With the recent addition of “Top Tens” to our site, the only logical choice for the first list was “Our Favorite Songs About New York”. Now, it’s easy to say which the best or most famous of all time are, but that’s been done before. There’s enough Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, and Frank Sinatra floating around the internet singing “New York, New York”. These are our favorites (and hopefully some of yours too) because of the meaning they hold. Each of our writers will be making their own list, so here we are starting off with Dan’s Top Ten (in no particular order):
1. Brooklyn – Mos Def
My favorite rappers seem to be from New York, namely Brooklyn, and Mos Def is one of the best to represent that theory. His take on the Chili Peppers in the beginning to the various flows he exhibits in this song are just too good. “It’s real, yo, but still yo, it’s love here, and it’s felt by anybody who come here. Out of towners take the train, plane, and bus here. Must be somethin’ that they really want here.”
2. NY State of Mind- Nas
I wish I could drive around New York city listening to this song with subwoofers and an escalade every. single. day. In my eyes, the sound of the entire thing personifies NY in a brilliant way, living up to it’s name perfectly. “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death. beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined, nothing’s equivalent to the New York state of mind.”
3. Brooklyn Dodgers -I Am the Avalanche
The sentiment in this song gets me every time. Who doesn’t love the old fashioned idea of a New York gentlemen and ladies at the time of the urbanization of the city? Is that just me? Either way, whether I’m just weird or on everyone’s level, listen to the song. “Whatever happened to the Brooklyn dodgers? Whatever happened to me? whatever happened to all the New York gentleman? my dad he said, ‘Son, you’re looking at one.’”
4. Coney Island - Death Cab for Cutie
Beautiful. That’s all. “Sitting on a carousel ride, without any music or lights. everything was closed at coney island, i could help from smiling.”
5. Danger Zone - Big L
To me, the now-deceased Big L is untouchable, forever, all day, every day. Ruthless. Never one to forget NY, L has seen his share of shit. Not for the weak hearted. “Cause 139 and Lenox is the danger zone, where no man can withstand to hold his own.”
6. Play Crack the Sky- Brand New
Another beauty. Long Island’s own Brand New takes us to a sinking ship off the coast of Montauk. Jesse Lacey paints the perfect picture, only accompanied by an acoustic guitar, thus breaking your heart in every possible way and prompting your beloved author to retreat to the deepest parts of his mind, which can cause all hell to break loose, but either way, i love the song. god damn it, i’m crazy. “Send out the SOS call, it’s a quarter past 4 in the morning, and the storm broke our second anchor line.”
7. NYC, Gone Gone - Conor Oberst
Just a fun one. Sing it when you’re walking around on a sunny day.
“Gone, gone, from new york city, where ya gonna go with a heart that gone?”
8. Bulletproof Weeks - Matt Nathanson
Written about New York City in October, Matt Nathanson breaks my heart for the millionth time with this little post-Love ballad. Retrospective and heart-broken, Nathanson personifies heartbreak in the city. Be wary, those who are heartbroken and looking for a sad song. “Up on 59th street, right before the rain, lovers cathing taxis going downtown.”
9. Brooklyn’s Finest - Jay Z & Biggie
How would this even be a list about New York music without these two MC’s on it? The infamous Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G. team up on this track from the classic debut album from Jay, Reasonable Doubt. Too much is good about this song. “My Bed Stuy flow’s malicious, delicious, fuck 3 wishes, made my road to riches.”
10. Back of a Truck - Regina Spektor
Ah, Regina, you beautiful woman. Another personification of the hustle and bustle of NY. Plus, it can never hurt when a lady has some pipes on her, and some fingers for the piano to accompany her. “There’s a back of a truck selling smoke-free lungs, this is New York.”
