Jul 032008
I saw a commercial the other day for a collection called Patriotic Country. “Is there any other kind of country music,” I thought to myself? Well, I’m certain those US of A hatin’ Dixie Chicks were ruled out from consideration by the CD’s compilers.
Curtis Mayfield, “This Is My Country”
Feel free to snigger along with the concept of patriotic country, rock, and soul, but as we enter our Independence Day festivities, see if you can’t identify a song or two that actually touches on your personal notions of patriotism.
I play some Hank Williams every July 4th. If there’s a more patriotic song than “Hey, Good Lookin’,” I don’t know it. Heard it for the first time, at age eight or nine, in a campground in Tennessee, and it’s responsible for my vision of America.
I love fireworks, always have and always will. Got the scars to prove it.
Each year I do my best to catch the second fireworks show of the year at Dodgers Stadium, the non-4th of July show because they do it without music.
It’s the Grand Ol’ Flag jingoism that every 4th show plays that I truly cannot stand for reasons that reach way beyond the music.
The Hendrix anthem is almost always played as the only nod “to the kids”. Hendrix woulda been what, 92 this year?
The obvious one for me is Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land. I like to dream that someday it will be the official national anthem.
I think a lot of James Brown’s consciousness-raising stuff is very patriotic. I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing Open Up the Door I’ll Get It Myself is pretty basic American philosophy. And in November I hope to be blasting Funky President in celebration.
I tend to crank up the jazz — usually big band-y stuff like Ellington, Herman and Basie — and classic jazz vocalists, singing from the Great American Songbook, on the 4th. I get a bit irked with people who like to say jazz is “America’s Classical Music” — like, what does THAT mean?! — but it is our indigenous form, and a whole lot of amazing music is either in that style or sprang from it.
Good call on the fundamentally American values in so much of James Brown’s work, BigSteve.
I also have no problem putting on Haggard-ian odes to my country, either. There’s a place in my heart for music that claims that America is the best place in the world — ’cause even if it ain’t, it’s way, way up there!
HVB, Super-Patriot
The polka is Poland’s rock and roll.
The Beach Boys-America’s Band.
Even though Neil is Canadian, I feel that Buffalo Springfield is very “American.” Great American band.
I feel The Byrds sum it all up, too.
I’ll probably give all of those guys a spin tomorrow while I’m cooking burgers and brats.
Happy Fourth to you all.
TB
PS–With the above mentioned bands, maybe we should have a “battle royale” between the San Francisco bands versus the L.A. bands. I’d like to see The Doors go head to head with The Dead.
And of course “America” by Simon and Garfunkel. You did say songs not groups, Mr. Mod.
TB
“Spirit of America” by The Beach Boys: A celebration of American ingenuity and fast cars.
“Cabin Essence” by The Beach Boys
The entire “State Songs” by John Linell.
“Populism Yeah, Yeah.” from “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
“Times Square, 1944 (Allegro)” from Bernstein’s “On the Town”
And the “1812 Overture” when played by the Boston Pops on the 4th of July with real cannons firing over the Charles
Groups, songs, what have you, TB, just so long as they’re patriotic!
We did have an LA-SF showdown at one point, maybe only as a poll question. We’ll have to find a way to recycle that topic some day. It’s always fun for some of us to pick apart a big band or two from those scenes.
As usual, I am late to the party. *sigh*
Mac, you got it with 1812. “Hey, I’ll score some bells and cannon fire!”
John Linnell…yeah. How about Sufjan Stevens? Wasn’t that crazy kid doing something where he was doing an album for each state? I’m not too familiar with him, but I like what I’ve heard. I need to check him out.
TB
“Born In The USA” – if it’s good enough for Ronald Reagan, it’s good enough for me.
Not.
America is fucking great.
It’s just been hijacked by assholes.
My favorite songs that make me think of America, for better or for worse, are Neil Young’s “Albequerque” and the MC5’s “American Ruse.”
I’m with Big Steve. This Land is Your Land should be the national anthem. Great sing-along without any bombs bursting in air. Only danger is those who think if this land is my land then open up Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve for drilling. It’s my land, dammit.
“Real American” – Rick Derringer. Fight for what’s right, fight for your life!
I’ll second whoever said James Brown’s political stuff, too. For our family BBQs and things, when I have made mixes, there’s some hippie sixties politics. The Sex Mob version of “For What It’s Worth”, the “Southern Man,” Sweet Home Alabama,” “I’m a Man” medley, A Love Supreme, the Ventures are in there… We don’t do a lot of overtly “patriotic” things, because they tend to suck.
I’ve also been either leading or following without knowing it, in a movement to redefine Patriotism, and take back things like the flag. “Don’t burn it, coopt it!” Next Big Mess show, we’ll fly an American flag. With this thought: Next time they’re raving in the streets of Tehran and burning the U.S. flag, let them be wailing about the evils of the US: its twisted oom-pah music, its burlesque and vaudeville shows, its enjoyment of cocktails, its prominent freaks, drag queens, and who knows what all.
Let someone burn a flag because they don’t think Sinatra covers should be irreverent!
There, now. I’ve gotten patriotic anyhow. I apologize. I didn’t want to go all Patti Smith on you.
Hey, Slokie:
BRA-freaking -OH.
This post should be required viewing — especially for all the well-intentioned but misguided RTHers who misunderstand me when I shout my super-patriotism from the mountaintop.
FRREEEDOM!
HVB
or, better put,
FS
Whoops —
I meant:
BRA-freaking-VOH.
Yours, etc.,
HVB/FS