One Final Serenade: Songs of Billy Joel
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New York State of Mind
(Turnstiles) (1976) |
This is a very well done fan video for "New York State of Mind"."
To listen to the studio version of "New York State of Mind" from Turnstiles, click here (audio only).
To listen to the studio version of "New York State of Mind" from Turnstiles, click here (audio only).
 Download "New York State of Mind"
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind I'm in a New York state of mind An instant classic. There has never been a better song written about New York, not "New York, New York," "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," or "Empire State of Mind." Billy hits all the right notes in this tribute to the city he knows and loves.
The song was written upon Billy's return to New York in 1975 after a three tiring years breaking into the L.A. music industry. Overcome with emotion and pride upon his return, he said that the music and lyrics to "New York State of Mind" just came pouring out one day on the bus ride into New York. He'd been to Hollywood, he'd been up in the Evergreens, but home is a ride on the Hudson River line. In an interview with Mark Seal in American Way magazine, Billy said "'I'm a New Yorker, and it's indelibly imprinted on my soul that this is where I'm from and where I should be.' When he got home he went straight to the piano and within 30 minutes had written "New York State of Mind," which he calls 'a celebration of a homecoming.'" |
Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood But I'm taking a Greyhound On the Hudson River Line I'm in a New York state of mind I've seen all the movie stars In their fancy cars and their limousines Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens But I know what I'm needing And I don't want to waste more time I'm in a New York state of mind It was so easy living day by day Out of touch with the rhythm and blues But now I need a little give and take The New York Times, The Daily News It comes down to reality Well it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide Don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside I don't have any reasons I've left them all behind I'm in a New York state of mind It was so easy living day by day Out of touch with the rhythm and blues But now I need a little give and take The New York Times, The Daily News It comes down to reality Well it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside I don't have any reasons I've left them all behind I'm in a New York state of mind I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line 'Cause I'm in a New York state of mind |
The Brooklyn Bridge by Joseph Stella.
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Billy discusses "New York State of Mind," from SiriusXM. Click player below.
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Billy clearly missed the sights and sounds of the Big Apple, and he never left again. In the song, he cleverly contrasts his experiences elsewhere (the Rockies, Miami Beach, Hollywood) which cannot compare to the grittiness and beauty of New York. Reality is New York, taking a bus on the Hudson River Line, hanging out in Chinatown or on Riverside. Anything else is being out of touch with reality, with the highbrow of The New York Times and lowbrow of The Daily News. Billy sometimes sings "and Newsday too" in the repeat verse .
Although the song was never released as a single, it has become of one Billy's most popular and enduring songs. * * * * *
The song has been covered by many people (e.g., Barbara Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Mel Torme, Oleta Adams, Melissa Etheridge, Alicia Keys, and Billy's duet with Tony Bennett which was nominated for a Grammy in 2002 (and performed live at the Live at Shea concert in 2008). There is also a more recent "duet" with Barbara Streisand which unfortunately feels very contrived. Billy has also done several live recorded versions, but I still like the earnest original.* The sax solo by Richie Cannata on the original LP is still the best in my opinion. They re-did the solo on the re-issued version a few years ago.
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When I hear this song and think of New York, images of bridges and skyscrapers come to mind, as does Joseph Stella's iconic painting, The Brooklyn Bridge (above, left). I also think of my kids as this is the song they always mention when talking about my admiration for Billy Joel's music.
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Videos
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Billy and the perform "New York State of Mind" on The Mike Douglas show from 1976. This is a great version.
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Billy Joel plays "New York State of Mind" on the Grammy Awards Show in 1988 with David Sanborn on sax.
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Billy performed "New York State of Mind" after 9/11 in the televised program "America: A Tribute To Heroes" (2001) and in the Concert for New York City.
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* But here is a great acoustic guitar cover of the song from a Keri Prather. And this is a unique cover by Max Schneider & Phony Ppl.
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See more videos at New York State of Mind - Videos Page.
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