5 Of Our Favorite Songs About America
Today is the one day each and every American citizen drops everything to celebrate the land of the free. Luckily, we have several artists that have gone out of their way to write memorable tunes about the promised land. Here are 5 of our favorites for you to bump this independence day.
1. "I Love the USA" by Weezer
It doesn’t get any more straightforward than this. Originally made to commemorate the landing of the NASA Juno spacecraft, Weezer’s ode to the USA talks about all of the things that make America great.
2. "American Girl" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Written by Tom Petty on a California balcony, he was inspired by the cars going by on the freeway, and the similarity of this sound to rolling waves on a beach. Written about the difficulty and persistence of chasing the American dream, this song has risen to prominence as one of Tom Petty’s most popular songs.
3. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen
A part of what makes what many consider to be Springsteen’s magnum opus is the discordance between the tone and meaning of “Born in the USA.” Written in tribute to his friends who fought in the Vietnam war, Springsteen explores the disconnect between a soldier and his country upon returning from battle. But at the same time, nothing is more American than freedom of expression, right?
4. "American Pie" by Don McLean
When asked specifically about the meaning behind the title “American Pie,” Don McLean replied, “Sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.” What we do know is McLean touches on several aspects of American culture in the most popular 8-minute song to ever be released.
5. "Surfin’ USA" by The Beach Boys
As a representation of what has become the quintessential California sound, “Surfin’ USA” was the first ever top-10 hit for The Beach Boys. Frontman Brian Wilson was dating Judy Bowles during this song’s composition, whose brother was an avid surfer. These lyrics were inspired by Wilson’s conversations with Judy’s brother about all of the best surf spots on California’s coast.
