Idina Menzel, Stephen Colbert & more pay tribute to NYC by singing ‘New York State of Mind’
New York City and its arts scene, including Broadway and concerts, are back, and a number of singers are paying tribute to the Big Apple
[August 16, 2021: The Brighter Side of News]
Belting it out: Stephen Colbert, Idina Menzel, Sara Bareilles and more sing Billy Joel's New York State of Mind to celebrate the city reopening, organized by NYCNext (CREDIT: NYCNext)
New York City and its arts scene, including Broadway and concerts, are back, and a number of well-known singers are paying tribute to the Big Apple’s resiliency by praising it in song…one of Billy Joel‘s songs.
More than a dozen singers and musicians have come together to record a video featuring themselves singing Billy’s iconic track “New York State of Mind” in locations all over New York City, from Times Square and Brooklyn to Queens, the Upper West Side, the Lower East Side and Coney Island.
Sara Bareilles and Idina Menzel are a huge part of the video, but you’ll also see and hear Billy’s daughter Alexa Ray Joel, Stephen Colbert, singers Joan Osborne and Suzanne Vega, Andy Cohen, actor/singer Brian Stokes Mitchell, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara and LaChanze, Billy Joel band members Mark Rivera and David Rosenthal, drag queen Peppermint, Mario Cantone and more.
In a statement, Bareilles says, “To sing Billy Joel’s iconic song alongside my community members at a time when the city needs us all was so meaningful to me. I’m so grateful this project came to life in such a big way.”
The project, the brainchild of the NYCNext organization, will be shown all over New York, including in taxi cabs and at this weekend’s New York City Homecoming Concert in Central Park, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Rob Thomas, Babyface, Jennifer Hudson, Journey and many more.
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Tags: #Good_News, #Celebrity_Good_News, #New_York, #Billy_Joel, #Stephen_Colbert, #Song, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.