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Ah, the Fourth of July. The time of year when we celebrate America's independence by dancing with sparklers, throwing barbeques, and going up to people from England and shouting, "Boo-yah!" This is the time of year we also get out our patriotic music, dust off our old CD's or cue up the Ipod to listen to songs about the good ol' US of A. Some of us might satisfy this craving by listening to the National Anthem, probably preferring Whitney Houston's rendition to Roseanne Barr's, but for those who believe "The Star Spangled Banner" is simply not enough, the following is our list of best Fourth of July songs, songs sure to light your fire cracker.
"America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles: Written by Katharine Lee Bates, a professor of English at WellesleyCollege, "America the Beautiful" was originally a poem penned on an 1893 trip from the East Coast to Colorado. The music of Samuel A. Ward, composed in 1882, was eventually fit to the words of Bates and "America the Beautiful" - as we know it - was born. Though this song has been covered by a plethora of artists, Ray Charles's rendition is generally thought to be the most moving, the most memorable, and the one that does the song the most justice.
"God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood: A song that became America's mantra after September 11th, "God Bless the USA" was written by country singer Lee Greenwood and released in 1984. Upon release, it climbed the country charts, topping off at number seven. The song itself is often played as a way to heighten patriotism and offer support and gratitude to those who have fought for our nation.
"Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan: Though not filled with overt nationalism, "Blowin' in the Wind" subtly reflects on the freedoms America represents. Released by Bob Dylan in 1963, "Blowin' in the Wind" serves as a song of protest, protesting lives lost and questioning war. The genius of the song lies in the fact that it doesn't single out one specific event, instead it serves as an anthem for the ages, one that - with an always present desire for peace - has the potential to transcend generations.
"Independence Day" by Martina McBride: "Independence Day" was released in 1994 as a single that rose to number 12 on the country charts. The song not only serves as a tune about the Fourth of July, but it also serves as a metaphor for escaping an abusive relationship. "Independence Day" was ranked number 50 in the 2003 list of CMT's 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music.
"Our Country" by John Mellencamp: A song that originally made us all want to go purchase a Chevrolet, "Our Country" eventually turned into an anthem for America. The images in Chevrolet's commercials, images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Twin Towers, worked to perpetuate this patriotism. "Our Country" appears on Mellancamp's 2007 Freedom's Road album, an album that debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart. This made Freedom's Road the highest debuting album ever recorded by Mr. Jack and Diane.
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