Albany Song!
After hearing Albany's new "theme song" on CBS6's site this morning, we were... uh... well... you're just going to have to listen for yourself:
You know, the singer has a great voice and it's... peppy. But it kind of strikes us as the sort of jingle you'd hear in a TV spot for an electronics store.
We would like to offer an alternative in the form of We Are Jeneric's "O Albany, We Hope":
Bonus: After the jump, the cheese-tastic We-Are-the-World-style Albany theme song from the tricentennial in 1986.
[via CBS6 and @KatelynBuress]
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Comments
That first one sounds like a bunch of Muzak musicians with and extra pot of coffee.
... said Max on Feb 16, 2010 at 11:04 AM | link
For some reason I thought the city already had a theme song written by They Might Be Giants... oh wait, that was for the Egg.
For some reason I thought the city already had a theme song that was a big band hit for Paula Kelly and the Modernaires... oh wait, that was for Schenectady.
For some reason I thought the city was already name-checked in a #1 hit by Carly Simon... oh wait, that was Saratoga.
And the only thing about that 1986 version of Albany's theme song that still gives me a tear is that the beautiful bus stop mural that used to adorn the corner of Washington and Lark Streets is long gone. (sniff)
... said Chuck Miller on Feb 16, 2010 at 11:13 AM | link
What did that cost us?
... said Tim S on Feb 16, 2010 at 11:13 AM | link
My vote is strongly for "Oh Albany, We Hope". Many thanks for suggesting it!
... said Terd Ferguson on Feb 16, 2010 at 11:34 AM | link
Wow, I remember those 1986 tricentennial T-shirts. EVERYONE had one, and they were worn with such pride! I had no idea they sold the record single at Burger King. I'd love to get my hands on one of those. Talk about a relic!
... said Mrs. M on Feb 16, 2010 at 11:39 AM | link
The new song is downright horrible. As a coworker described it "this is the looooongest 1:36 of my life."
The 1986 video, on the other hand, is the funniest thing I've seen on the Internet in a long time.
... said Paul on Feb 16, 2010 at 11:43 AM | link
Hahahahhahahahhahahahahahhahaha
::inhale::
ahhahahahhahahahahhahahhahahaha
... said Go Phish on Feb 16, 2010 at 12:31 PM | link
After hearing this city-developed theme song, I have a newfound taste for smaller government.
... said Gabe on Feb 16, 2010 at 1:14 PM | link
I'm sorry, you've forced me to share this. Not solely an Albany song, but one composed and sung in honor of the laying of the "new" Capitol's corner stone, June 24, 1871. It's to the tune of "Sparkling and Bright," so I think you can pick it up:
Our storied Past was proudly cast
To this high and holy keeping
And gladly lay on its stone to-day
The fairest sheaves we're reaping
So the record true that the Old State knew,
Her lives of brave endeavor,
Shall stand secure while its walls endure,
The Corner Stone forever!
[chorus:]
The Future hears thro' listening years,
In chorus loud and lusty -
Our royal dome, our patriot home,
Well formed, and true and trusty.
So yeah, the new song could be worse.
Of course, there's also "Albany, Dat's De Only Town Looks Good To Me."
... said CJ on Feb 16, 2010 at 2:16 PM | link
Let's have a party Albany!
This begs for a mashup. Who has the original vid?
A-L
B-A
N-Y
... said -S on Feb 16, 2010 at 2:17 PM | link
Yuck. You could just replace the lyric "Albany" with the name of any town and the song would still "work."
... said Jackers on Feb 16, 2010 at 2:28 PM | link
I thought the "Koto experience" jingle they play before movies was the Albany theme song...?
... said Sarah M. on Feb 16, 2010 at 2:41 PM | link
Sour note: hated the new song. A lot.
Positive note: the clip from 1986 really made me laugh hard. Really.
... said Summer on Feb 16, 2010 at 3:41 PM | link
I've got one.
Sung to the tune of "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha (if that's not already obvious):
Wake up in the morning, I’m the Capital City.
Where the legislature sits, and the Hudson is pretty
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a scoop of the river.
‘Cause GE’s makin’ sure it don’t poison my liver.
I’m talkin’ see a show at the Egg, Egg
Showin’ a bit of leg, leg
Bar hoppin’ down on Lark street, street
Feelin’ that Albany beat, beat
And payin’ too much for heating…
Don't stop, make it pop
Call the house speaker up
Tonight, budget fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock,
Democratic party don’t stop
Don't stop, make it pop
Call the house speaker up
Tonight, budget fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock,
Democratic party don’t stop
Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty taxes
Got a state worker job, where I send lots of faxes
And now, chip factories linin’ up ‘cause they lovin’ tech valley
But we hope those new plant workers gonna all look like Halle.
I'm talking SUNY students gettin’ crunk, crunk
Not recyclin’ all my junk, junk
Kids in Crossgates tryin’ to be punk, punk
Now, now, they go 'til they kick ‘em out, out
Or mall security shuts ‘em down, down
Security shut us down, down
Co-po shut us…
Don't stop, make it pop
Call the house speaker up
Tonight, budget fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock,
Democratic party don’t stop
Don't stop, make it pop
Call the house speaker up
Tonight, budget fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock,
Democratic party don’t stop
You build me up
You’re my home town
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me
With my hands up
You got me now
You got that sound
Yeah, you got me
You build me up
You’re my home town
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me
With my hands up
Put your hands up
Put your hands up
Now, the party didn’t start 'til the Dutch touched down…
Don't stop, make it pop
Call the house speaker up
Tonight, budget fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock,
Democratic party don’t stop
Don't stop, make it pop
Call the house speaker up
Tonight, budget fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock,
Democratic party don’t stop
... said Nicole on Feb 16, 2010 at 4:24 PM | link
On a positive note, they really got their money's worth time-wise. The song is only a minute and a half, but seems like 7 minutes.
