An American Soundtrack

[Frontman]

Hey all,

With our Independance Day just next week, I was planning on making myself a Patriotic CD with my new computer. So, I have some songs already "ripped" onto the computer, but I want a full hour or more of good American music. Now, I'm not talking the performer mind you, but American Patriotic songs or at least give the feeling of patriotic music.

Here's what I got

"Coming to America" by Neil Diamond
"God Bless America" by Celine Dion
"Independance Day" Martina McBride
"Stars and Stripes Forever" Boston Pops Orchestra
"An American Trilogy" Elvis Presley (yeah, I know, hokey, but fun)
"God Bless the USA" Lee Greenwood (a must on any Patriotic compliation)
"Hero" by Mariah Carrey
"America the Beautiful" Willy Nelson and others, from the 9-11 tribute
"Suite Madame Blue" Styx, written for the Bicentennial
"Harry's Hands" Dennis DeYoung
"Theme From Patton" Jerry Goldsmith. Hey, I grew up in with a father who was army and an armored division commander. :)

Now, I do have some songs I'm not quite sure of

"Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" Toby Keith. Too angry?
"The National Anthem" Since the first Gulf War, it was Whitney Houston's version that I liked. She's far too crack....ahem, not a favorite of mine anymore. Any suggestions on whose version?
"Livin' in America" James Brown. Too wacky?

Any other suggestions for good patriotic music?

Peace,


The Frontman

[venarnage]

I like to think American Pie is. It just reminds me of freedom.

[krusticlese]

Fortunate Son- Creedence Clearwater Revival

[EmperorNorton]

Since my American soundtrack would be entirely different you wouldn't like my suggestions...

[CarlosMucha]

LOL, agreed, but here you have one"

From the movie "Team American" the song "American!, F.. yea!" :tired:

[CarlosMucha]

eemmm, without the "n" (stupid no edit option)

[Frontman]

Since my American soundtrack would be entirely different you wouldn't like my suggestions...

Well, if your idea is all anti-american songs, then no. But just the same, what do you have in mine?

The Frontman

[EmperorNorton]

Well, if your idea is all anti-american songs, then no. But just the same, what do you have in mine?

The Frontman

I'll just give you one example so you'll get the idea:
L7 - American Society


I don't want to turn this into flaming, but I want to point out some issues I have with the topic.
In my opinion it is essentially political and thus shouldn't be here.
You could say that patriotism is not political, but I disagree. Wikipedia defines Patriotism as a feeling of love and devotion to one's own homeland. This means that a patriot has a higher opinion of his homeland than of other countries, and that's where it turns political. It is impossible to say "we are so great" without suggesting "and the others are not".
A German cabaret artist once said that the word "patriot" is a contraction of "patria" and "idiot" and I think he has a point.
Granted, coming from a different background I probably can't fully understand American patriotism. But if I were to start a thread like this on the occasion of a German (or French, or Italian or whatever) national holiday, I guess the reaction wouldn't be nice.

[Frontman]

I'll just give you one example so you'll get the idea:
L7 - American Society


I don't want to turn this into flaming, but I want to point out some issues I have with the topic.
In my opinion it is essentially political and thus shouldn't be here.
You could say that patriotism is not political, but I disagree. Wikipedia defines Patriotism as a feeling of love and devotion to one's own homeland. This means that a patriot has a higher opinion of his homeland than of other countries, and that's where it turns political. It is impossible to say "we are so great" without suggesting "and the others are not".
A German cabaret artist once said that the word "patriot" is a contraction of "patria" and "idiot" and I think he has a point.
Granted, coming from a different background I probably can't fully understand American patriotism. But if I were to start a thread like this on the occasion of a German (or French, or Italian or whatever) national holiday, I guess the reaction wouldn't be nice.

Ok, I can see your point, however, this isn't a Pro-American versus Anti-everyone else concept. It's songs that we think of that are appropriate for our national holiday. Hence my reservations on "Courtesy" by T. Keith.

And as a German born American citizen myself, I do respect your country obviously, as well as anyone else's. :)

But here's what I don't get. Why is it that if you take any pride in anything nowadays, that automatically translates into being negative on others? I don't get that.

The Frontman

[thugit]

Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash

[EmperorNorton]

But here's what I don't get. Why is it that if you take any pride in anything nowadays, that automatically translates into being negative on others? I don't get that.

Germans have an extreme view of pride, as is most likely understandable.
So we were taught in school that you can be proud of something you have done yourself, but not of something you just happen to have/be, because it is not your achievement.
Nobody has any influence on being born in a certain country, so why be proud of it?
Do your best to make the world a better place and you have something to be proud of.

[hail_eris]

"Theme From Patton" Jerry Goldsmith. Hey, I grew up in with a father who was army and an armored division commander. :)
I combine this with your "born in Germany" statement to conclude that your dad is a retired three-star who ran the 1st Armored based at Wiesbaden?

