The Surprising Origin of "New York, New York"

If someone were to ask you when Frank Sinatra sang "New York, New York," you might guess sometime in the 1950s or '60s. The song was Sinatra's signature song, and is synonymous with the city. Mayor Ed Koch declared it the city's unofficial theme song in 1985. The song invited tourists back to New York City after 9/11. It's played at every Yankees home game. You know the song.

The truth is that Sinatra didn't release his version of the song until 1980! The song, actually titled "Theme from New York, New York" was written for a 1977 Martin Scorsese movie that bombed at the box office. Liza Minelli sang it in the film, and her soundtrack version reached #105 on the music charts. Once "Uncle Frank" did the song, Minelli's record was quickly forgotten. Read how a song from a failed movie became the anthem of the Big Apple at Smithsonian.