Manhattan From The Sky

Album: A Fine Mess (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song appeared in the TV show One Tree Hill, in which Voegele has a recurring guest spot as the spunky singer-songwriter Mia. She called the placement of the song as, "the most amazing set-up ever," adding: "The coolest thing is how they worked the song into the show so that it enhanced the scene, and how the scene enhanced the song."
  • The idea for this song came to Voegele while sitting in a plane, 30,000 feet above New York City. She recalled in publicity materials: "I was just thinking about how Manhattan looks like a little piece of Lego, but once you're inside, it's totally crazy and messy and there's a wonderful chaos going on all around the city."
  • This song inspired the album title A Fine Mess.
  • A Fine Mess was produced by Mike Elizondo. Voegele explained: "I told the label that I'd love to work with whoever did Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machines, and I'm also obsessed with Rilo Kiley's Under The Blacklight." Elizondo, it turned out, worked on both of those albums. Voegele added: "To work with somebody who's able to execute what you're hearing in your head, it's not an easy thing to find. But when Mike was done, I was like, 'Oh my God, this is exactly what I had in mind when I wrote it on a napkin!'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.