| Theme From New York, New York |
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"Theme from ''New York, New York''" (or just "'''New York, New York'''") is the theme from the 1977 Martin Scorsese film '' New York, New York ''. It has music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb , and is performed in the film by Liza Minnelli . It should not be confused with the well-known song "New York, New York" from Leonard Bernstein 's " On The Town ," featuring the lyric "New York, New York, it's a helluva town / The Bronx is up and the Battery's down...". Composers Kander and Ebb stated on the A&E Biography of Liza Minnelli that they attribute the song's success to actor Robert De Niro , who rejected their original theme for the film because he thought it was "too weak". The song did not become a popular hit until it was picked up in concert by Frank Sinatra during his performances at Radio City Music Hall in October 1978 . Subsequently, Sinatra recorded it in 1979 for his 1980 ''Trilogy'' set ( Reprise Records ), and it became one of his Signature Songs . Sinatra made two more studio recordings of the song in 1981 (for his NBC TV special ''The Man and His Music'') and 1993 (for Capitol Records ). From the latter, an electronic duet with Tony Bennett was produced for Sinatra's ''Duets'' album. The first line of the song is "Start spreadin' the news, I'm leaving today." The lyrics of the Sinatra versions differ slightly from Ebb's original lyrics. Notably, the phrase "A-number-one," which does not appear at all in the original lyrics, is sung twice at the song's Rallentando climax. (Ebb has said he "didn't even like" Sinatra's use of "A-number-one." {Link without Title} ) The phrase is both the first and fourth on a list of four superlative titles the singer strives to achieve — "A-number-one, top of the list, king of the hill, A-number-one" — where Ebb's original lyrics were closer to "king of the hill, head of the list, cream of the crop, at the top of the heap." The song is often heard at New York area social events, such as weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. It is played over the Yankee Stadium loudspeakers at the end of New York Yankees baseball games. Formerly, the Sinatra version was played after a Yankees win, and the Minnelli version after a loss. As of the 2005 season, the Sinatra version is heard regardless of the game's outcome. This is also done at Richmond County Bank Ballpark following Staten Island Yankees games, and formerly at Shea Stadium at the end of New York Mets games. Since 1997, the song has also been performed during the post parade of the Belmont Stakes -- whether it's an edit of the Sinatra version or a live trackside performance by singers such as Linda Eder or Ronan Tynan . It replaced "Sidewalks of New York" as the horse race's signature song, although the latter tune is still sung by the on-track crowd before the race. The song is also played a few minutes after the ball drop in Times Square every New Year's, before Auld Lang Syne . Despite Sinatra's version becoming more familiar, original singer Minnelli had two of the tune's most memorable live performances -- during the July 4, 1986 ceremony marking the rededication of the Statue Of Liberty after extensive renovations, and in the middle of the seventh inning of a New York Mets game that was the first pro sports event in the metro area after the September 11 Attacks . The line "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere" appears as "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere" above the locker room doors at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park , site of the US Open tennis championships. In 1986, the band Queen recorded a popular version of this song for the soundtrack to the film Highlander . Sung by Freddie Mercury , an avowed Liza Minnelli fan, it carried a feel reminiscent of classic rock. THE 'OTHER' NEW YORK THEME Submerged either due to the popularity of the Sinatra/Minnelli or simply because it wasn't as well liked, a song going by the same title was penned by musician Gerard Kenny . The song featured as part of a New York medly sung by performer Shirley Bassey . The best known part of the song apparently is the chorus "New York, New York/So good they named it twice/New York, New York/All the scandal and the vice". The song was released on the following albumns released by Kenny:
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