New Yorkers belt out Frank Sinatra hit from their homes as tribute
New York City, US, Apr 16 (efe-epa).- “Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today, I want to be a part of it, New York, New York” sang New Yorkers on Thursday from windows, balconies and rooftops.
They sung the unofficial anthem of the city – Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” – to pay tribute to those working in health care during the coronavirus pandemic.
A large number of the city’s residents joined in the initiative that was the brainchild of the Peace of Heart Choir, which performed the song and livestreamed it on Facebook. The song was also broadcast by local radio channels, WKCR and WBAI.
The “city-wide sing-along” as the choir group described it on the Facebook page of the event, began at 7.02 pm, following the daily two-minute round of applause in honor of essential workers such as doctors and nurses, as is done in other cities around the world.
While people in the suburbs of Brooklyn and Queens came out of their homes to listen to and sing, many of Manhattan’s residents, in the absence of open spaces, danced and sang Sinatra’s iconic verses from rooftops and the small landings that make up traditional fire exits.
“We love you, New Yorkers! Take care!” shouted an enthusiastic woman through a microphone at the end of the song.
The Peace of Heart Choir, which is made up of volunteers, sings for free for communities in need, according to its website.
On Apr. 7, a message posted to the “New York Sings Along” Facebook page invited the city’s residents to sing the song “to honor first responders, healthcare workers and all essential personnel.”
Choir member Robert Hornsby told EFE that since the initiative was launched, more than 50,000 people had joined and another 2,000 had pledged to participate.
“As choir members, we know that singing brings people together,” said Andrew Dykeman, the co-chairman of the choir, in a statement. “This is our way of sparking a greater sense of community, while still maintaining appropriate physical distance. We can raise our voices together to honor those who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and cared for.”
According to the latest figures of the health department of New York City, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, there are already more than 117,000 people infected with coronavirus in the city while nearly 7,600 have died. EF-EPA
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