The Best “America” Songs in Popular Music

The United States will celebrate its birthday, as it does every summer on the Fourth of July. Most of the parties and gatherings are highlighted by fireworks, which can be complemented with a good musical soundtrack.

I suggest that any playlist should focus on the theme of the country, limiting the selections to just those songs with “America” in the title. My personal set would include these 21 “America” tunes.

American Woman” by the Guess Who: This anti-war title track showcases the strong vocals of Burton Cummings and the catchy electric guitar riff of Randy Bachman.

Living in America” by James Brown: The single has attained eternity through various “Rocky” films and a Weird Al Yankovic parody.

“I’m Afraid of Americans” by David Bowie: This cynical track from Earthling has an accompanying video featuring Bowie and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch nails.

“American without Tears” by Elvis Costello: One of the catchiest tracks from King of America, this tune contains the witty lyrics so characteristic of Costello. “”Now we don’t speak any English, just American without tears,” Costello deadpans in the chorus.

We’re an American Band” by Grand Funk: This rock and roll classic lent immortality to singer Freddie King and “Sweet, Sweet Connie,” who later became a real estate agent.

“Breakfast in America” by Supertramp: The title track from the band’s multi-platinum album has a lighter message and more upbeat rhythm than the prog-rock approach from earlier albums.

“American Gangster Time” by Elvis Costello and the Imposters: Costello made yet another rock comeback with Momofuko, featuring this track that would not sound out of place on Trust or Blood and Chocolate.

What Made America Famous?” by Harry Chapin: Like most of his songs, such as his hits “Taxi” and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” this track from the Verities and Balderdash album tells a poignant story. Here a cynical young American spends three verses burying his country, only to have a fireman save him and his girlfriend from a fire. “I never thought a fat man’s face could look so sweet,” he admits, and “When you get that close it’s kind of hard to hate.”

American Pie” by Don McLean: No one could accurately interpret every image in the singer-songwriter’s lyrical marathon inspired by the deaths of Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Richie Valens, but it is undoubtedly one of this country’s most famous songs.

“Everybody Wants to Be American” by Horizontal Brian: The 80s new-wave band had a short-lived career, but any fan of Brit pop bands like Squeeze and Aztec Camera would love for their Vertical album to be released in CD format.

America” by Simon and Garfunkel: Paul Simon provides a young couple’s impoverished perspective of the allusive American Dream on this poetic track from Bookends.

“American Girl” by Tom Petty: The self-titled debut of T.P. and his Heartbreakers has more raw appeal than the commercial successes that followed, primarily because of energetic tracks like this one.

“Little America” by REM: This short track finishes out the band’s sophomore album, Reckoning, which reached multi-platinum status thanks to classics such as “So. Central Rain,” “Don’t Go Back to Rockdale,” and “Harborcoat.”

“All-American Alien Boy” by Ian Hunter: the former leader of Mott the Hoople adds southern Baptist gospel to this title track from his sophomore solo album.

“Surf Wax America” by Weezer: This track from the debut album did not get the airplay of “Buddy Holly” or “The Sweater Song,” but it endures as one of their top recordings.

“Miss America” by Styx: This is a much edgier track than other hits from The Grand Illusion, namely “Come Sail Away” and “Fooling Yourself.” The odd mix of jangly keyboards interspersed with James Young’s raucous guitar bursts gives the song a surreal texture.

“Song for America” by Kansas: The title track of the band’s sophomore album lasts over ten minutes, about half of which is the overture that begins the song. Though not as mainstream as “Point of Know Return” or “Carry on Wayward Son,” the song does serve as a harbinger of what Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh were to create on their next three albums.

“Kids in America” by Kim Wilde: The catchy song was aided by its popular video, so much so that it became one of the giant hits of the 80s.

“America’s Favorite Pastime” by Todd Snider: The folk-singer is a great story teller, and this one is about the no-hitter that Pirates’ hurler Dock Ellis apparently pitched after taking LSD.

49 Bye-byes/America’s Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young: This war protest anthem opens with an acoustic tale of the deaths of 49 young people, and it ends with an anti-authority message revisited from Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.

Somewhere in America” by Survivor: The band’s first single from its self-titled debut has indeed survived, though it will be forever shadowed by the smash hit “Eye of the Tiger” that followed just a few years later.