New York em músicas

Quando se pensa em uma música que fala sobre Nova York, muitos lembram logo "New York New York" na versão de Frank Sinatra (vejam mais abaixo), mas existem muitas outras que cantam a "Big Apple". A cidade inspirou e ainda inspira muita gente a compor músicas que falam sobre ela, e sobre como é viver nela. Não só a música, mas obviamente outras formas de arte como o cinema, a literatura e as artes plásticas são usadas para expressar sentimentos diversos sobre essa fantástica metrópole...mas nosso papo aqui é sobre a música e a cidade.

Abaixo, uma pequena seleção de músicas que cantam New York City! Quando lá estiverem, ponham para escutar nos fones de ouvido enquanto passeiam...

Começando pela clássica "(Theme from) New York New York" com Frank Sinatra:

... mas não só escutem, vejam também "The Voice" com Liza Minelli numa dupla interpretação (não combinada!) de arrepiar:

Letra

Start spreading the news
I am leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York

These vagabond shoes
They are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York

I want to wake up in that city
That doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
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 that city
That never sleeps
And find I'm aye number 1
Top of the list
King of the hill
Aye number 1

These little town blues
Are melting away
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, New York

A mesma "New York New York", agora na versão original de Liza Minelli do filme "New York New York" (linda também). Liza foi quem primeiro cantou a canção, antes do Sinatra:

"New York State of Mind" com Barbra Streisand, do Billy Joel (prefiro esta versão, a dela, que a do autor):

Letra

Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
But I'm taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson river line
I'm in a New York State of Mind

Seen all those movie stars
And their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the rockies, under the evergreens
But I know what I'm needing
And I don't wanna waste more time
I'm in a New York State of Mind

It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times and the Daily News

Comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
I don't care if it's Chinatown or up on riverside
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind
I'm in a New York State of Mind
I don't have any reasons
Cause I left them all behind
I'm in a New York
I'm in a New York State of Mind

"Manhattan" por Dinah Washington (pra mim a cara de Nova York esta canção):

Letra

We'll take Manhattan
the Bronx and Staten
Island too.
It's lovely going through
the zoo!

It's very fancy
on old Delancy
street you know.
The subway charms us so
when balmy breezes blow
to and fro.

And tell me what street
compares with Mott Street
in July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by.

The great big city's a wonderous toy
just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan
into an isle of joy!

We'll go to Yonkers
Where true love conquers
In the whiles
And starve together dear, in Chiles

We'll go to Coney
And eat baloney on a roll
In Central Park we'll stroll
Where our first kiss we stole
Soul to soul

and for some high fair we'll go to "My Fair Lady"
We'll hope it closes someday
The city's glamour can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil
We'll turn Manhattan
into an isle of joy!

The city's bustle cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy --
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

"New York City" com Norah Jones no Peter Malick Group: