Which city is celebrated in the song 'Theme from New York, New York'?

The song Theme from New York, New York celebrates New York City. Its lyrics present the city as a place of ambition, reinvention, and exceptional achievement, which is why the song became closely associated with New York's identity.

John Kander composed the music and Fred Ebb wrote the lyrics for Martin Scorsese's 1977 musical film New York, New York. Liza Minnelli performed the original version in the film. Two years later, Frank Sinatra recorded his celebrated cover, helping transform the song into one of his signature numbers.

Sinatra's recording appeared on Trilogy: Past Present Future and reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. It became a familiar closing song at concerts and sporting events, especially in New York. The title can cause confusion because New York is both a state and a city, but the song's imagery and cultural use point specifically to New York City, particularly Manhattan. Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago are not the song's subject.