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

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."