And I'd actually recommend the Hendrix version of the anthem over Whitney's. They're both junkies, but hey, at least Jimi was up front about it (not to mention the fact that Jimi was a musical genius and Whitney is... well, come on - she's Whitney Houston).

My own July 4th mix is straight old school punk. Big Black, Black Flag, Fugazi, and (for the Sousa-esque finale) the Dead Kennedys' California Uber Alles. It's only slightly less abrasive than my Merry F'ing Christmas mix...

[Dark Flash2099]

Front, you can't have an All American mix without "Real American".

*does the Hogan poses, then wanders away*

[venarnage]

Jimmy eat World, Bleed America?


American Idiot- Green Day

Imagine-John Lennon

Theres a few more.

[Frontman]

I combine this with your "born in Germany" statement to conclude that your dad is a retired three-star who ran the 1st Armored based at Wiesbaden?


Well, Major actually, and we were out of Stuttgart. But, yeah, 1st Armored.

Hendrix over Houston? That's easy. But I do like having the lyrics for SSB.

The Frontman

[Frontman]

Ok gang,

I finished my soundtrack, and it was a bit different that I originally intended.

Here's the list, in order of play

"Star Spangled Banner" Leann Rhimes (simple and elegant. And the girl's got a great voice)
"Coming to America" by Neil Diamond
"An American Symphony" From Mr. Holland's Opus
"America" Simon and Garfunkel
"Hero" Mariah Carey, from "Tribute to Heroes"
"Suite Madame Blue" Styx, written for the Bicentennial
"Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" Toby Keith (reasons given below)
"US Navy, Anchor's Away" Boston Pops (for both my grandfathers)
"Independance Day" Martina McBride
"God Bless America" by Celine Dion
"God Bless the USA" Lee Greenwood
"Harry's Hands" Dennis DeYoung
"An American Trilogy" Elvis Presley
General Patton's Speech to 3rd Army (from the opening of "Patton")
"Theme From Patton" Jerry Goldsmith.
"America the Beautiful" Willy Nelson and others, from the 9-11 tribute
"Taps" USMC Bugler
"Stars and Stripes Forever" Boston Pops Orchestra

Well, it runs the gambit of emotions. From fun ("America" N. Diamond) to angry (Toby Keith) to reflective (Simon and Garfunkel) to tradition (Taps, Anchor's Away, etc.)

I included Angry American as not only do I like the song, but I thought long and hard about it. I wasn't going to include it for risk of offending anyone. Now, the only folks who would be offended by the song, terrorists who are set on killing me and all of my countrymen, who gives a hootin' hell if I offend them? It's not like they'd be playing heroclix in the first place!

Now, I did include Patton's speech for one reason alone. This was both for entertainment (that is one of the best openings to a film, bar none,) as well as a reminder to me and my fellow countrymen. At times of war, we need to put worries about hurting someone's feelings aside and do the job we need to do. We don't need men like Patton to be diplomats, we need them in times of war. And, make no mistake about it, this war on terror is still one we could easily loose.

For the record, I am not a serviceman. The only oath I took besides getting married was when I raised my right hand and swore to protect and defend the Consitution of the United States as a postal carrier. We take them for granted, but Post Office employees swore to protect the nations ability to communicate via the mail. It was a moment I was very proud to take the oath.

So while I'm very proud to serve my country that way, the true heroes are the men and women of the armed services, who both at home and abroad fight and die to give us the right to be free.

To them, God bless; be safe; and we'll see you when you get home, and we'll welcome you with open arms.

The Frontman

[Diablo4485]

Front, you can't have an All American mix without "Real American".

*does the Hogan poses, then wanders away*

Thank you! That was the first song that came to mind when I saw this thread. It also happens to be the only one even mentioned on this thread that I have on my comp.

::Chases Dark Flash down and sprays him with tanning cream.::

[DOOMSTRIKER]

F**K the system- System of a Down
Prison Song- System of a Down

pretty much anything by S.O.A.D.

anti-Gov, but Pro-People

[DOOMSTRIKER]

LOL, agreed, but here you have one"

From the movie "Team American" the song "American!, F.. yea!" :tired:


America- F##K yeah!
comin again, to save the muther f##kin day yeah!
America- F##k yeah!
freedom is the only way yeah

[doctorfate77]

can't believe I missed this thread.

you cannot have an american soundtrack until you've added "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland. That, and his "Rodeo Suite" embody the sound of america. He proved, over Joplin and Gershwin, that america could produce it's own cultured music. unique, yet still "classical" and able to stand against any symphony by Prokofiev, Beethoven, or Schumann.

just my humble (yet academically informed) 2-cents.

;)