3 Timeless New York Tunes
New York has been romanticized in literature and movies, but it’s also serenaded frequently in song. New York has a timeless quality that seems to attract artists, even as rent prices rise and fall. This incredible city has many timeless works of art dedicated to it, but these classic songs will live forever.
New York, New York – Sinatra
This song is as closely associated with New York as it is with Sinatra himself. The song was recorded in 1979 as part of the album Trilogy: Past Present Future, and it became a fixture of and symbol of his career. It was originally written in 1977 for Martin Scorsese’s film New York, New York, and performed by Liza Minnelli.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed
If you had to try and find a song that was as shocking today as it was during its release, the closest you might come to is Lou Reed’s gritty depiction of New York City. It’s got a great bass riff in the background, and it tells the story of many of Andy Warhol’s gang of Superstars. It sums up a peculiar and exotic time in New York City’s history.
Take the A-Train – Ellington
Billy Strayhorn was having a tough time writing a song that would define Duke Ellington’s band. A legal ruling involving music rights had made most of Ellington’s previous music impossible to play live on the radio. Strayhan threw out his composition for Take the A-Train, but it was rescued and it’s a delightful nod to the New York subway system (which was just a fledgling in those days).
About the Author: Samuel Phineas Upham is an investor at a family office/ hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media and Telecom group. You may contact Phin on his Samuel Phineas Upham website or LinkedIn.
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