Watch Steely Dan’s ‘FM’ Soundtrack Empire State Building Light Show
October 29th marked the 50th anniversary of the installation of the Master FM Antenna atop New York’s Empire State Building, and to celebrate the occasion, the iconic skyscraper’s computer-driven LED “Tower Lights” orchestrated an epic light show soundtracked by Steely Dan‘s 1978 single “FM (No Static at All)” on Thursday night. The track was simulcast on New York’s WCBS 101.1 during the light show.
World-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman choreographed the lights for the one-time-only event, which also commemorated the 139th International Audio Engineering Society Convention. Brickman previously synchronized the Empire State Building’s July 4th tribute to the Grateful Dead, paying tribute to both Independence Day and the group’s Fare Thee Well final concerts with a light show featuring the From the Mars Hotel cut “U.S. Blues.”
After the Empire State Building glowed blue and orange Friday night to celebrate the New York Mets’ World Series Game 3 win at Citi Field, Brickman’s light work will be back in action Saturday night with a Halloween display planned for 6:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. EST. New York’s Z100 will broadcast the Halloween light show’s musical accompaniment.