A rather long time ago, just under 240 years to be exact, a monumental event took place right within our nation’s borders. That’s right, this extravagant date, July 4, 1776, was none other than the day that the American Declaration of Independence was adopted! It all started in Philadelphia, PA when good ol’ Uncle Sam and the beautiful Lady Liberty met for an intimate evening inside Independence Hall. They spoke of the usual topics -- baseball, hotdogs, apple pie -- you know, the typical date night chatter. To make a long story short, a few shots of Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey and nine months later, Dr. Thomas Jefferson found himself counting the seconds in between Miss Liberty’s contractions and guiding her through labor. Eventually, after what seemed like years, a baby bald eagle exited the womb of “The New Colossus.” Grasped tightly in the talons of the eaglet was a coiled piece of parchment which read the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by…”
Well, that’s the way Ronald Reagan would have liked to tell the story if he were here today. Honestly though, the Fourth of July should be a day that we all use to celebrate this great nation! We can celebrate by having a backyard barbecue where children run around waving sparklers every which way. We can celebrate by drinking an ice cold beer as we slouch into our surprisingly comfortable Adirondack Chairs. We can celebrate by watching 20 different men and women shove 75 links of Nathan’s Hotdogs down their throats. Heck, we can even obnoxiously protest presidential candidates and their policies if we want! The possibilities are endless, but however we choose to celebrate, one thing is clear -- we WILL need an Patriotic Playlist. So this weekend, whatever we may be up to, let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy these 10 patriotic songs that truly seem to repeatedly chant the letters U,S, and A.
10. “American Saturday Night” by Brad Paisley
This lighthearted country jam is sure to get you into the ‘Murica’ mood. In his lyrics, Paisley explains that, “She’s got Brazilian leather boots on the pedal of her German Car,” and “They’ve got Canadian bacon on their pizza pie”. In other words, he is telling us that America is just one big melting pot and that when we embrace our own culture we are also embracing others from all around the world.
9. “Party In The U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
This tune was written by pre-2013 VMA Miley Cyrus. The younger generation knew her as Hannah Montana's alter ego, and the older generation knew her as Billy Ray’s daughter. Life was good. This upbeat pop song about a girl traveling to California to follow what she wants is the epitome of the American Dream (Her later twerking on Robin Thicke is not). Also, how can you have a party in the U.S.A. without a little “Party In The U.S.A”?
8. “Home” by Dierks Bentley
Long before we had Orlando, and San Bernardino, and Charleston, and Newtown, and Aurora, and (the list goes on), we had Tuscon. 6 killed. 11 injured, including U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. It is quite rare to find a patriotic song that does not have an exciting tempo, but the instrumentals of this piece are completely undermined and overshadowed by the lyrical meaning behind it. This song, written to honor the victims of the Tuscon shooting, not only portrays an image of American landscape but also an image of America’s ability to overcome hardship.
7. “Made in America” by Kanye West & Jay Z
Alright, Kanye may not be the best person to help us out when we are trying to celebrate our American values -- or any moral values for that matter. However, this song tells the story of the success of the African American community in the United States. The chorus, which contains the soothing sound of Frank Ocean, is a voice speaking out to the past American Civil Rights leaders. The voice goes on to tell the activists, as well as the Holy Family, that the black community has made it in America. This is a great song that brings hope to all walks of life in this great nation.
6. “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp
It does not get much better than little anecdotes that depict an old man sitting on his front porch, a boy with so many dreams ahead of him, and a man working in the big city. Again, so many different people coming from different walks of life. But in all honesty, ain't that America?
5. “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins
How could a song with this title not make the list? This twangy tune is a representation of everything we love about summer in America. Atkins starts off the first chorus by telling us “what a picture perfect postcard” a scene would make for America. This scene includes, “a high school prom,” a “Springsteen song” (we’ll get to that), “a ride in a Chevrolet,” “cities,” “farms,” and “kids selling lemonade.” If these words and phrases don’t scream “USA,” then I’m not so sure what does.
4. “American Pie” by Don McLean
The ambiguity of this eight minute and 36 second long song really opens up the floor for interpretation. While it is typically unanimously decided that it was written to pay homage to the death of Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly, I like to view the song as a celebration and farewell to the era of the counterculture as a whole. However you may look at this song, one thing is clear -- all American males who hear this song picture themselves as the “lonely teenage broncin’ buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck.”
3. “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Toby Keith
There are no words in the English language that can describe how patriotic this song is. Just listen.
2. “God Bless The USA” by Lee Greenwood
This anthem is possibly the most moving of the songs on this list because of the events when it is most played. Mr. Greenwood’s voice can be heard during times of American struggle like after the September 11th attacks, or during times of triumph such as the death of Osama bin Laden. So, in other words, this song is always awesome; it is just even more awesome in times of extreme happiness or sadness.
1. “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
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