So we're nearing the fourth of July and you know what that means? Picnics, fireworks, and a list of songs that goes along with picnics and fireworks. You could say I like lists.
Nothing says the Fourth of July better than Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." I guess it doesn't matter that he's a Russian composer. Those cannon fires in the song more than make up for it. Actually "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is another terrific song that goes really well with fireworks. The piccolos sound especially good. One of these days I would like to see any of those songs performed along with fireworks. But these songs are not on the list. I'm looking for Rock songs.
I'm back. I checked out some lists and figured I might as well make my own. So here's the Top Ten Rock songs for a Fourth of July party. In no particular order.
1. "American Pie" by Don McLean. I saw this one on a list and it kind of made sense. It is very Americana with a lot of American culteral references. Including Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin.
2. "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This is a terrific upbeat song. Although there have been rumors of it being about a girl who killed herself at a university in Florida. Tom Petty himself dispelled the rumor.
3. "Living in America" by James Brown. This is a good song although not one of his best. Would do good, though for a BBQ.
4. "Pink Houses" by John Mellencamp. Good song with that hometown American feel.
5. "R.O.C.K. in the USA" again by John Mellencamp. The song is about regular Americans searching for their pipedreams of making Rock music in the USA.
6. "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen. I know it's an anti-Vietnam song. But who listens to the lyrics. Most people just know the chorus. and it's hard to beat Bruce singing at the top of his lungs "Born in the USA."
7. "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John. Okay so Elton and Bernie Taupin, who wrote it, are foreigners. So what. Good or bad, the good ole US of A is full of them. Actually the song is about a tennis team called "Philadelphia Freedom." But we won't tell anyone that.
8. "We're an American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad. The song is exactly what the title says.
9. "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwate Revival. There are not that many things more American than protest songs. Because, after all, we live in a free country. This is a terrific song about the common folk who isn't born with a "silver spoon in hand."
10. "America" by Neil Diamond. This song is about immigrants coming to America. You could say that this song is about my parents. And millions of other parents in America.
Nothing says the Fourth of July better than Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." I guess it doesn't matter that he's a Russian composer. Those cannon fires in the song more than make up for it. Actually "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is another terrific song that goes really well with fireworks. The piccolos sound especially good. One of these days I would like to see any of those songs performed along with fireworks. But these songs are not on the list. I'm looking for Rock songs.
I'm back. I checked out some lists and figured I might as well make my own. So here's the Top Ten Rock songs for a Fourth of July party. In no particular order.
1. "American Pie" by Don McLean. I saw this one on a list and it kind of made sense. It is very Americana with a lot of American culteral references. Including Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin.
2. "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This is a terrific upbeat song. Although there have been rumors of it being about a girl who killed herself at a university in Florida. Tom Petty himself dispelled the rumor.
3. "Living in America" by James Brown. This is a good song although not one of his best. Would do good, though for a BBQ.
4. "Pink Houses" by John Mellencamp. Good song with that hometown American feel.
5. "R.O.C.K. in the USA" again by John Mellencamp. The song is about regular Americans searching for their pipedreams of making Rock music in the USA.
6. "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen. I know it's an anti-Vietnam song. But who listens to the lyrics. Most people just know the chorus. and it's hard to beat Bruce singing at the top of his lungs "Born in the USA."
7. "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John. Okay so Elton and Bernie Taupin, who wrote it, are foreigners. So what. Good or bad, the good ole US of A is full of them. Actually the song is about a tennis team called "Philadelphia Freedom." But we won't tell anyone that.
8. "We're an American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad. The song is exactly what the title says.
9. "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwate Revival. There are not that many things more American than protest songs. Because, after all, we live in a free country. This is a terrific song about the common folk who isn't born with a "silver spoon in hand."
10. "America" by Neil Diamond. This song is about immigrants coming to America. You could say that this song is about my parents. And millions of other parents in America.
I started writing this a few days ago and last night we went to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It was terrific and it had, of course, fireworks and "Stars and Stripes Forever" with fireworks. It was terrific. So I can cross that out from my list. It also had John Fogerty of CCR. He was also terrific and he sang "Fortunate Son" which got a great reaction from the audience.
Have a great Fourth of July.
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