Everyone from John and Yoko to Damon and Naomi has...

Everyone from John and Yoko to Damon and Naomi has had something to sing about New York City.

Though dance rock darling du jour James Murphy (aka LCD Soundsystem) may have been born in New Jersey, he earned a place in many a New York heart with his ambivalent ode, “New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down.” Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” high-five to the five boroughs shouldn’t be confused with the Billy Joel classic “New York State of Mind,” which name-checks the New York Times and the Daily News instead of Bed-Stuy.

A Gotham-themed compilation might well include Christopher Cross’s soft-rock classic “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” as well as the Drifters’ cautionary tale of tough times “On Broadway,” and the Odyssey hit “Native New Yorker” is a disco-era favorite. Though Barry Manilow on Avenue C might be a shocker, it’s no surprise that the Beastie Boys dedicated an entire album To the Five Boroughs, or that Aretha Franklin’s “Spanish Harlem” bestows a rose on the uptown girls.

Coney Island-born Neil Diamond spent his share of time on “Brooklyn Roads,” and though Bob Dylan had a tough time getting adjusted to “Talkin’ New York,” he ended up being a pretty good “Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman.” There may be as many New York songs as there are stories; this list is a good place to start.

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ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER

This is your member's center

New York, New York is Music To Our Ears

JUNE 22, 2010

ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER

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