Take Me To Roosevelt Island - A Beautiful Song About Uniqueness Of Our East River Home - An Oasis In New York City And A Dream Spot To Live Says NYC Singer Songwriter Ian Miller

Reposting from a 2021 story.

Ian Miller is a New York City based singer, songwriter and pianist. Earlier this year, he participated in the 15th annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project. He wrote and performed Take Me To Roosevelt Island for the closing event of the project.

It's a beautiful song which truly captures the uniqueness of Roosevelt Island, an oasis in the middle of New York City.

Watch the video and listen to the words - I'll bet they resonate with many.

According to Mr. Miller:

I live in Astoria, about a 30 minute walk from Roosevelt Island, and the first time I visited I was just struck by how it felt like an oasis in the middle of the city – it felt like I could leave the stress and hubbub on the other side of the river, and I had such a sense of peace that was hard to come by elsewhere in town. 

Once the pandemic hit, and I spent so much of my time cooped up in my apartment, I started taking walks over there whenever I could – walking 30 minutes there, walking around for maybe an hour, and then walking back. It became my go-to place to restore my peace of mind. 

The song is, for me, about coming to terms with the difficulty of making a life in a city like New York, and longing for relief from the pressure and the non-stop grind.

I tell everyone that Roosevelt Island's my dream spot to live, whenever I can afford it!

More info about my music is also available on my website. 

Here are the lyrics to Take Me To Roosevelt Island by Ian Miller:

I feel like I’m wasting away in this town
I stare at the Hudson and watch myself drown
In this city that won’t let me sleep
Full of promises that it can’t keep

Take me to Roosevelt Island
Where the river flows gently all day
I’ll sit ‘neath the bridge in the silence
And hear what the breeze has to say
I’m getting lost in this city
All the busyness just doesn’t pay
So take me to Roosevelt Island
It’s only a mile away

All these people move fast and I want to go slow
And if I disappeared, well, would anyone know? No...
In this city that don’t give a damn
Where I don’t even know who I am

Take me to Roosevelt Island
Where the river flows gently all day
I’ll sit ‘neath the bridge in the silence
And hear what the breeze has to say
I’m getting lost in this city
I used to know how to pray
So take me to Roosevelt Island
It’s only a mile away

Getting tired of fighting
Can’t you see that I’m trying?
Need a place I can hide here
Or else I’m gonna die here

So take me to Roosevelt Island
Where the river flows gently all day
I’ll sit ‘neath the bridge in the silence
And hear what my heart has to say
God get me out of this city
Or give me a reason to stay
I’m sick of the noise and the striving
I’m young but I’m barely surviving
Just longing for Roosevelt Island

Forever a mile away

Ian MillerMusic Director * Pianist * Singer-Songwrite

Pieternel Took A Tram To Roosevelt Island With A Broken Heart And Came Back With A Beautiful Song - Watch The Video And Let The River Decide

On a beautiful afternoon last week, I was taking the Ferry back to Roosevelt Island. As I was watching the water on the East River pass by, I thought of the song Roosevelt Island by Dutch artist Pieternel.. Although the song is about coming to Roosevelt Island on the Tram, the ferry was a fitting substitute for me.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Roosevelt (@rooseveltislander)

According to Pieternel's lnstagram page

When I lived in NYC I was trying to let go of my broken heart. One day I visited Roosevelt Island, the aerial tram was such a nice ride: flying in the air, underneath me busy NYC traffic, the swirling East River and then this tiny island. That only would be a reason to go there! Something about water makes me relaxed and grounded. When I walked towards the end of the island I thought it would be really nice if you could just let go of your worries, send them left and right of you, like the river splits left and right when it meets an island. And then the island itself would be the carefree zone. All you have to do is just walk all the way to the end, take a seat and see how the river comes back together. 

Sometimes things don’t come back together. But I learned, letting go of the thought of it getting back together, is better. It opens up possibilities, gives you unexpected joy and the choice of change. “Let the river decide” This is an important lesson for me and therefore I named my album Roosevelt Island. Thank you for reading and your interest to know the story behind the song.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pieternel (@pieternelmusic)

And here's a live version of Roosevelt Island by Pieternel. 

Enjoy.

"It's Nice To Be On The Island" - A Concert Film By Duo Extempore Explores The History And Stories Of Roosevelt Island With Specially Curated Improvisation, Watch And Enjoy

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A post shared by Nicole Brancato (@n.brancato)

According to artist NicoleBrancoto's website:

Duo Extempore interprets history, art, and space through music, exploring the very spaces in which they perform with specially curated improvisations. Through this unique storytelling process, the space itself becomes the score for impromptu pieces, bringing stories of the past into the present-day imagination.

 it's nice to be on the island is a concert film by Duo Extempore, exploring the stories of Roosevelt Island in New York City's East River with specially curated improvisation. 

