{{Short description|1999 single by Pet Shop Boys}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox song | name = New York City Boy | cover = NewYorkCityBoy.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Pet Shop Boys | album = Nightlife | B-side = * "The Ghost of Myself" * "Casting a Shadow" | released = {{start date|1999|9|22|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = Quad (New York City) | genre = Nu-disco | length = 5:16 | label = Parlophone | writer = * Neil Tennant * Chris Lowe * David Morales | producer = * David Morales * Pet Shop Boys | prev_title = I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More | prev_year = 1999 | next_title = You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|cpk8ym8iqWU|"New York City Boy"}}}} }}
"'''New York City Boy'''" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 September 1999 as the second single from their seventh studio album, ''Nightlife'' (1999). In the UK, the single peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the charts in several other European countries, peaking at number three in Spain, and number four in Finland and Hungary. In the US, the song hit number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play chart and number 53 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Singles Sales chart.
==Background and recording== "New York City Boy" was conceived as a tribute to the disco era. It was co-written and produced with American DJ David Morales, who had remixed "So Hard" (1990), and it was recorded in New York City at Quad Studios. Chris Lowe worked on the music with Morales, who suggested doing the song in the style of the Village People. Neil Tennant wrote the lyrics about a young person coming into the city from the suburbs.<ref name="nightlifefurther">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nightlife: Further Listening 1996–2000|title-link=Nightlife (Pet Shop Boys album)|last=Heath|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Heath|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=2017|pages=2, 16|type=booklet|publisher=Parlophone Records|id=0190295921132}}</ref> A string and horn arrangement by Vincent Montana Jr., known as "the Godfather of Disco", gave the track a retro feel.<ref name=independent>{{cite web |last=Perrone|first=Pierre|date=30 June 2013|title=Vince Montana: Musician known as 'the Godfather of Disco'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/vince-montana-musician-known-as-the-godfather-of-disco-8680538.html|work=The Independent|location=London|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>
The song's string arrangements interpolate "It's Good for the Soul" by Montana's Salsoul Orchestra.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} The song also samples "MacArthur Park" as recorded by Donna Summer.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
==Release== The single was released on 22 September 1999 in Japan.<ref name="Japan release"/> In the UK, it came out on 27 September<ref name="MW review"/> and sold 22,700 copies the first week, debuting at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones|first=Alan|date=15 January 2000|title=Chart Commentary: Single Factfile|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-15.pdf |magazine=Music Week|page=9|location=London|access-date=5 May 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref> "New York City Boy" was on BBC Radio 1's third-tier C-List<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated -->|date=25 September 1999|title=Radio One Playlists|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-09-25.pdf |magazine=Music Week|page=22|location=London|access-date=9 May 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref> and was the last Pet Shop Boys single to be featured on a Radio 1 playlist.{{sfn|Heath|2017|p=4}}
One of the single's B-sides, "Casting a Shadow", was written for Radio 1 during the 11 August 1999 solar eclipse, and CD2 included a video of the song with footage of the eclipse in the UK.{{sfn|Heath|2017|pp=28–29}}
In 2003, Pet Shop Boys recorded the song in French as "Paris City Boy" at the request of EMI France, with new lyrics by Jérôme Soligny. A version with the chorus in French and the verses in English was included on the French edition of ''PopArt: The Hits'' (2003) and was used to promote that album in France. The full French version was released on ''Nightlife: Further Listening 1997–2000'' in 2017.{{sfn|Heath|2017|pp=32–33}}
===Artwork=== The single sleeves were designed by Mark Farrow with photographs by Eric Watson. Farrow created the typeface, using a lowercase letter n with other letters in uppercase, printed in fluorescent yellow ink. The photos feature Tennant and Lowe in their ''Nightlife''-era orange wigs, dark glasses, and fake eyebrows, wearing metal foil jackets by Versace. They were taken in an alley off West Central Street in London. The promotional four-disc, seven-track 12-inch vinyl was labeled ''PSB NYC BOY'' on the front, with large numerals 1 to 7 on the inner sleeves.<ref name="catalogue">{{cite book |last1=Hoare|first1=Philip|last2=Heath|first2=Chris|year=2006|title=Pet Shop Boys, Catalogue|location=New York|publisher=Thames & Hudson|pages=250–55|isbn=9780500513071}}</ref>
==Critical reception== Pop Rescue commented, "Disco comes unashamedly bursting in, with second single 'New York City Boy', a kind of early 'Your Disco Needs You', complete with camp video and men's choruses throughout."<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: "Nightlife" by the Pet Shop Boys (CD, 1999) |url=https://poprescue.com/2015/03/23/pop-rescue-nightlife-by-the-pet-shop-boys-cd-1999/ |work=Pop Rescue |date=23 March 2015 |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref> ''Music Week'' described it as, "A firm return to Seventies New York disco and again firmly tongue-in-cheek, the Pet Shop Boys go Village People in the chorus to addictive effect".<ref name="MW review">{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated -->|date=18 September 1999|title=Single Reviews|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-09-18.pdf |magazine=Music Week|page=25|location=London|access-date=9 May 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
