Over at the NME they have a list of great songs about London from The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” to Lily Allen’s “LDN” to The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood”, which until today I had always thought concerned a foliated area of Scandinavia (more of a Stones man, really). Anyway, that got us thinking: Which city can claim to have inspired the best tracks?
As a Brit-born New York resident I have mixed emotions on the matter, especially as an EW colleague once gifted me a terrific music playlist of classic rock tunes that concern assorted parts of California. (And if you’ve never heard “Topanga” by David Soul, yes that David Soul, then you really should track it down asap.)
So what do you think? Have you left your heart in songs about San Francisco? Or is New York simply your kind of town when it comes to inspiring tunes?
While you’re mulling it over, feel free to enjoy this live performance by the Chicago-born, Los Angeles-residing Warren Zevon of a song the late great singer-songwriter confusingly introduces with the words, “There’s only one ‘Werewolves of New Jersey.’”
More from EW’s Music Mix:
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Michael Jackson talks Bad, price of fame in unreleased 1987 interview
Michael Jackson memorial: Which performance moved you most?
Justin Bieber: Will “One Time” make him this summer’s underage Romeo?
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How about Memphis? “Memphis in the Meantime,” “Sequestered in Memphis,” “Stuck Outside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,” and of course, “Walking in Memphis,” which everyone loves even if they won’t admit it. I’m sure there are others I’m not thinking of right now . . .
@Julie E.
Good call! While I’ll admit to being partial to Philadelphia (I lived there for 4 years), I think Memphis takes the cake in having the best songs written for it.
“Sweet Home Chicago”, “Lake Shore Drive”, Kanye West’s “Homecoming”. Even Frank knew it was “My Kind of Town”.
“Sweet Home Chicago”, “Lake Shore Drive”, Kanye West’s “Homecoming”. Even Frank knew it was “My Kind of Town”!
The Hold Steady, Prince and The Replacements have all made nice songs about their hometowns of Minneapolis. Hurrah!
While I do enjoy some songs about cities (Viva Las Vegas by Elvis and Callin’ Baton Rouge by Garth), I think states fair better with musical odes:
Georgia (Midnight Train to Georgia, Georgia on My Mind);
Michigan and Illinois (Sufjan Stevens’ LPs of love to two great states);
California (The Beach Boys own this one); etc.
While there are some great songs about cities (Callin Baton Rouge by Garth Brooks is a fun one!), I think the states fair better among musical odes:
The soul of Georgia was cemented by Ray Charles and Gladys Knight classics;
California would not be nearly as exciting without the Beach Boys;
and Sufjan Stevens delivered his best music when singing about Illinois and Michigan.
Don’t forget Ghost Town by the Specials – about the state of London in Thatcher’s Britain, or London Calling, which needs no introduction, or indeed ‘It’s a London Ting’ by More Fire Crew. Which contains the word ‘ting’ in the title.
“Allentown” Billy Joel. Though it’s technically about Bethlehem, but close enough.
New York City has probably inspired more songs than any other. Just off the top of my head, Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Nina Hagan, Super8, have all sung about it.
New York City has inspired more songs about it than any other. Artists sucvh as Sinatra, Madonna, Nina Hagan, Grace Jones, Paul Van Dyk,….and that’s just off the top of my head.
Chicago. Sufjan Stevens. Heck yes.
What about Warren Zevon’s “Things to Do In Denver When You’re Dead?”
There are many songs about Memphis. A few more, “Honky Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones, “Black Velvet” by Alanna Myles, “Dixie Chicken” by Little Feat, “Proud Mary” by CCR/Tina Turner and “Memphis, TN” by Chuck Berry.
No love for Texas towns, I can think of 50 songs off the top of my head about cities in Texas. From my hometown of Houston, here are a few Houston – The Gatlin Brothers, Houston Solution – Ronnie Milsaps,
Tighten Up – Archie Bell and the Drells, Assassins – Ghetto Boys, Telephone Road – Steve Earle,
Going Back to Houston – Dean Martin,
Houston is Hot Tonight – Iggy Pop,
If You Ever Go to Houston – Bob Dylan, Galveston – Glen Campbell
My block – Scarface
I’m leaving out a ton of songs here, there are probably some better (lil flip, Rodney Crowell, Flatlanders) but those are my faves.
Tons of songs about H-town
Houston – The Gatlin Brothers
Houston Solution – Ronnie Milsaps
Tighten Up – Archie Bell and the Drells
Assassins – Geto Boys
Telephone Road – Steve Earle
Going Back to Houston – Dean Martin
Houston is Hot Tonight – Iggy Pop
If You Ever Go to Houston – Bob Dylan
Galveston – Glen Campbell
My block – Scarface
As Bruno would say, “Um, Hellooooo?” Dirty Water, Standells, Beantown…hands down.
I’ll take San Francisco, but more for Scott McKenzie’s “If You’re Going to San Francisco” than for Tony Bennett.
Amarillo takes the title for smallest city with TWO hits in its honor: “Amarillo by Morning” and “Amarillo Sky”.
Amarillo takes the title for smallest town to have TWO hits in its honor: “Amarillo by Morning” and “Amarillo Sky”.
Warren’s Join Me In L.A. & Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead spring to mind.
Detroit Rock City, Panic In Detroit, Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit, Lose Yourself, Motor City Madhouse, Don’t Stop Believing, One Piece At A Time, and mentioned in Dancing In The Streets, and The Heart of Rock & Roll. Those are the ones that immediately spring to mind, but there are plenty of others that aren’t quite as well known, but are good songs regardless.
I really like ‘City of Blinding Lights’ from U2’s ‘How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb’, when I read that Bono was think of New York shortly after 9/11 it made the song even better.