Surreal cinematic mixed media collage framed by a distressed film… — AI art by @CaylaCatz
@CaylaCatz · 10/4/2026
Entry in the One Hit Wonders theme on BudgetPixel.
What is this song? (not a one hit wonder, read below) Update starts here: @JMN was the first one to figure it out! First We Take Manhattan" is a famous song written by the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. The song was originally recorded by Jennifer Warnes in 1986 for her Cohen tribute album, Famous Blue Raincoat, featuring prominent lead guitar work by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Cohen then recorded his own well-known synth-pop/disco-influenced version in 1988 for his acclaimed album I'm Your Man -- update ends here -- orig post continues Big hint: You'll see 2 cities in this image. If you can guess the cities, you can guess the song as both cities appear in the famous chorus/hook. I used the lyrics of the song to create this image. It charted in the 20s in the USA Billboard Adult Contemporary between 1970-2000. (lol, just narrowing it down a little so you don't go too modern or too old). Ok, I thought I'd put this here as I like this song but it is not a one hit wonder. It barely charted into the 20s. Also the singer had a couple of #1 hits as duets with other people. The song was written by a famous songwriter and the song was a cult fav sung by him but didn't chart. More info on its chart successes: It charted in top 10 Canadian Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. It almost made top 10 in Italy Airplay but didn't even break 50 in UK. Surprisingly when it was covered again by a group, it almost made top 10 in USA Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. Surprisingly because I didn't know the group covered it and they're a pretty famous group.
Tags: surreal collage, mixed media art, cinematic storyboard, film strip aesthetic, ink wash illustration, new york skyline, arc de triomphe, thriller art, conceptual art, watercolor collage, vintage portraiture, grunge art, narrative illustration, dramatic composition, red and black art
Comments
CaylaCatz
@JMN got it right. It's First We Take Manhattan sung by Jennifer Warnes, written by Leonard Cohen. Madonna's song is very cool. When I first heard the Argentina song, I was so suprised as it was so different from what she'd sung before. Thanks for playing and all your guesses. I think it helped other people's guesses and everyone built on each other.
DavidP
@TTRPG_Player thanks for clarifying the name and looking on Google can see thatthe image is the Arc de Triomphe, neither the Brandenburg Gate or for that matter Marble Arch in London. Check out the Leonard Cohen song, it's a goodie.
archangeltara
That was a toughy way to go @JMN
CaylaCatz
It's not Billy Joel although Billy Joel did sing one of this writer's songs released in 1995. But it was not a hit for Joel as it was not released for radio play. However it was a prominent deep cut on one of Joel's platinum albums. The song Joel covered was not the same as this one. Interestingly the singer of this song also covered one of Joel's 1980s songs in 2000s. I did not know that. She had stepped away from major record labels by this time and funded and produced a very high quality audio album. Because the audio was so good, it became an immediate staple among high-end premium audio community even tho it was released in indie markets. Isn't that cool, that she did that?
TTRPG_Player
@CaylaCatz @DavidP I am happy I could teach you something about Germany 😊. I also did not know either song. Intressting that the Jennifer Warnes song has a German intro. Great songs 👍 . However, the image here shows the "Arc de Triomphe" from Paris. Germanys most famous Arc (and building in general) is the "Brandenburger Tor" (Brandenburg Gate). Right next to it are the "Siegessäule" (Berlin Victory Column), and the "Reichstag" Germanies legislative government building.
DavidP
And I know the Leonard Cohen version of the song, not the cover. Not surprisingly I do know SRV - Texas Flood - what an amazing album. So tragic that he was lost in a helicopter crash after cleaning up off drugs etc and re-launching and getting back to his best musically. Back to yours, didn't know of the Berlin arch which threw me.
CaylaCatz
Yeah, I only recently learned of the Berlin arch when @TTRPG_Player suggested it for one of my catwalks. When I first made this image in March, I didn't know where the arch was. It's pretty cool the snippets of info I learn here. That is sad about SRV. It feels like a fair number of singers and musicians have died in plane and helicopter crashes.
CaylaCatz
Yay! And we have a winner! The two cities are " First We Take Manhattan, Then we take Berlin". Jennifer Warnes made it a hit in the 1980s. Blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan played the distinctive, driving lead guitar on an old Fender Stratocasters on Jennifer Warnes' original 1986 recording and was in the music video playing his own iconic Number One guitar.
DavidP
I should probably know of the Berlin Arch as I now vaguely recall a friend in the guitar community sharing pictures of it. You are right about those deaths - immediately Lynerd Skynerd, John Denver and Buddy Holly with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. And then motorcycle crashes plus of course drug and alcohol related.
CaylaCatz
lol, can't make it easy! I did this image awhile ago for a 1980s song challenge but I put up another image instead since the other image had the song title. So this was sitting with no song title, no singer, all alone and waiting. Poor wallflower! I had to let it out!