Theme from New York New York

About

Robbie Williams incorporated Theme from New York New York into his 2014 Swings Both Ways Live tour as a continuation of Denosh Bennett’s performance of Alicia Keys’s Empire State of Mind. The sequence appeared throughout the tour as a set piece designed to bridge modern R&B with classic swing repertoire.

The medley was arranged for Williams’s touring big band, moving from the contemporary groove of Empire State of Mind into the brassy, showband style of Theme from New York New York. Bennett opened the segment with a soulful lead before Williams entered, allowing the song to expand into a full scale swing number aligned with the tour’s emphasis on traditional standards.

Williams delivered the track with theatrical phrasing and an elevated, cabaret oriented approach, leaning into its celebratory rising melody. The contrast with the preceding Alicia Keys section highlighted the band’s versatility and underscored the show’s blend of modern influences and mid twentieth century songcraft.

It is a great moment to flip from something modern straight into one of the biggest standards of them all.Robbie Williams

The segment became one of the tour’s more distinctive transitions, noted for its energetic lift and for showcasing Bennett’s vocal presence alongside Williams’s affinity for swing material. Although not released commercially, it remains a memorable structural feature of the 2014 shows.