==Music video== The music video for the song features the New York nightspot Studio 54 and was directed by British director Howard Greenhalgh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imvdb.com/video/pet-shop-boys/new-york-city-boy|title = Pet Shop Boys - New York City Boy (1999)}}</ref> The story follows a teenage boy, going from daydreaming in his bedroom into New York City. Different eras are represented, with sailor costumes as a nod to the post-war 1940s, a ''West Side Story'' dance sequence for the 1950s, an extended 1970s disco scene, and breakdancers from the 1980s on the street. Tennant and Lowe also appear; their scenes were shot in London, and Greenhalgh later filmed footage in New York and merged them. Tennant called it "the most expensive video we have ever done".<ref name="catalogue"/>
==Live performances== "New York City Boy" was performed on the Nightlife Tour (1999–2000), with the original backing vocalists—Steve Abram, Billy Cliff, Keith Fluitt, and John James—singing and dancing in sailor suits.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gallo|first=Phil|date=2 November 1999|title=Music Reviews: Pet Shop Boys|url=https://variety.com/1999/music/reviews/pet-shop-boys-1200459894/ |magazine=Variety|location=Los Angeles|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> The song was also played on the Release Tour (2002).<ref>{{cite news |last=Martin|first=Gavin|date=19 February 2002|title=The Pet Shop Boys, Astoria, London|url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/the-pet-shop-boys-astoria-london-9148301.html |work=The Independent|location=London|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> A live version from the Pandemonium Tour (2009–10) is on ''Pandemonium'' (2010),<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated -->|url=https://slicingupeyeballs.com/2010/01/10/pet-shop-boys-pandemonium-live-cd-dvd-concert-film/ |title=Pet Shop Boys to release 'Pandemonium' live CD and concert DVD in February|website=Slicing Up Eyeballs|date=10 January 2010|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> and another from the Super Tour (2016–19) is on ''Inner Sanctum'' (2019).<ref name="Clash">{{cite web |last=Murray|first=Robin|date=29 January 2019|title=Pet Shop Boys Announce Inner Sanctum DVD Release|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/pet-shop-boys-announce-inner-sanctum-dvd-release/ |website=Clash Music|access-date=19 March 2025}}</ref> Pet Shop Boys performed the song on the Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live tour (2022–25).<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Aizlewood|first=John|date=1 May 2025|title=Pet Shop Boys Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live At The Royal Arena Copenhagen|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/new-music/pet-shop-boys-dreamworld-reviewed/ |magazine=Mojo|location=London|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>
==Track listings== "New York City Boy" is by Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe, and David Morales. All other tracks are by Tennant/Lowe.
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''UK CD1 and Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=CDRS 6525, 7243 8 87733 0 0}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=7243 887723 0 3}}</ref> # "New York City Boy" (radio edit) # "The Ghost of Myself" # "New York City Boy" (the Almighty Definitive mix) # "New York City Boy" (music video)
* '''UK CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=CDR 6525, 7243 8 87732 0 1}}</ref> # "New York City Boy" (album version) # "Casting a Shadow" # "New York City Boy" (Superchumbo's Uptown mix) # "Casting a Shadow" (live video from the solar eclipse of 11 August 1999)
* '''UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone|id=TCR6525}}</ref> # "New York City Boy" (radio edit) # "The Ghost of Myself" # "New York City Boy" (The Almighty Definitive mix)
* '''UK 2×12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=UK 2×12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone|id=12R 6525, 0 7243 887733 6 2}}</ref> :A1. "New York City Boy" (the Morales club mix) :B1. "New York City Boy" (the Almighty Man on a Mission mix) :B2. "New York City Boy" (the Lange mix) :C1. "New York City Boy" (the Thunderpuss 2000 club mix) :D1. "New York City Boy" (the Superchumbo Downtown dub) {{col-2}} * '''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=7243 8 87725 2 5}}</ref> # "New York City Boy" # "The Ghost of Myself"
* '''US maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone, Sire Records|id=35013-2}}</ref> # "New York City Boy" (radio edit) # "New York City Boy" (the Superchumbo Uptown mix) # "New York City Boy" (the Superchumbo Downtown dub) # "New York City Boy" (the Almighty Definitive mix) # "New York City Boy" (the Almighty Man on a Mission mix) # "New York City Boy" (the Thunderpuss 2000 club mix) # "New York City Boy" (the Thunderdub) # "New York City Boy" (the Morales club mix) # "New York City Boy" (the Lange mix)
* '''US 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=US 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone, Sire Records|id=35014-0}}</ref> :A1. "New York City Boy" (the Superchumbo Uptown mix) :A2. "New York City Boy" (the Almighty Definitive mix) :B1. "New York City Boy" (the Thunderpuss 2000 club mix) :B2. "New York City Boy" (the Lange mix)
* '''US cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=New York City Boy|author=Pet Shop Boys|year=1999|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Sire Records|id=35017-4}}</ref> # "New York City Boy" (US radio edit) – 3:31 # "Lies" – 4:41 {{col-end}}
==Personnel== Personnel are adapted from the ''Nightlife: Further Listening 1996–2000'' liner notes {{sfn|Heath|2017|p=37}} and ''Catalogue'' (2006).<ref name="catalogue"/>
'''Pet Shop Boys''' *Chris Lowe *Neil Tennant
'''Additional musicians''' *Joey Mosk – keyboards, programming{{efn|Jemtone Studio (New York)}} *Vincent Montana Jr. – strings and horns arrangement, conducting *Gene Perez – bass guitar *Carlos Gomez – percussion *Danny Madden – backing vocals arrangement, conducting *Steve Abram – backing vocals *Billy Cliff – backing vocals *Keith Fluitt – backing vocals *John James – backing vocals