Evan Jagels and Nicole Brancato are bold and sensitive improvisers, forging heartfelt connections with their audiences through their visceral collaborative energy. As sought-after artists with impressive versatility, their extensive credits include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Banff Centre of the Arts, NPR, the Blue Note in Germany, and the UniJazz Festival in the Czech Republic....

Learn more about Duo Extempore and Nicole Brancato.

Listen To Take Me To Roosevelt Island, A Beautiful Song About Uniqueness Of Our East River Home - An Oasis In New York City And A Dream Spot To Live Says NYC Singer Songwriter Ian Miller

Ian Miller is a New York City based singer, songwriter and pianist. Earlier this year, he participated in the 15th annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project. He wrote and performed Take Me To Roosevelt Island for the closing event of the project.

It's a beautiful song which truly captures the uniqueness of Roosevelt Island, an oasis in the middle of New York City.

Watch the video and listen to the words - I'll bet they resonate with many.

According to Mr. Miller:

I live in Astoria, about a 30 minute walk from Roosevelt Island, and the first time I visited I was just struck by how it felt like an oasis in the middle of the city – it felt like I could leave the stress and hubbub on the other side of the river, and I had such a sense of peace that was hard to come by elsewhere in town. 

Once the pandemic hit, and I spent so much of my time cooped up in my apartment, I started taking walks over there whenever I could – walking 30 minutes there, walking around for maybe an hour, and then walking back. It became my go-to place to restore my peace of mind. 

The song is, for me, about coming to terms with the difficulty of making a life in a city like New York, and longing for relief from the pressure and the non-stop grind.

I tell everyone that Roosevelt Island's my dream spot to live, whenever I can afford it!

More info about my music is also available on my website. 

Here are the lyrics to Take Me To Roosevelt Island by Ian Miller:

I feel like I’m wasting away in this town
I stare at the Hudson and watch myself drown
In this city that won’t let me sleep
Full of promises that it can’t keep

Take me to Roosevelt Island
Where the river flows gently all day
I’ll sit ‘neath the bridge in the silence
And hear what the breeze has to say
I’m getting lost in this city
All the busyness just doesn’t pay
So take me to Roosevelt Island
It’s only a mile away

All these people move fast and I want to go slow
And if I disappeared, well, would anyone know? No...
In this city that don’t give a damn
Where I don’t even know who I am

Take me to Roosevelt Island
Where the river flows gently all day
I’ll sit ‘neath the bridge in the silence
And hear what the breeze has to say
I’m getting lost in this city
I used to know how to pray
So take me to Roosevelt Island
It’s only a mile away

Getting tired of fighting
Can’t you see that I’m trying?
Need a place I can hide here
Or else I’m gonna die here

So take me to Roosevelt Island
Where the river flows gently all day
I’ll sit ‘neath the bridge in the silence
And hear what my heart has to say
God get me out of this city
Or give me a reason to stay
I’m sick of the noise and the striving
I’m young but I’m barely surviving
Just longing for Roosevelt Island

Forever a mile away

Ian MillerMusic Director * Pianist * Singer-Songwrite

A Friday Night Love Song To Roosevelt Island From The 2006 Time Machine - The Looney Bin And That Gristedes Store, Julie Sports Bar, Who Could Ask For Anything More

 This is perfect for a brutally cold winter Friday night.

                                                                              You Tube Video of Take Me To Roosevelt Island

Sing it with me:

Take me to Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island that Island of Joy
Take me to Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island your sure to enjoy

The Water Taxi's will give you a view
of that wonderful Island ideal For Two

The Loony Bin and the Gristedes Store
Julie's Sports Bar Who could ask for more

Take Me To Roosevelt Island

Take A Listen To Beautiful Song Titled Roosevelt Island By Amsterdam Netherlands Singer Pieternal - Her Trip On Roosevelt Island Tram Helped Let Go A Broken Heart

The Twitterverse asked:

Yo NYC/music Twttter, what are your favorite songs about the city that I might not know yet?

— Harry Siegel (@harrysiegel) July 21, 2020

I offered my favorite song about Roosevelt Island titled Roosevelt Island from the album Roosevelt Island by the artist Pieternal based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

It's a beautiful song. Take a listen.



According to Pieteranl:

When I lived in NYCI I was trying to let go of my broken heart. One day I visited Roosevelt Island, the aerial tram was such a nice ride: flying in the air, underneath me busy NYC traffic, the swirling East River and then this tiny island. That only would be a reason to go there! Something about water makes me relaxed and grounded. When I walked towards the end of the island I thought it would be really nice if you could just let go of your worries, send them left and right of you, like the river splits left and right when it meets an island. And then the island itself would be the carefree zone. All you have to do is just walk all the way to the end, take a seat and see how the river comes back together.

