Baden Powell, Vinícius de Moraes, Mièle, Luís Carlos Vinhas, and the Bossa 3. In 1969, Sá participated in Paul Desmond's Hot Summer. Married to Edú Lobo from 1969 to 1982, a period in which she left the scene, Sá returned in the late '80s, performing shows with Roberto Menescal and Mièle, recording Brasileiras in 1994 with Célia Vaz. In 2000, she recorded with Luís Carlos Vinhas, Tião Neto, and João Cortez the CD Wanda Sá & Bossa Três with bossa nova classics and new compositions. Four successful seasons at the Sabbata Tokyo turned the CD Wanda Vagamente into a hit, having reached second place on the top charts. In 2001, she participated with Roberto Menescal, Marcos Valle, and Danilo Caymmi in the Fare Festival (Pavia, Italy).

New York New York
Wanda Sá Lyrics

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New York, New York
Start spreading the news
You're leaving today (tell him friend)
I want to be a part of it, New York, New York
Your vagabond shoes, they are longing to stray
And steps around the heart of it, New York, New York
I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn't sleep
And find your king of the hill, top of the heap

Your small town blues, they're melting away
Don't make a brand new start of it, in Old New York
You always make it there, you make it anywhere
Its up to you, New York, New York
New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city, that doesn't sleeps
And find king of the hill one top of the list
A number one
These little town blues, are melting away
I'm gonna make a brand new start of it
Right there in Old New York
You allways make it there, You make it anywhere

Come on! New York, New York
New York!

Overall Meaning

Wanda Sá's song "New York, New York" is an ode to the bustling city that never sleeps. The song starts off with the classic line "start spreading the news," indicating that the singer is leaving their current city and heading to New York. The singer expresses a desire to be a part of the city and mentions their wandering shoes that are longing to stray before talking about the heart of New York.

The chorus begins with the desire to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep and find the king of the hill. The small town blues are melting away as the singer plans to make a brand new start in old New York. The song ends with the classic line "you always make it there, you make it anywhere," referring to the idea that if you can succeed in New York, you can succeed anywhere.

The song captures the vibe and the essence of New York City, which is known for its non-stop energy, hustle, and bustle. It's a city where dreams are made or broken, and people come from all over the world to chase their dreams. The song urges people to go out there, live life to the fullest, and chase their dreams because anything is possible in New York City.

Line by Line Meaning

New York, New York
Repeating the name of the city to emphasize its importance and desirability as the destination.

Start spreading the news
Encouraging the listener to share the excitement about the upcoming trip to New York with others.

You're leaving today (tell him friend)
Informing someone that the departure is happening soon, and possibly asking them to pass on the information to someone else.

I want to be a part of it, New York, New York
Expressing a deep desire to be included in the vibrant and exciting city of New York.

Your vagabond shoes, they are longing to stray
Describing a feeling of wanderlust and desire to explore beyond one's current surroundings.

And steps around the heart of it, New York, New York
Describing the movement and activity happening in the center of the city, which is seen as the most exciting and important part.

I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn't sleep
Expressing a desire for a city that is always active and full of energy, with something to do at all hours of the day and night.

And find your king of the hill, top of the heap
Describing the search for success and a sense of achievement, which is often associated with being at the top of one's field or industry in New York City.

Your small town blues, they're melting away
Suggesting that the problems and challenges of life in a smaller, less exciting place will be forgotten and left behind in New York.

Don't make a brand new start of it, in Old New York
Advising against starting over in a part of New York that is outdated or not representative of the city's current vibrancy and excitement.

You always make it there, you make it anywhere
Asserting the belief that achieving success in New York sets one up for success anywhere else in the world.

Its up to you, New York, New York
Empowering the listener to take control of their experience in the city and make the most of it.

I want to wake up in a city, that doesn't sleeps
Repeating the desire for a city that is always active and never dull.

And find king of the hill one top of the list
Clarifying the aspiration to be at the very top of one's field or industry in the city.

A number one
Reiterating the desire to be the absolute best and most successful in New York.

These little town blues, are melting away
Repeating the idea that the problems and difficulties of life in a smaller place will be forgotten and resolved by being in New York.

I'm gonna make a brand new start of it
Declaring a commitment to starting fresh and embracing new opportunities in New York.

Right there in Old New York
Suggesting that even in parts of the city that are older or less trendy, there are still opportunities for a fresh start and success.

You always make it there, You make it anywhere
Repeating the belief in the power of success achieved in New York to set one up for success anywhere else.

Come on! New York, New York
Using an exhortation to encourage excitement and energy for New York City.

New York!
A final, emphatic declaration of the listener's eagerness to be in, and be a part of, New York City.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ebb, Kander

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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