... said Tim S on Feb 16, 2010 at 4:24 PM | link
Apparently "New York, New York" doesn't have to worry about its place as an iconic location-based song. This one's a joke.
... said Christina Gleason @ Phenomenal Content on Feb 16, 2010 at 5:02 PM | link
That new song is a joke, right? RIGHT?! oh. dear. god.
... said Kim M. on Feb 16, 2010 at 5:31 PM | link
That new song is about as pleasant as getting a pap smear...good grief.
... said Litt1eMinx on Feb 16, 2010 at 5:53 PM | link
Are we sure there's not a zany sitcom about a troublemaker 6-year-old named Albany who goes on weekly adventures but manages to get it all resolved in 30 minutes? Because that's what I'm imagining. It sounds like this was ripped from a Small Wonders meets Punky Brewster meets Family Ties sitcom. And they all have bad hair.
... said Lisa Barone on Feb 16, 2010 at 6:18 PM | link
The Tik Tok parody hysterical! Digging the 86 video also, I love cheez, as for the new song......NEXT......no likey!!! AT ALL
... said wonderwoman on Feb 16, 2010 at 6:28 PM | link
JIM COYNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
... said MotherJudge on Feb 16, 2010 at 6:33 PM | link
I just read everyone else's comments. The horrid song was worth just to laugh this hard. "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger"... something like that? And that's what's great about this town. That jingle is beneath us! Rock on, Smalbany!
... said MotherJudge on Feb 16, 2010 at 6:37 PM | link
They could have used the money they wasted on this song to keep Thacher Park open!
... said Margie C on Feb 16, 2010 at 6:50 PM | link
Were the singers holding their noses during recording to remark on the quality of the new tune? That was awful!
... said Carrie on Feb 16, 2010 at 7:06 PM | link
Look, I'm all for promoting and marketing our city, I really am, and I love retro Albany and all that, but what the heck were they thinking? We can't get a functional up-to-date city Web site, to say nothing about a Facebook page, though Troy, with more than half the population of the Capital City, can do that. Instead we get a jingle? Are they really stuck in 1959 thinking? It's like they were time-warped to Season 1 of Mad Men and sitting around and thinking, "You know what we need: A jingle for the city! That'll get the kids wanting to move here."
... said Beaver on Feb 16, 2010 at 9:30 PM | link
Well, this bit from the Channel 6 bit on the song explains a lot, and makes me sad about all the things the Mayor's office didn't get done while writing this song:
"Deputy Mayor Phil Calderone is responsible for the lyrics and Melli Rose, the Public Relations Coordinator for Albany’s Special Events, wrote the music. She’s also the one singing.
Bob Van Amburgh in the mayor’s office told CBS 6 the funding came from “our very modest All-America City budget line.â€
... said Nic on Feb 16, 2010 at 10:41 PM | link
Also, can someone please make a list of all the people in the retro Albany video? That is some amazing stuff.
... said Nic on Feb 16, 2010 at 10:47 PM | link
Wow. That was even worse than I expected.
If we are so great, why does our theme song suck so bad?
Thought I'd capture the lyrics for those who can't make it through the first :10 of the song.
Albany.
Albany.
Can’t you see,
What’s so great about us.
Straight from the heart.
Right from the start.
You know you love Albany.
Albany (you know love).
Albany (you know love).
Can’t you see,
What’s so great about us.
Our history to start.
A place with a heart.
You know you love Albany
Albany (you know love).
Albany (you know love).
You will see what’s so great about us.
It’s perfectly clear,
That you want to be here.
You know you love Albany.
... said Daniel B. on Feb 17, 2010 at 12:19 AM | link
The song sucks. Totally. The singer is awful. The lyrics are innane. With all of the local bands, song writers and professional musicians in Albany the city has complete amatures undertake this project? Shame on the city. It just goes to show how completely clueless the administration is when it comes to the arts community. It's a total embarassment.
... said Kittie on Feb 17, 2010 at 9:45 AM | link
OMG - Nicole - love the Tik Tok version.
... said Kelly on Feb 17, 2010 at 9:56 AM | link
Well gosh, AOA, thanks.
... said We are Jeneric on Feb 17, 2010 at 10:17 AM | link
Will the AOA Chorus be singing Albany's new anthem at the AOA birthday party? Pleeeeeeze!
But seriously....the comment above about this amateur jingle being an embarrassment to a city that supposedly values and promotes its arts community is 100% on target.
... said chrisck on Feb 17, 2010 at 4:09 PM | link
New song: forgettable
1986 song: like a stone in the shoe but was a big deal at the time with anyone of note in Albany wanting to be part of it...even Tom Whalen lightened up.
And as primitive as it was, it was a fundraiser that was remarkably successful.
For a complete list of participants I'd go to songwriter David Allan or [maybe] WTEN who produced the video.
... said Bill on Feb 18, 2010 at 12:06 PM | link
That last video isn't real. There's no way.
... said KatherineSass on Feb 18, 2010 at 4:24 PM | link
Some local band or singer needs to do a cover of the 1986 song. Seriously. I'd pay money for it.
... said jess on Feb 18, 2010 at 4:50 PM | link
lol @ Tim S on getting their money's worth
Old song>New song
... said backpack T on Feb 20, 2010 at 10:21 AM | link