Songs Bring Back Fond Memories of New Britain
By Compiled by Robin Vinci | Editor at August 6, 2024 | 6:00 pm | Print
This month’s Facebook question at the New Britain City Journal group was a fun one - “Which song reminds you of New Britain and why?”
There were a lot of good responses and great reasons why songs reminded people of our great City.
See responses below:
Ed O’Keefe - “Smoke Gets in your Eyes”… growing up with all the smoke stacks
Sue Fahey - “We are the Champions”… because we have many people that made good for themselves from our great town. Mostly sport people and they never forgot where they came from.
Sarah Rose - “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”… because when I first moved to New Britain I knew no one. I found out about a library play group and that was the first song we sang! Through that group I made great friends and learned about all the wonderful free children’s programs offered throughout the city
Scott Clark - “Small town” by John Cougar Mellancamp
Dona Flores - “We Will Rock You!” Because New Britain is the place to be.
Scott Markiewicz - “Our Town” by James Taylor. New Britain has changed a lot over the years and so have the people. While most of the world was able to change with the times, New Britain was sort of left behind with the factories closing down and the highway being built. But even through all that, there’s still a lot to love about the city. It’s almost like he wrote the song about New Britain.
Elaine Perzan Zottola - “Allentown” by Billy Joel. New Britain suffered the same fate.
James Whalen - Bon Jovi “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
Catherine Nyhan Cheney - “Bingo” the victory song played whenever the NBHS football team scores.
Beckie Baker Perreault - Any polka. Obviously NB’s Polish population, but also because my neighbor (the dad of one of my good friends) played it every Saturday and Sunday while working on his car, in his yard, whatever…..He had it on all the time!
Jennifer Martin - “Don’t Stop Believing” - by Journey, cause I never stop believing in New Britain.
Haley Amber Belanger - “Bingo” or “Alma Mater” - I never noticed how much pride New Britain really had until I joined the marching band. Seeing everyone at football games shows New Britain’s pride in our teams, win or lose. And pride in our music department when they fill the stand at half time. Closing every game with Alma Mater has a power like no other. I feel like alumni can agree with that.
Christina Ann Rosenblatt - “Bingo” from all the football games.
Miriam Geraci - The cadence and chant the band plays. Because no matter where you go and hear it, you know what’s coming. And the cadence, well it doesn’t matter how many years it’s been since you’ve been in the band, you still want to do it.
Joseph Woszczyna - This might not be a popular one but I could not help but think of “We gotta get out of this place” by Eric Burdon and the Animals when one considers the industry and jobs that were lost, the mass exodus to the surrounding suburbs with their lower mill rates that has occurred since the 1960s, and the highway and redevelopment that destroyed our hometown. The current mayoral administration has made great strides in fostering growth and pride in New Britain but admit it - while we are all nostalgic, most of us no longer reside in New Britain.
Donna Dabkowski Potvin - “In Heaven There is No Beer” … reminds me of going to the shell and listening to the John Jeski Band!!! Just a great song
Mark Zenobi - “Beer Barrel Polka” - The perfect NB theme song.
Drue Signorelli - “Downtown”
Pam Shepard - “Allentown” song by Billy Joel.
Sharon Beloin-Saavedra - The theme song from Cheers … “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”
