New York City, a pivotal musical city of the 20th century, has played a vital role in the evolution of various music genres from Broadway to hip-hop. Historical musical milestones include the rise of jazz, punk, and disco, alongside influential artists like Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and Jay-Z, who have captured the essence of the city in their lyrics. The city's creative peak from the late 1960s to early 1980s showcased a rich cultural tapestry, highlighted by figures such as Lou Reed, and represented by songs that celebrate both the gritty and glamorous aspects of NYC.
Invited to California's KCRW Radio in 2011, Poor Things star Mark Ruffalo was invited to play a handful of much-loved songs. Dusting off cuts by Radiohead, Besnard Lakes, Elliot Smith, and Bon Iver, Ruffalo reached into New York's early 1970s gutter for the city's quintessential street poet. 'Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side,' Ruffalo told DJ Liza Richardson, 'I am a great lover of New York City. And this is the anthem to New York City, I think.'
No other city boasts such a storied contemporary songbook either. Ever since Duke Ellington's Orchestra instructed to take 'the A' train to go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem' on their 1941 jazz standard, New York has inspired various songsmiths, from Frank Sinatra to Jay-Z, to pen a lyrical love letter or a cautionary tale about the city that thrills and terrifies in equal measure.
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