The Scorpions: The Zoo (1980)

The Scorpions penned "The Zoo" with New York City in mind. Indeed, the city had become a hell hole by the late 70s. However, the song also seems to emote a Cold War feel as well. Whether New York of the late 70s or Soviet East Berlin, the urban decay is palatable in this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMaJyUQfwv4

The Talking Heads: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2001

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/talking-heads/bio/

David Byrne and Chris Frantz formed the band, “The Artists” in 1974, but it fell apart within a year. The pair moved with Frantz’s girlfriend Tina Weymouth to New York and shared a loft. Weymouth learned bass and the trio formed the Talking Heads. The group developed a following, signed a record contract, and broke in 1977.

This song broke around the time of Son of Sam.

Psycho Killer (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zFsy9VIdM

Take Me To the River (1978): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjT71N4PGM

Fear of Music took a darker turn.

Based on Byrne’s experiences in New York…

Life During Wartime (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzORu1dqEE0

One in a Lifetime (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU

Burning Down the House (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNnAvTTaJjM

And She Was (1985): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSVTdAtNYE

Road to Nowhere (1985): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtCittJyr0

Wild Wild Life (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NXkM8PsPXs

Nothing But Flowers (1988): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOEIRI5HSuQ

Lifetime Piling Up (1992):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ3XE84bw6k

By 1992, Byrne was ready to move on and the band broke up. There have been hard feelings.

R.E.M.: Leaving New York (2004)

Michael Stipe wanted to write a "love song" for New York City. He considers NYC his second home and wrote the song after viewing the city from a plane. The song hit #5 in Britain, but failed to chart in America. It was the first lead single off a R.E.M. studio album to fail to chart since 1985.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCvnGxfBfiw