Proposed City Theme Songs

 

Source: shutterstock.com

The following are my choices for the song(s) that should be used as the theme song or anthem for the selected cities listed below. Some are familiar, some historic, some new, some inspirational, some witty, and some are even satirical, but they all recall memories and images of a community that the local’s love. Links to each song are provided.

If you know of any that should be included or might be better choices than these, please feel free to pass them and your thoughts along. Enjoy!

Abilene, TX or KS – “Abilene,” by Waylon Jennings or George Hamilton IV

Albuquerque, NM – “Lights of Albuquerque,” by Jim Glaser

Amarillo, TX – “Amarillo,” by Alan Jackson

Asheville, NC – “Asheville City Skyline,” by the Lonesome Trio

Bakersfield, CA – “Mean Streets of Bakersfield,” by Merle Haggard – (suggested by Robert – thank you)

Baltimore, MD – “Baltimore,” – artist unknown

Baton Rouge, LA – “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” by various artists

Birmingham, AL – “Train to Birmingham,” by John Hiatt

Boston, MA – “Boston,” by Augustana

Buffalo, NY – “Buffalo Gals,” by Woody Guthrie

Charleston, SC – “The Charleston,” by Cecil Mack and Jimmy Johnson

Chattanooga, TN – “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra

Chicago, IL – “My Kind of Town…Chicago Is,” by Frank Sinatra

Cincinnati, OH – “WKRP in Cincinnati” – TV show theme song – artist unknown

Cleveland, OH – “Cleveland Rocks,” by Ian Hunter

Dayton, OH – “Dayton, Ohio 1903,” by various artists

Denver, CO – “A Mile High in Denver,” by Jimmy Buffett or “Get Out of Denver,” by Bob Seger

Dallas-Fort Worth TX – “Dallas Days and Fort Worth Nights,” by Chris Le Doux

Detroit, MI – “Goin’ on to Detroit,” by Wes Montgomery

Edmonton, AB – “Edmonton Theme,” by Annabelle Santos-Dookie – yes, it is hokey.

El Paso, TX – “El Paso,” by Marty Robbins

Erie, PA – “Erie,” by Jonah Krull

Galveston, TX – “Galveston,” by Glen Campbell

Gary, IN – “Gary Indiana,” from “The Music Man”

Honolulu, HI – “Honolulu City Lights,” by the Beamer Brothers

Houston, TX – “Houston #1,” by Coldplay

Indianapolis, IN – “Naptown Blues,” by Wes Montgomery

Kalamazoo, MI – “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra

Kansas City, MO – “Kansas City Here I Come,” by various artists. but particularly the version by Fats Domino

Key Largo, FL – “Key Largo,” by Bertie Higgins

Key West, FL – “Key West Time,” by Pirate Sessions

Kokomo, IN – “Kokomo Blues,” by numerous artists, but the best version is by Marie Martens & the Messarounds (at 8:20 minutes in the linked video – be sure to turn the volume on at the bottom right of the video)

Las Vegas, NV – “Viva Las Vegas,” by Elvis Presley

Little Rock, AR – “A Little Past Little Rock,” by Lee Ann Womack

London, UK – “London Calling,” by The Clash

Los Angeles, CA – “I Love LA,” by Randy Newman

Louisville, KY – “Eight More Miles to Louisville,” by various artists

Lubbock, TX – “Lonely Lubbock, Nights,” by Aaron Watson

Macon, GA – “Macon,” by Jamey Johnson

Memphis, TN – “Walking in Memphis,” by Marc Cohn or “Memphis, Tennessee,” by Johnny Rivers

Mexicali, Mexico – “Mexicali Rose,” by Jim Reeves

Miami, FL –“Moon Over Miami,” by various artists, but especially the version by Ray Charles

Milwaukee, WI – “Milwaukee Polka,” by Frank Yankovic

Mobile, AL – “Mobile, Alabama,” by Curtis Gordon

Montreal, QC – “Green Gardens, Cold Montreal,” by Sloan

Nashville, TN – “Nashville Cats,” by the Lovin’ Spoonful

New Orleans, LA – “I’m Walking to New Orleans,” by Fats Domino

New York City, NY – “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra

Omaha, NE – “Omaha,” by Waylon Jennings

Paris, France – “April in Paris,” by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Pensacola, FL – “Pensacola,” by Deerhunter

Peoria, IL – “I Wish I Wuz in Peoria,” by The Smothers Brothers

Philadelphia, PA – “Philadelphia Freedom,” by Elton John, though both “Philadelphia” by Neil Young and “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen are better songs.

Phoenix, AZ – “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” by Glen Campbell

Pittsburgh, PA – “Rainy Day in Pittsburgh,” by Joe Gruschecky & the Houserockers

Portland, OR – “Portland, Oregon,” by Jack White and Loretta Lynn

Reno, NV – “All the Way to Reno,” by REM

Saginaw, MI – “Saginaw Michigan,” by Lefty Frizzle

Salt Lake City, UT – “Salt Lake City,” by the Beach Boys or the Fendertones

San Antonio, TX – “New San Antonio Rose,” by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

San Diego, CA – “San Diego Serenade,” by Tom Waits

San Francisco, CA – “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” by Tony Bennett

San Jose, CA – “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” by Dionne Warwick

Santa Fe, NM – “South of Santa Fe,” by Brooks & Dunn or “Sante Fe,” by Steve Martin & the Steep Mountain Rangers (added 10/24/19)

Savannah, GA – “Sunday in Savannah,” by Nina Simone

Seattle, WA – “Seattle,” by Perry Como

Spokane, WA – “The Spokane Song,” by the Kelly Ellis Duo

St. Louis, MO – “St. Louis Blues,” by various artists

Tampa, FL – “Talk Me Out of Tampa,” by Joe Nichols

Toledo, OH – “Toledo, My Hometown,” by Sheri Lafontaine

Toronto, ON – “Toronto #4,” by the Tragically Hip

Tucson, AZ – “Tucson Train,” by Bruce Springsteen

Tulsa, OK – “Tulsa Time,” by Don Williams

Wasco, CA – “Radiator Man from Wasco,” by Merle Haggard – (Thank you, Robert)

Wichita, KS – “Wichita Lineman,” by Glen Campbell

Winnipeg, MB – “One Great City,” by The Weakerthans