One of the most common emotions evoked by music is that of romantic longing. This type of music is easy for just about anyone to relate to, but there's another type of nostalgia evoked by love songs dedicated to a time or a place.
These types of songs are ballads dedicated to cities, childhood or a potential adventure in the future. For example, think about the longing Luke Skywalker feels as he looks up at the binary sunset on Tatooine or the nostalgia for the '80s that the Stranger Things synth-based soundtrack evokes.
New York City is certainly the most famous recipient of these types of tributes. It's recognizable worldwide as a place where dreams are meant to come true, or a place where people gather during holidays and major events.
The nighttime New York City skyline is one of man's most breathtaking achievements, but in addition to a number of lyrics about the Big Apple; this collection of songs evoke nostalgia for small-town America, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more. Hip-hop, alternative rock, folk and more genres combine in this playlist to speak to a different time and place from wherever one finds themselves now.
"Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" — Elton John
"New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down" — LCD Soundsystem
"Heaven" — Talking Heads
"Out Of Time" — The Rolling Stones
"Ode To The Mets" — The Strokes
"Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl)" — The Pogues, Kirsty MacColl
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" — Christopher Cross
"Empire State Of Mind" — JAY-Z, Alicia Keys
"America" — Simon & Garfunkel
"The Good Times Are Killing Me" — Modest Mouse
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - 2005 Remastered" — Talking Heads
"Homecoming" — Kanye West, Chris Martin
"In My Life - Remastered 2009" — The Beatles
"Kids" — MGMT
"Under the Bridge" — Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Nobody Home" — Pink Floyd