Watch & Listen Fourth of July Playlist: July 2-8

 

Three Flags Jasper Johns, 1958

It is Independence Day here in the States this Wednesday.

The words independence, democracy, freedom have different meanings depending where you hale from, and that includes right here in my country. Every single one of us, all 313 million, have an opinion, and we so want to tell you about it. Check out You Tube, blogs, websites, twitter, Facebook.

For me, independence has meant something very different with each passing year. Democracy is messy, every voice shouting over the other, but every vote counts, including mine. It is incomprehensible that less than one hundred years ago, in this country, my country, that women did not have the right to vote. Freedom is every American's privilege, and it is our duty to extend those freedoms to all.

Whoever you are, whereever you call home, I hope you'll join me in celebrating the 236th birthday of my country.

Enjoy the music!

American Woman - Lenny Kravitz
American Boy - Estelle & Kanye West
Fourth of July - Soundgarden
Back in the U.S.A. - Chuck Berry
Independence Day - Martina McBride
The Star Spangled Banner - Jimi Hendrix
Freedom Hangs Like Heaven - Iron & Wine
America the Beautiful - Ray Charles
Flyover States - Jason Aldean
America - Simon & Garfunkel
This Land is My Land - Woody Guthrie
Trucker's Atlas - Modest Mouse
America - West Side Story
American Pie - Madonna
July, July - The Decemberists
Only in America - Brooks & Dunn
Fireworks - Animal Collective
Independence Day - Elliot Smith
Living in America - James Brown
Made in America - Jay Z & Kanye West
Young Americans - David Bowie
American Hearts - Piebald
Everyday America - Sugarland
Firework - Katy Perry
Independence Day - David Byrne
People Have the Power - Patti Smith
Coming to America - Neil Diamond
The Star Bangled Banner - Sufjan Stevens
American Pie - Don McLean
Breakfast in America - Supertramp
American Dream - Love and Rockets
Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash
Ashes of American Flags - Wilco
Have You Forgotten - Darryl Worley
War - Edwin Starr
Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue - Toby Keith
Traveling Soldier - Dixie Chicks
There You'll Be - Faith Hill
Living in the Promised Land - Willie Nelson
Fireworks - Siouxie and the Banshees
Lola Stars and Stripes - The Stills
America - Waylon Jennings
All American Girl - Carrie Underwood
Miss Independent - Kelly Clarkson
Fourth of July - X
We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
Dancing in the Streets - Martha and the Vandellas
Firecracker - Josh Turner
Star Spangled Banner - Whitney Houston
God Bless the U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood