Streets of Philadelphia

Streets of Philadelphia is a produced and published in spring 1994 Song of the American rock musician Bruce Springsteen. The title comes from the soundtrack of the film Philadelphia with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. The song placed in numerous countries in the top of the charts and won an Oscar, four Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. It is a slow, sad, yet melodic dirge accompanied by synthesizers and a drum machine. Unusually for a song by Bruce Springsteen, that the title is less sung but rather told, it does give the listener a sense that is also broadcast in entire movie. The title itself comes from only a few different sound effects and sounds, which, however, still does not seem monotonous.

History

Jonathan Demme, the director of Philadelphia, Springsteen asked in spring 1993 if he would write the song to the resulting film. In June 1993, after completing his " Other Band" Tour, Springsteen finally wrote the song. It provides almost all instrumentals, bass and background vocals come from the " Other Band" member Tommy Simms. Additional saxophone sounds and parts of the song of Ornette Coleman and "Little " Jimmy Scott, however, were not used.

Charts

The single was released in February 1994 as the main single from the original film soundtrack and was a huge success in parts of Europe and North America. The song gained greater popularity than in the United States in Europe. While the song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was "only" 9th place, he climbed in Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway and Austria at # 1 on the charts. With # 2 on the song reached its highest ever placing Springsteen ever in the UK.

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed and directed by Jonathan Demme and Ted Demme his nephew. It shows Springsteen as he runs on foot through the streets of Philadelphia. He passes a bustling with people parking and going past a school yard. In addition, scenes from the movie Philadelphia are displayed. After a brief look at the Rittenhouse Park the video as Springsteen along the Delaware River ends goes and can be seen in the background, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Even Tom Hanks, who plays the lead role in the film is to see.

Awards

Live performances

Bruce Springsteen played the title in March 1994 at the Oscar ceremony, in September 1994 at the MTV Video Music Awards, and in March 1995 at the Grammy Awards. After that, the song became a top 10 hit and became one of Springsteen's best-known hits in the general music audience. However, he played the song during live performances rarely.

Cover versions

• The song has been covered live by Melissa Etheridge and David Gray.
• The CDs of the American rock band Marah, Liv Kristine, the Canadian pop and jazz singer Molly Johnson and I Muvrini with Anggun to find cover versions.
• The American rapper Cassidy and Larsiny Family of Philadelphia have included a cover version on their mixtape Put Ya L in the Sky. They tried thus to address the crime in the city and reduce.
• The French singer Patrick Bruel also recorded a cover version. The text remained unchanged (except for the translation into French ) and the music.
• The artists and Vasee Tua took on a modified cover version of the song in the video the issue of animal cruelty is picked up.