Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Jimmy Sapienza, shown with Kenny Blake at left, won the Best Pittsburgh Song contest with a number he wrote in 1984. Click photo for larger image. The Winning Song: "I Love Pittsburgh," written and performed by Jimmy Sapienza. Short sample ~ Full song Official Jimmy Sapienza's Five Guys Named Moe web site The Runners-up: (In order of votes cast) "The Place Where I Come From," written by Deke Kincade and Dave Hanner, performed by Dave Hanner. Short sample ~ Full song "Pittsburgh," written by Rodney McBride, performed by Sharon Fisher. Short sample ~ Full song "Shot and a Beer Town," written and performed by Rick Malis. Short sample ~ Full song "The Pride of Pittsburgh," written by Stephanie Riso, performed by Olga Watkins with Mason Embry on piano. Short sample ~ Full song

Hey Pittsburgh, we've got a song!

For two weeks, Post-Gazette readers cast thousands of votes -- 14,866 to be exact.

And the winner of the PG Best Pittsburgh Song Contest is (drum roll, please) . . . "I Love Pittsburgh" by Jimmy Sapienza of Wilkinsburg.

Mr. Sapienza's ode to the "Burgh" received 64 percent of the total or 9,503 votes.

The song will be sent to Mayor Bob O'Connor's office and to the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, which is helping to plan Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary in 2008.

Last year, Atlanta commissioned a song to be used to promote that city. The result was a hip-hop-flavored R&B tune called the "ATL." After hearing about Atlanta's new ditty, folks at the Post-Gazette began wondering what kind of song could best show the world what Pittsburgh is all about.

Nobody official has promised to have "I Love Pittsburgh" blasting during official functions, but "we'll certainly listen to it," said mayoral spokesman Dick Skrinjar.

Pam Golden, spokeswoman for the Allegheny Conference, said her group will do the same.

Coming in second was "The Place Where I Come From" by Deke Kinkade and Dave Hanner with 4,137 votes; third was "Pittsburgh" by Rodney McBride with 676 votes; fourth, "Shot and a Beer Town" by Rick Malis, 404 votes, and fifth, "The Pride of Pittsburgh" by Stephanie Riso, 146 votes.

"If I've had an advantage over the other people it's that I've performed the song for 22 years," said Mr. Sapienza after learning he'd won.

He wrote the tune in 1984 to raise money to help unemployed steel workers.

He had in his mind songs like "New York, New York" and "Chicago." For the tune about his hometown, Mr. Sapienza said "I listed the good points, what made me feel good about Pittsburgh."

The version he submitted for the contest was a live performance by Mr. Sapienza and his band Five Guys Named Moe.

He is planning to release another version with the Trinity Jazz Orchestra, which asked to record the song.

"You ought to see the e-mails I've gotten literally from all over the world," Mr. Sapienza said.

One e-mail from New York trumpeter Glen Drews read: "Not only did Jimmy's tune have the best melody, the best production and the best groove, but he sings more like Tony Bennett than I do. He sounds great!!!!''

Pittsburgh jazzman Joe Negri wrote, "I listened to the songs and really think yours is one of the best."

Mr. Sapienza said he actively campaigned for his tune, sending e-mails to friends and family members asking them to vote and then to spread the word to others about the contest.

"My friends posted notices on all the Web sites like www.steelernation.com and www.blackandgoldbrigade.com," Mr. Sapienza explained.

He also sought out other Web sites frequented by Pittsburghers who live in other cities.

"I found them and sent a blurb and asked people to listen to all five songs and say what they really thought would be a good representation of Pittsburgh," Mr. Sapienza said. "I wanted people to be aware of what was going on."