"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 numerous 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. One of the single's B-sides, "Casting a Shadow", was written for BBC 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. The song's string arrangements, by Vincent Montana Jr., interpolate "It's Good for the Soul" by Montana's Salsoul Orchestra. The song also samples "MacArthur Park" as recorded by Donna Summer.

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."

Music video

The music video for the song features the New York nightspot Studio 54 and was directed by British director Howard Greenhalgh.

Track listings

Personnel

Credits adapted from Nightlife / Further Listening 1997–2000 liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history