Music Videos about Cities

"Power from the street light made the place dark" (c) Krs-One

For those that didn't understand that quote let me break it down: When Hip Hop first started, DJ's would have block parties outside, lacking electrical outlets for their turntables, DJ's often used the city street light as their source of power thereby dimming the light for the turntables and speakers.

Now it's easy to point out the influence of cities on music genres such as Hip Hop. This genre was born out of the severely blighted blocks of the South Bronx housing projects in the 1970's and eventually grew out to other parts of New York City and beyond to other inner cities.

But Hip Hop was not the only genre that focused on the city life, blues, rock, r&B, folk and reggae all have past histories speaking on the ills and pleasures of city life.

Here are some videos about the city. Comment on what's your favorite or post your your own videos about the city.

Stevie Wonder - Living for the City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRT3Te21sXM

Blackstar - Respiration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiNwTL0HQRI
(Raps about the city being a living breathing being)

Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Makes me Holler)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5llhskH59o

Lovin' Spoonful - Summer in the city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91uLJ00B1h4

Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L9_8vwx2w8

Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkMXnk16kiE

Billy Joel - Allentown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K62DdoFoNeg

Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEkyaoPdar8

Randy Newman - I Love L.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lpxPUbn8y8

2Pac - To live and die in L.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTqAn7UC1ec

Cheech Marin - Born in East L.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiFGr51ubV4

Frank Sinatra - New York, New York
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM52Xsvw5NQ

Cynda Williams - Harlem Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpDefKKEsXs

Crooklyn Dodgers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfXJ_IUlBA4

Will Smith - Miami
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDp5IP76PeY

Ras Kass - Miami Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf52bbcfTjo

Billie Holliday & Louis Armstrong - Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROEWiNsb754

U2 & Greenday - The Saints are Coming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seGhTWE98DU

The Beatles - Kansas City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOTKrnBtDg0