We chose the song “New York” by Alicica Keys because we both have been to New York City and have been absolutely inspired by it. The thing which amazed us the most was its atmosphere. The most populous city of the US never sleeps, you can find millions of different people and stories and all kinds of noises. Walking down the Broadway seems a little kitschy with its big lights but left us amazed at the same time. In the middle of a busy and noisy city you will find a huge green grass area, the Central Park. People spend their time relaxing and escaping the stressful rhythm of the city life. We also enjoyed SOHO which is completely different to the rest parts of the city. There you can find little, cute streets with lovely cafés.
All these different parts inspired both of us as well as thousands of tourists everyday. However, there is also another dark side of New York. Most tourists won’t see this side during their short visit.
In her song “New York”, Alicia Keys, who grew up in New York City herself, pictures these two sides of NYC. She brings up the negative aspects and problems related to the City of New York. We would like to take a closer look at the song and analyze Keys’ view of her hometown.
On the one hand you have the dreams and it seems everybody is able to live the “American Dream”. In the chorus she sings “There ́s nothing you can ́t do...” which describes the endless possibilities which the city offers. Alicia names the sights of NY like the Broadway, the famous cabs, the Brooklyn Bridge and the urban disrict Harlem. Even people who haven’t been to NYC yet will also know those iconic sights because NY has often been the stage for various movie scenes.
Alicia Keys visualizes NY as a melting pot where you ́ll find all kind of people with different backgrouds, races, colors and religions. She points out the special spirit of life which “inspires you” and “make[s] you feel brand new”.
But on the other hand she brings up the negative parts of the city which we found really interesting. A lot of people who are in NY for a visit only experience it in a very superficial way. By taking a closer look you’ll see poorness and people who have no money to still their hunger. Alicia also points out the prostitutes and dealers which you can find on streets at the same time. She sings from a city which is “always loud” and which is not always a pleasure to live in. It is really hard to become famous, successful or something special which Alicia experienced by herself. In her song she describes that it’s hard business to get to the top by saying: “If I can make it here, I could make it anywhere”.
To sum up we can say that Alicia Keys sees a busy and noisy but at the same time a famous and beautiful city where everybody is able to realize their dream. It’s probably this image which motivates thousands of people to move to NY every year. In our opinion there is also this shortness of dreams where people realize the partly bad reality like they did on 9/11,
when NYC, usually glamorized and seen as metropolitan, gained worldwide attention as a setting for an act of terrorism and cruelness.
It seems to us that Alicia Keys loves her hometown, is proud of it and even says that you won ́t find this city on earth again – it’s unique.
New York City is commonly seen as a symbol for the whole US and many foreigners ignore less popular regions. While it geographically is seen as a part of the North-East, we would distinguish the “Big Apple” as a separate part. Because of its unique flair and urban appeal it just stands out and it’s hard for us to integrate it into a region.
Lyrics:
Grew up in a town
That is famous as a place of movie scenes,
Noise is always loud
There are sirens all around,
And the streets are mean
If I can make it here,
I could make it anywhere,
That's what they say
Seeing my face in lights,
Or my name in marquees found down Broadway
Even if it ain't all it seems
I got a pocket full of dreams
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you,
Hear it for New York!
On the avenue,
There ain't never a curfew, ladies work so hard
Such a melting pot
On the corner selling rock
Preachers pray to God,
Hail a gypsy cab,
Takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge
Someone sleeps tonight
With a hunger for more than an empty fridge...
I'm going to make it by any means,
I got a pocket full of dreams,
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you,
Hear it for New York!
One hand in the air for the big city,
Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty
No place in the world that can compare
Put your lighters in the air,
Everybody say Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you,
Hear it for New York!
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