'''Technical personnel''' *David Morales – production *Steve Barkan – engineering *Bill Importico, Jr. – engineering assistant *Jon Smeltz – strings and horns engineering{{efn|The Studio (Philadelphia)}} *Goetz Botzenhardt – mixing{{efn|Sarm West (London)}} *Pet Shop Boys – production, mixing *Tim Young – remastering
'''Artwork''' *Farrow Design – design *Eric Watson – photography *Ian MacNeil – costume design *Versace – jackets
'''Notes''' {{notelist}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for "New York City Boy" ! scope="col"| Chart (1999–2000) ! scope="col"| Peak<br>position |- ! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/rYlw97T.jpg|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 17 February 2016|access-date=17 February 2016|via=Imgur}}</ref> | 174 |- {{single chart|Austria|40|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|20|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Wallonia|23|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true}} |- ! scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten)<ref name="M&M-1999-11-13">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/99/MM-1999-11-13-OCR-Page-0011.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=46|date=13 November 1999|page=11|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 6 |- ! scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/99/MM-1999-10-30-OCR-Page-0025.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=44|date=30 October 1999|page=25|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 22 |- {{single chart|Finland|4|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|France|47|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Germany|16|songid=4025|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| Greece (IFPI)<ref name="M&M-1999-11-13"/> | 8 |- ! scope="row"| Hungary (MAHASZ)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/99/MM-1999-10-16-OCR-Page-0011.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=42|date=16 October 1999|page=13|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 4 |- ! scope="row"| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2991871|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 – Vikuna 4.11-11.11 1999|newspaper=DV|language=is|date=5 November 1999|page=10|issn=1021-8254|via=Timarit.is}}</ref> | 26 |- !scope="row"|Italy (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/history.kl#/history |title=History - FIMI|language=it|access-date=September 24, 2022}}</ref> | 20 |- !scope="row"|Italy Airplay (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-11-06.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=45|page=35|date=6 November 1999}}</ref> | 9 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|34|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|40|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=27 June 2018}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|15|date=19991003|rowheader=true|access-date=5 July 2018}} |- {{single chart|Spain|3|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Sweden|9|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|20|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=New York City Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|14|artist=Pet Shop Boys|artistid=26802|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2020}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|4|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pet-shop-boys/chart-history/hot-singles-sales |title=Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Hot Singles Sales) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117154640/https://www.billboard.com/music/pet-shop-boys/chart-history/hot-singles-sales |archive-date=17 January 2021}}</ref> | 53 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for "New York City Boy" ! scope="col"| Chart (1999) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Sweden (Hitlistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1999&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1999|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> | 97 |} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col"| Chart (2000) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA18 |title=The Year in Music 2000 – Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=112 |issue=53 |date=30 December 2000 |page=YE-60 |issn=0006-2510 |via=Google Books}}</ref> | 31 |} {{col-end}}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release dates and formats for "New York City Boy" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| Japan | 22 September 1999 | CD | {{hlist|Parlophone|EMI}} | <ref name="Japan release">{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/152447/products/262338/1/|title=ニューヨーク・シティ・ボーイ {{!}} ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ|trans-title=New York City Boy {{!}} Pet Shop Boys|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United Kingdom | 27 September 1999 | {{hlist|CD|cassette}} | rowspan="3"|Parlophone | <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-09-25.pdf|title=New Releases – Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=25 September 1999|access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref> |- | 4 October 1999 | 2×12-inch vinyl | <ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – Week Starting 4 October, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=2 October 1999}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Australia | 21 February 2000 | CD | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emimusic.com.au/artist_releases.asp?artistid=99|title=Pet Shop Boys|publisher=EMI Music Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010419130350/http://www.emimusic.com.au/artist_releases.asp?artistid=99|archive-date=19 April 2001|access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/lyrics/new-york-city-boy Lyrics: New York City Boy]
{{Pet Shop Boys}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1999 singles Category:1999 songs Category:Pet Shop Boys songs Category:Music videos directed by Howard Greenhalgh Category:Songs about New York City Category:Songs written by Chris Lowe Category:Songs written by Neil Tennant Category:Parlophone singles Category:English house music songs Category:Nu-disco songs