Top 4th of July Songs to Play? – Podcast E24

Matt talks about what songs to play for your 4th of July parties and events.  Get some fun facts about artists and the songs too! 

Important Links

• View the complete list of  4th of July songs.
• See all Wedding Songs Podcast episodes.

Podcast Transcript

(00:17):
Hi everybody, I’m Matt Campbell, and welcome to the 24th episode of the Wedding Songs Podcast. Today I’m going to be talking about 4th of July songs to be playing at your party this weekend. At the time of this recording is Thursday, July 2nd, and you know what? We’re all ready to party this weekend and you have to know what songs to play at your party. So let’s go ahead and get started with our first song on the list “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagles Fly” by the country star Aaron Tippen. This 2002 classic is a classic 4th of July event hit. Next up is the daughter of the famous Billy Ray Cyrus, the Achy Breaky Heart phenom. Miley Cyrus sang “Party in the U.S.A.” for those pop fans released in 2009. Another country hit by the recent legend, Toby Keith, “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” is a great patriotic song to play on the 4th of July.

(01:15)
We’re coming to “America” today by Neil Diamond and this 1981. This pop hit was even featured in the movie The Jazz Singer. So play “America” at your 4th of July events. Even though this next song was on the soundtrack of Rocky 4, released in 1985, James Brown does a great song with “Living in America” A great song to play to get everybody pumped up. The good old country boy, John Mellencamp, or some of us remember him as John Cougar Mellencamp released “Our Country” in 2007 for those pop rock fans. John Mellencamp also released another great 4th of July song in 1985 called R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A.”. John Mellencamp is doing a great job with this song as well for those rock fans. Going back to the country genre, released in 2005 is “Fourth of July” by Shooter Jennings. One of the best July 4th songs that everybody plays by Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” released in 1984. This country hit was even featured while the fountains were playing at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

(02:40)
So definitely a great song to play. And finally, my favorite 4th of July song in these top 10 lists is Ray Charles’s version of “America the Beautiful” released in 1972. He actually appeared on the Dick Cavett Show performing this song. So there you have it, our top 10 4th of July songs. But what else would we recommend? Definitely “American Soldier” by Toby Keith, the Charlie Daniels Band, and their song “In America”. Eric Church for country fans released “Springsteen”. My my Miss American Pie drove my Chevy to the levee when the levee was dry. Don McLean and his hit “American Pie” – a tribute to military soldiers that were lost. Trace Adkins released “Arlington” and is a great song that’s very patriotic for the 4th of July, Nonpoint released “Front Lines”, another little-known hit that you should check out for your parties. “Living in the U.S.A.” by the Steve Miller Band. Another American song with American in it is…

(03:51)
“This is America” by Childish Gambino. From my home state Montana, we have Tim Montana and his song “American Thread”. Make sure you check out the video to this song because it actually features scenic views of Butte, Montana – my hometown. Another classic rock song by Grand Funk Railroad “We’re an American band” is a great song that rock bands like to jam out to on the 4th of July. The Oak Ridge Boys released “American Made” for that American theme just like the Steve Miller Band. Linda Ronstadt released “Living in the U.S.A.” if you prefer the pop version. A recent R&B hit is Estelle’s “American Boy”, one of my favorite R&B songs that was recently popular. Sister Sledge released “All American Girls”. Kid Rock and his “American Badass” if you don’t mind a little bit of aggressive rock rap music, then definitely check out Kid Rock’s song. “Only in America” by Brooks and Dunn for this country classic.

(05:03)
One of the things that we always watch on the 4th of July is fireworks. So who could forget “Fireworks” by Katy Perry and the American Idol judge and soon-to-be mother. Kid Rock really slowed down and really produced a great summer hit “All Summer Long” – a great song to chill out while you’re watching the parade or having hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill while the family is over. “American Woman” take care of me. But this version is by Lenny Kravitz. I prefer his version over the Jimmy Hendrix version. A little-known song by Thomas Finchem is “Red, White, and Blue” you can check out for your 4th of July playlist. “Rocking In The Free World” for those classic rock fans by Neil Young. Definitely a great classic rock song to add to your playlist. Even though Elton John is English, you can play “Philadelphia Freedom”.

(06:06)
That’s what this day is all about, being free and a great song that you can play for your 4th of July. “It’s America” by Rodney Adkins is a great current country song you can add to your playlist. Another classic rocker, Rick Derringer, and his song “Real American”. Yes, it is the “Real American” song as the theme song for Hulk Hogan. Oh yeah, for all you Hulksters listening out there – you have to play “Real American” by Rick Dinger for those WWE fans and WWF fans and WCW fans. The Heartland, the farmers, and the ranchers are the ones that really keep our country together and this song is a tribute to them. George Strait’s “Heartland” I think is a great tribute to play for the 4th of July. Another patriotic song you could say is “Surfing U.S.A.” by the Beach Boys.

(07:04)
Our last American song is “American Girl” by Tom Petty – another classic rock song that you could add to your 4th of July playlist. So there you have it, our list of 4th of July songs that you should add to your playlist. But now that you have our favorite 4th of July songs, what about songs that you thought were 4th of July? Songs that get played all the time on the 4th of July but are not Fourth of July songs? One of them is “Independence Day” by Martina McBride. The song is actually about domestic violence and how she breaks away. The other one is “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen. The song describes a Vietnam War veteran who returns home down on his luck. So if you want to read any of these songs, please check out our website, myweddingsongs.com. If you want to discuss any of the songs, just reach out to us on our Facebook page. Thanks for listening and have a great 4th of July weekend. I hope you stay healthy and safe during this time.