New York, New York: Song History, Film Flop & City Name Guide

It’s a song that has become almost synonymous with New York City itself, but the story behind “New York, New York” is far more surprising than the triumphant anthem suggests. The track was born from a box-office flop, premiered by a different performer than the one who made it famous, and took years to find its place as a city’s signature tune.

Year released (film): 1977 ·
Original performer: Liza Minnelli ·
Composers: John Kander & Fred Ebb ·
Director: Martin Scorsese

Six key facts about the song, its film, and its legacy:

Who originally sang “New York, New York”?

The answer is Liza Minnelli, but the song’s performance history is layered. She sang it first in the 1977 film, and three years later Frank Sinatra’s recording turned it into a global hit.

Did Liza Minnelli sing it first?

• Yes. Minnelli performed the original version in the finale of New York, New York (Wikipedia (music article)).
• The song was written specifically for her character, Francine Evans (The Frank Sinatra Collection).

Who covered the song?

• Frank Sinatra recorded his version in 1979 for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future (The Frank Sinatra Collection).
• Sinatra began singing it live before the studio recording, and the cover became his signature rendition (LA Almanac).

Who wrote the song?

• John Kander composed the music and Fred Ebb wrote the lyrics (LA Almanac).
• The duo wrote it as the theme for Scorsese’s film, originally titled “Theme from New York, New York” (The Frank Sinatra Collection).

The implication: a song written for a single film scene became independent of its source, carried by a performer who wasn’t the original singer.

Is New York, New York a good film?

That depends on whom you ask. Scorsese’s musical drama has passionate defenders and detractors — and its box office performance tells a stark story.

Was the film a hit or a flop?

• It was a box office flop, earning about $13.7 million on a $14 million budget (The Frank Sinatra Collection).
• Critics were mixed; Rotten Tomatoes gives it a score around 43% (Financial Times (song history feature)).

Does Robert De Niro play the saxophone?

• Yes — his character Jimmy Doyle is a saxophonist, and De Niro learned to play for the role (EmanuelLevy.com (film review)).
• Whether his playing is entirely his own or partly dubbed remains unclear (EmanuelLevy.com).

The pattern: commercial failure and cultural longevity coexist here — the film’s financial loss underwrote an asset that grew far beyond its original context.

Why is NYC called New York, New York?

The city’s formal name is New York City, but the song’s repetition of “New York” is a lyrical flourish, not a reference to the city’s official naming.

Is New York City the same as New York, New York?

• Yes, the city is officially New York City, often abbreviated NYC (Wikipedia (music reference)).
• The song’s “New York, New York” is a stylistic choice — it’s a common way to emphasize the city’s name in song titles (e.g., “Chicago, Chicago”) (The Frank Sinatra Collection).
• The city is named after the Duke of York, not because of the song (Wikipedia (music reference)).

The catch: popular music can reshape how people think a city is named, even when the official etymology has nothing to do with the song.

What is a sandwich in New York slang?

In New York delis, a “sandwich” is any hero, sub, or hoagie — the term is used interchangeably.

• A “sandwich” in New York slang refers to a hero, sub, or hoagie (LA Almanac).
• It’s common in deli orders: “I’ll take a turkey sandwich on rye.” (Wikipedia (music reference))

What this means: local food vocabulary reflects the city’s immigrant deli culture — the word “sandwich” covers a range of long-roll preparations that other regions call by different names.

What is the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas?

This themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip opened in 1997 and features a replica NYC skyline, including a roller coaster that weaves through the buildings.

• The New York-New York Hotel and Casino is a themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip, replicating landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge (The Frank Sinatra Collection).
• It opened in 1997 (Wikipedia (music reference)).

The implication: Sinatra’s anthem proved portable enough to anchor a themed resort 2,500 miles from New York, demonstrating that a song can define a place more durably than a movie can.

Timeline

• 1977 – Film New York, New York released; Liza Minnelli sings the theme song. (The Frank Sinatra Collection)
• 1979 – Frank Sinatra records his version of “New York, New York.” (The Frank Sinatra Collection)
• 1997 – New York-New York Hotel & Casino opens in Las Vegas. (Wikipedia (music reference))
• Ongoing – Sinatra’s version becomes a standard and anthem for New York City. (Financial Times (song history feature))

Clarity: What’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed facts

• Liza Minnelli performed the original version in the 1977 film. (The Frank Sinatra Collection (official song archive))
• John Kander and Fred Ebb composed the song. (LA Almanac (arts reference))
• Frank Sinatra’s 1979 version became iconic. (The Frank Sinatra Collection)
• The film was a box office disappointment. (The Frank Sinatra Collection)
• Robert De Niro learned to play saxophone for his role. (EmanuelLevy.com (film review))
• The song received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. (LA Almanac (arts reference))

What’s unclear

• Whether De Niro’s saxophone playing in the film is entirely his own or dubbed in parts. (EmanuelLevy.com (film review))

Quotes

“The song became a standard strongly identified with Sinatra after his late-1970s recording.”

— Financial Times, “Life of a Song” feature

“Scorsese’s film is a musical set in postwar Manhattan with Minnelli and De Niro in central roles – a bold, sprawling attempt at a classic Hollywood musical.”

— EmanuelLevy.com, film review

“Sinatra’s version of ‘New York, New York’ is one of his signature songs – it’s hard to imagine a New Year’s Eve in Times Square without it.”

— LA Almanac, arts reference

Summary: The song’s journey from a flop film to a city anthem is a reminder that cultural impact doesn’t always follow commercial success. Liza Minnelli gave it voice first, but Frank Sinatra gave it wings. For New Yorkers and visitors alike, the song remains a soundtrack to the city’s resilience – a tune that outlived the film that birthed it.

For a deeper dive into the song’s film flop and history, check out the songs film flop and history.

Frequently asked questions

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