New York (Snow Patrol song)

Last updated
"New York"
NewYorkSnowPatrol.jpg
Single by Snow Patrol
from the album Fallen Empires
Released20 December 2011
Recorded2011
Genre Soft rock
Length4:02
Label Polydor
Songwriter(s)
Snow Patrol singles chronology
"This Isn't Everything You Are"
(2011)
"New York"
(2011)
"In the End"
(2012)

"New York" is a song by Scottish alternative rock group Snow Patrol. The track is the third single from the band's sixth studio album, Fallen Empires . It was released as a digital download on 20 December 2011 in the US.

Contents

Background and writing

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody struggled with writer's block when penning Fallen Empires. Speaking to Q magazine, the singer explained how a chance meeting with R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe at a Californian studio rejuvenated his writing process. [2] He recalled, "I couldn't even write my name on a cheque. It was that bad at the time ... (Stipe arriving at the studio) was amazing because the first song I ever played live was R.E.M.'s 'Find the River' at a school concert." Although Stipe's input was minimal, it was enough to inspire Lightbody to rediscover his muse. He recalled, "Michael just made a few suggestions here and there. On a track called 'New York' there was a line, 'Your face has never left me.' He said, 'That sounds like you've got a girl's head in your bag.' So we changed that." [2]

Lightbody explained the story behind the piano ballad: "I always try to write about personal experiences - 'New York' is about a girl I was seeing over there. We both had strong feelings for one another, but we were never in the same place at the same time. It's about missed opportunities." [2] Lightbody penned this song with Snow Patrol pianist Johnny McDaid in his London studio. [2]

Promotion

The song was featured in the "Suddenly" episode of Grey's Anatomy , which aired on 5 January 2012. [3] Snow Patrol performed it live on 9 January 2012 on American late-night talk show Late Show with David Letterman . [4] This song was also featured in Season 4 Episode 10 of The Vampire Diaries .

Critical reception

Jon Young from Spin wrote that the somber "New York" calls out, "Come on / Come out / Come here," to a faraway lover with persuasive fervor. [5] Mike Haydock from BBC Music wrote that "New York and In the End are the massive, sweeping songs that form the heart of Fallen Empires." [6] Michael Tedder from Paste refers to "New York" as "a memorable melody, which will probably be in a million TV dramas". [7] Chad Grischow from IGN Music calls it a power-ballad and "one of many instantly memorable offerings" on the album. [8]

Music video

The official music video was released on 30 March 2012. The video shows Gary Lightbody, the band's frontman sitting at a bar, lonely and looking upset, while having drink after drink. [9] Scott Shetle of Diffuser.fm wrote: "Ignoring all the dancing and smiling faces around him, the frontman stares into space. His lip-synching is even half-hearted, as he's lost in thought about a relationship that didn't work out...The emotional video is simple but powerful." [10]

Chart performance

Chart performance for "New York"
Chart (2011–12)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [11] 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [12] 37
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [13] 94
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [14] 2

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References

  1. "New York | Allmusic". Allmusic . Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "New York by Snow Patrol Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  3. "SP Return to Grey's Anatomy". snowpatrol.com. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  4. "Video: 'New York' on 'Letterman'". Rolling Stone . 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  5. Young, Jon. "Snow Patrol: 'Fallen Empires'". Spin . Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  6. Mike Haydock (18 March 2012). "BBC - Music - Review of Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires". BBC .
  7. Tedder, Michael. "Snow Patrol: 'Fallen Empires'". Paste . Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  8. Grischow, Chad. "Snow Patrol: 'Fallen Empires'". Paste Magazine . Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  9. Jay, Arthur (2 April 2012). "Snow Patrol - New York Video". KOvideo. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  10. Scott, Shetler (3 May 2012). "Snow Patrol - New York Video". diffuser.fm. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  11. "Snow Patrol – New York" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  12. "Snow Patrol – New York" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  13. "Snow Patrol Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  14. "Snow Patrol Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 September 2024.