Friday, June 29, 2012

Rockin' Friday: July 4th Edition

For this last Friday in June, with our nation’s birthday just a few days away, I had a hard time picking a song to commemorate July 4th and America. So I picked a few, all of which have very kid friendly choruses that make singing along a lot of fun. 


American Pie: Don McLean’s masterpiece is about the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in 1959 but also about growing up in the 1960s and the evolution and events of the USA during that period.


Born in the USA: Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 classic is often perceived as a very American or patriotic song, which in a way it is, but it’s really about one man’s attempt to reacclimate himself into society after returning from the Vietnam War.  My Little Dude loves shouting “USA” during the chorus of this tune.

                                                Born in the USA, live in Paris. Irony, anyone?
US Blues: This Grateful Dead jam is, unlike the two previous songs, a very upbeat and silly song. It namechecks countless American icons and repeatedly urges us to “Wave that Flag, wave it wide and high…” That sounds pretty patriotic to me.



What songs make you think of America and/or July 4th??

2 comments:

  1. I can't think of anything better than classic Bruce. Of course some die hard country fans would throw in Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American".

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