Good 4th of July Tunes

I've used Neil before, but I feel as though it didn't pump the crowd up enough. As for US Blues, I think it may be too long. I can't find a version under 4 minutes.

Living in America - James Brown Didn't realize you'd already done that

Hulk Hogan's early WWF theme song (I Am a Real American)

After you put all the kids to bed, you can crack a couple of 40's and break out 2 Live Crew's version of Living in America.

Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young; We're an American Band - Grand Funk

Now those are two bad a$$ songs right there.

When I went to summer camp as a wee lass, I was once there over the 4th of July. The camp I went to, Camp Ondessonk, has this grotto with room for all the campers to sit on benches underneath this buff on the edge of the lake. They have bonfires and even Catholic Mass out there (It's a Catholic camp). Anywho, the grotto had this great echo and that's where we sat to watch the 4th of July fireworks over the lake. The staff started singing American Pie and soon everyone was singing. Not exactly a patriotic song and not exactly a happy song, but that memory sticks with me pretty strong.

There's a music festival at the camp in September. It's a pretty amazing place, if you've never been there.

I don't know if that's helpful, but I felt compelled to share.


Also, This Land is Your Land is more of an anti government song than anything else. There are missing verses that spell out the political message of the song:

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

What about the "Yes We Can" song that Will I Am wrote for Obama's campaign. Some people might be turned off, if they don't like Obama, but I think the message is universal.

Proud to be an American - Lee Greenwood

I am a huge fan of the Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings version of "This Land is Your Land". Of course this isn't a purely patriotic song, but still a great one.

"Pink Houses" by Mellencamp is always a favorite.

Just blast them off to Sigur Ros and call it a night.

America the Beautiful-By Louie Armstrong

R.O.C.K. in the USA-John Mellencamp

Kids in America-The Bloodhound Gang