THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

469-Frank Sinatra-Theme from New York, New York.

1980-Number 59 single. When reissued in 1986 it reached Number 4.

Best Bit-At 2.21. At the end of every New York Yankees baseball match, if the team had won they played Sinatra’s version, but if they had lost the original by Liza Minnelli was played. Needless to say Minnelli was not best pleased, and after she complained only the Sinatra version is now heard, win or lose.

‘Theme from New York, New York’ was written by Fred Ebb (1928-2004) who provided the lyrics, and John Kander (see also best songs 441 and 182) who wrote the music, for the 1977 Martin Scorsese film ‘New York, New York,’ starring Liza Minnelli,(see also best songs 182) and Robert De Niro. In the film Minnelli sings the original version of the song, Minelli had previously worked with Ebb, and Kander on many occasions since the writers first pared up in 1962, some of their most celebrated work includes the stage musicals ‘Cabaret,’ and ‘Chicago.’

Frank Sinatra first introduced the song into his repertoire during performances at the ‘Radio City Music Hall’ in October 1978. It was one of the songs he chose to record for his 1980 comeback Album ‘Trilogy: Past Present Future,’ his first new Album in six years. ‘Theme from New York, New York’ would be the last new single release to chart in America for Frank Sinatra when reaching Number 32 in 1980, his first had been alongside the Harry James Orchestra in 1939 when ‘It’s Funny to Everyone but Me’ made Number 21.Sinatra and Minnelli have performed the song together in concert on a few occasions, and in 1993 Sinatra rerecorded the song with Tony Bennett for his Album ‘Duets.’

Frank Sinatra (see also best songs 877-567-120 and 73) was born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12th, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey, United States, he died on May 14th, 1998 after a heart attack at the age of 82. Although recorded at the twilight of his career ‘Theme from New York, New York’ soon became one of Frank Sinatra’s best loved songs, and one of his signature tunes.

‘I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps, and find I’m a number one, top of the list, king of the hill, a number one.’