(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Most Americans have a city they like best. It may be the citythey were born in. It may be the city they would like to call home.Over the years, American songwriters have described these feelingsin music.

I'm Shirley Griffith.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Rich Kleinfeldt. The story of songs about American citiesis our report today on the V.O.A. Special English program, THIS ISAMERICA.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

New YorkCity

New York. New York. More songshave been written about America's biggest city than about any othercity. More than eight-million people live in New York. Many othersdream about leaving their small towns to go there. They want tobecome rich and famous. Frank Sinatra sings about this dream in themost popular song written about New York.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Chicago

Almost three-million people livein the middle western city of Chicago, Illinois. It is now America'sthird largest city. It used to be the second largest city. So, ofcourse, it needed its own song. Judy Garland sings the song,"Chicago, Chicago. "

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Near Chicago is the small industrial city of Gary, Indiana. Thiscity was made famous by a song in a musical play called "The MusicMan." The play opened on Broadway in New York innineteen-fifty-seven. In the musical, a young boy sings about hishome town. Here, Eddie Hodges sings "Gary, Indiana."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Right in the middle of America is the city of Kansas City. It isthe largest city in the state of Missouri. In the nineteen-sixties,songwriters Jerry Leiber and mike Stoller wrote about going toKansas city. Why? Because they said it was filled with manywonderful women. James Brown sings the song, "Kansas City."

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Americans love cities near the ocean. One of the most popular isMiami, Florida. Visitors go there all year because the weather iswarm. This song about Miami was written in nineteen-thirty-five. Thehot mustard jazz band sings, "Moon Over Miami. "

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

LasVegas

One of America's most excitingcities is Las Vegas, Nevada. There you can play games of chance allnight long. The city's entertainment centers are open all night,too. In nineteen-sixty-four, Elvis Presley starred in a movie called"Viva Las Vegas." Here is the song from that movie. It is sung bythe group Z-Z Top.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

One of the most beautiful cities in America is San Francisco,California. It is between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay inthe northern part of the state. The most popular song about the cityis called "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Tony Bennett recordedit in nineteen-sixty-two. It sold more than three-million records.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Many people love Los Angeles, California. It is now America'ssecond largest city. More than three-million people live there. LosAngeles is popular because the weather is warm and the sun shinesalmost all the time. Randy Newman sings about his feelings for thecity in the song, "I Love L.A."

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Not everyone, however, loves Los Angeles. Some people do not likeall the big roads around the city. They call Los Angeles "A greatbig freeway." They like living in a smaller place. A place like SanJose, California. Dionne Warwick sings about going back to thiscity. The song is, "Do You Know The Way To San Jose."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Today's program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was producedand directed by Lawan Davis. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Shirley Griffith. Join us again next week for anotherreport about life in the United States on the V.O.A Special Englishprogram, THIS IS AMERICA.

(MUSIC)