Patriotic America and the 4th of July songs.
Memories of summer, parades and fireworks.
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The #1 Holiday of the summer is coming up this coming week. We need some songs to play that remind us of the 4th of July. My grandmother was born on July 4, 1908. So, this is a special day for me, other than celebratory fireworks and cookouts. Imagine having a parade down main street on your birthday every year. This list of songs is in memory of my Grandma.
1) "4th of July" (1993) - Aimee Mann.
A nice 3/4 "Waltz" for you to dance. Is this song 30 years old?
2) "Saturday in the Park" (1972) - Chicago.
I'm a huge Chicago fan, and this is one of my all time favorite songs by this band.
3) "4th of July" (1984) - U2
This short instrumental song/album (The Unforgettable Fire) is almost 40 years old. This 2:12 piece was completely improvised as a one-off recording in the studio with no possibility of further overdubs.
4) "Independence day" (1993) - Martina McBride.
This song was huge 30 years ago. It stuck around for many years and has been played as a regular video every 4th of July.
5) "The Star Spangled Banner" (1991) - Whitney Houston.
Not many songs make me tear up. This one usually does. It was a strange time in America as the war in the Persian gulf seemingly divided our country. America needed something to hold onto, to bring back the collective patriotism we so desperately needed. I can still remember how overwhelmingly patriotic and proud to be an American it made me feel after seeing/hearing this performance.
6) "Night ride home" (1991) - Joni Mitchell.
Love the guitar work in this song. "Once in a while in a big blue moon, there comes a night like this like some surrealist invented this Fourth of July. Night ride home."
7) "On the Fourth of July" (2002) - James Taylor.
"Who fell into you at a quarter to two, with a tear in your eye for the Fourth of July? For the patriots and the minutemen and the things you believe they believed in then..."
"Oh say can you see - my eyes if you can, then my hair's too short."