More from Pieternal's Instagram:

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I N S I G H T - long post- thank you for giving your choice in my insta story poll. I wrote two songs with @alexwongsounds ; Fragile Space and Roosevelt Island. The last one was your favorite so here is my insight inside this song. When I lived in NYCI I was trying to let go of my broken heart. One day I visited Roosevelt Island, the aerial tram was such a nice ride: flying in the air, underneath me busy NYC traffic, the swirling East River and then this tiny island. That only would be a reason to go there! Something about water makes me relaxed and grounded. When I walked towards the end of the island I thought it would be really nice if you could just let go of your worries, send them left and right of you, like the river splits left and right when it meets an island. And then the island itself would be the carefree zone. All you have to do is just walk all the way to the end, take a seat and see how the river comes back together. Sometimes things don’t come back together. But I learned, letting go of the thought of it getting back together, is better. It opens up possibilities, gives you unexpected joy and the choice of change. “Let the river decide” This is an important lesson for me and there fore I named my album Roosevelt Island. Thank you for reading and your interest to know the story behind the song. You can listen to the track on spotify, apple and deezer. Link ik bio ❤️ #story #behind #emotions #to #words #to #song #writing #NYC #alexwong #titletrack #rooseveltisland

A post shared by Pieternel (@pieternelmusic) on Oct 27, 2018 at 2:13pm PDT

Check out more music from Pieternal at her web site.

Roosevelt Island Has It's Own New Song And It's Very Good - Take A Listen To Roosevelt Island By Pieternel Osinga

From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

This is NY-based Dutch artist Pieternel's latest demo on SoundCloud; 'Roosevelt Island'. https://t.co/gVVUSKEnWh pic.twitter.com/sw5pueuoUn

— Dutch Culture USA (@DutchCultureUSA) February 5, 2016

Love those lyrics.

Check out Pieternel Osinga's web site and Facebook page for more info.

A Love Song To Roosevelt Island - The Looney Bin At That Gristedes Store, Julie Sports Bar, Who Could Ask For Anything More

This is perfect for a Friday night.

HeadOverSeales Tweets:

If you love Roosevelt Island as much as I do...

You Tube Video of Take Me To Roosevelt Island

Sing it with me:

Take me to Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island that Island of Joy
Take me to Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island your sure to enjoy

The Water Taxi's will give you a view
of that wonderful Island ideal For Two

The Loony Bin and the Gristedes Store
Julie's Sports Bar Who could ask for more

Take Me To Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island Title of New Song From Eleanor Friedberger's New Solo Album Last Summer - Music Video On Tram, Anybody Look Familiar?

Eleanor Friedburger of the Fiery Furnaces recently released a solo album called Last Summer and the title of one of the songs is Roosevelt Island. Here's the video for Roosevelt Island by Ms. Friedburger.

Eleanor Friedberger - Roosevelt Island from Merge Records on Vimeo.

According to Rolling Stone:

"Roosevelt Island," the second video from the first solo album by Fiery Furnaces frontwoman Eleanor Friedberger is charmingly straightforward, with the singer taking the tram to the island referenced in the song, which lies just off the coast of Manhattan. The laid back tune calls back to mid-Seventies hits by Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac, but Friedberger's distinct vocal style lends the music a very different sort of energy. All through the video, she scribbles in a journal, which is a perfect image corresponding with her vocals, which sound like ideas spilling directly out of her brain and on to the tape.

Ms. Friedberger will be playing in New York on August 22-23 at Webster Hall. Perhaps she would like to come back and perform Roosevelt Island right here?

Here's another song about Roosevelt Island, this one written by a local resident,  Crossing the East River on the Roosevelt Island Tram

Crossing The East River On The Roosevelt Island Tram In Song - A Tram Tribute Video & The Latest News On When It Will Return To Service, Hopefully Before Thanksgiving

 Image From Tatiana Muzica

First the 59th Street Bridge was immortalized in  song with Simon & Garfunkle's Feelin Groovy and now it time to do the same for it's neighbor to the north - the Roosevelt Island Tram. To mark the occasion of the new Roosevelt Island Tram, filmaker Ovidiu Opresco and musician Jonathan Kalb collaborated on this tribute to the joys of Crossing The East River On The Roosevelt Island Tram. Sort of like Roosevelt Island's version of a Jimmy Buffet song about Key West.

You Tube Video Of Crossing The East River On The Roosevelt Island Tram

Here's the latest on the Roosevelt Island Tram from Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. President Leslie Torres:

Rumors to the contrary notwithstanding - the Aerial Tramway Modernization project has not likewise been haunted. As most of us have seen - the beautiful new cabins are now both running on their respective north and south track ropes and all systems seem ready to go. We are hoping to have the New York State Department of Labor complete its testing and review of the entire system before Thanksgiving. Preliminary inspection results thus far have been very positive. While RIOC is confident that we are providing a safe, efficient and comfortable new aerial tramway system - I don't think any one of us wants to short circuit safety precautions. RIOC is planning an opening event as soon as we get the okay from DOL. We continue to appreciate the public's patience and we anticipate our beloved Tram returning to service as soon as possible.

Another photo of the Roosevelt Island Tram undergoing tests from Ms. Muzica.

 Image From Tania Muzica