Harlem

Album: A Bad Girl in Harlem (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • New Politics were formed in Denmark by David and Soren Hansen, who then moved to the US in 2009, after getting a record deal on the back of a talent show performance. The Hansen brothers enlisted American drummer Lewis Vecchio to join the band the following year. Their second album, A Bad Girl in Harlem, is largely about the fish-out-of- water experience.
  • This was the first single released from the album. David Hansen explained to The Sun: "That song is about a real romantic adventure up in Harlem. Soren lived above some people and they had a party and that's where I met a girl from Harlem. The girl doesn't know this is about her, it was a bittersweet ending."
  • Harlem is a district of New York City, which was named by the original Dutch settlers after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. It is now chiefly identified with its African American and Hispanic American population and is a world renowned center of black culture. The "Harlem Renaissance", an outpouring of artistic work in the 1920s was without precedent in the African American community. Here are four more songs inspired by Harlem:

    "Spanish Harlem" by Ben E. King.
    "Harlem Shuffle" by The Rolling Stones.
    "Angel Of Harlem" by U2.
    "Harlem Shake" by Baauer.
  • The song featured in the 2013 video game NHL 14 as well as in a trailer for the Disney movie Frozen.

Comments: 1

  • Jim from TxWho is the girl in the video, Harlem?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."