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Home » Blogs » Trish Bendix's blog » A soundtrack for your July 4th

A soundtrack for your July 4th

by
Trish Bendix

Christmas takes the cake on how many songs are dedicated to one singular day, but several other holidays are deserving of some tunes all their own. The fourth of July is surely one of the most fun holidays, so it's good to know there are some singers and songwriters that are just as excited about the sparklers as we are every year.

Aimee Mann's "4th of July" is sort of sad, but really, what else would you expect from her? Nonetheless, it's a tune of tribute to the holiday:

Today's the fourth of July / Another June has gone by /And when they light up our town I just think / What a waste of gunpowder and sky.

OK she's kind of a Debbie Downer, but whatevs — it's pretty right?

Moving on to romance from Mariah Carey. Her song is, uh, also called "Fourth of July," but she actually likes to watch fireworks. That's my kind of girl.

It was twilight on the Fourth of July / Sparkling colors were strewn across the sky / and we sat close enough that we just barely touched while roman candles went soaring above us.

Use this track if you're trying to seal the deal. And by that I mean, hold hands with a nice lady.

I would be chastised if I didn't mention Ani DiFranco's own track called, drumroll please, "Fourth of July." In fact, there might even be some sort of AfterEllen.com clause that says "Must mention Ani's songs when relevant or you will be fired instantly." So I keep my job:

He says his name is Jason / he lives in the last trailer on the right/ and he'll be seven / on the Fourth of July.

Ani D: friend to lesbians, folksingers, lesbian folksingers and trailer dwellers. Such a do-gooder!

Lastly, a song that from Evanescence (a cover of the Soundgarden tune) that is so eloquently and innovatively titled, "Fourth of July."

Cause I heard it in the wind/ And I saw it in the sky/ And I thought it was the end / And I thought it was the 4th of July.

Someone who is near Amy Lee tonight, will you please let her know that it is, indeed, the fourth? She's not nuts.

Now that you have your soundtrack, I hope you will have a great day of celebrating independence, unless you are partnered and your girlfriend really doesn't like you going around singing Ani songs about trailer kids and ex-girlfriends all day. (This is me seriously hoping my girlfriend doesn't get any ideas.)

Happy 4th of July!

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    • Submitted by
    Trish Bendix
    on July 4, 2008 - 11:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    Zirpister's picture

    Evanescende doesn't actually

    Submitted by
    Zirpister (12 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 11:14am.
    Evanescende doesn't actually have a song called Fourth of July, it's a Soundgarden cover.
    Gina Vivinetto's picture

    I nominate the great "Fourth

    Submitted by
    Gina Vivinetto (92 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 11:28am.

    I nominate the great "Fourth of July" by Galaxie 500 (featuring great chick bassist Naomi Yang) and begins with the classic line:

    "I wrote a poem on a dog biscuit/ but your dog refused to look at it/ So I got drunk and looked at the Empire State Building"

     

    And has the uplifting chorus: "Maybe I should just change my style/But I feel all right when you smile." 

      
    susie_derkins's picture

    definitely on the galaxie

    Submitted by
    susie_derkins (11 posts)
    on July 5, 2008 - 1:19pm.

    definitely on the galaxie 500, the music is so awesome but the lyrics, oddly kind of depressing.

     

    also, "4th of july" by azure ray is AMAZING, so stunningly beautiful i get misty every time i hear it, even in december. 

    Gina Vivinetto's picture

    Also

    Submitted by
    Gina Vivinetto (92 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 11:32am.

    Also, the U2 "The Unforgettable Fire" album, which includes songs about America, Elvis, MLK, and of course, "4th of July"

      
    Guardiyan's picture

    Independence Day

    Submitted by
    Guardiyan (16 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 11:59am.

    Also, Martina McBride's little ode to femine power (though not titled 4th of July) "Independence Day".

     

    "let freedom ring, let the white dove sing let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning, let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong, roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it’s Independence Day"

    Kaisa's picture

    Aimee is kind of a Debbie

    Submitted by
    Kaisa (51 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 12:03pm.

    Aimee is kind of a Debbie Downer (seriously, who else did a double take about that Christmas album thing? o.O), but an excellent songwriter.  Happy songs are boring anyway, right?  Or maybe that opinion is why I'm such a big Aimee fan, while most other people aren't =D

    aria's picture

    ani

    Submitted by
    aria (1 post)
    on July 4, 2008 - 12:33pm.

    but Independence Day by Ani DiFranco would be so much better! 

    "we drove the car to the top of the parking ramp
on the 4th of july
we sat out on the hood with a couple of warm beers and watched the fireworks
explode in the sky"

    sure it's a little depressing, but no more than aimee mann!

     

    Gina Vivinetto's picture

    Gina Vivinetto

    Submitted by
    Gina Vivinetto (92 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 1:00pm.

    Lorna Bracewell, a great folky rocker from Tampa, has a song called "Independence Day" (about a woman's liberation) on her excellent CD 'God Forbid.' She is worth checking out for those of you who like super cute singers with raspy voices.

    Interestingly, the Tampa area, where I lived for years, is a haven for queer music. Off the top of my head I can think of Bracewell, her equally talented girlfriend Lexi Pierson, rappers Yo Majesty, gay boy electoclash artist Jeremy Gloff, power pop singer-songwriter Ricky Wilson and my favorite band ever Giddy-Up, Helicopter! (who have become my friends, too, it should be made clear.)

    They are all on myspace and have about 150 albums available between them. 

      

    Way2Gay's picture

    WHITNEY HOUSTON'S "The Star-Spangled Banner"

    Submitted by
    Way2Gay (53 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 1:20pm.

    From Superbowl XXV (1991)
    -it was even released as a single

    http://www.youtube.coam/watch?v=Q5GSxSmYvME

    Holly's picture

    Lemuria has a great song

    Submitted by
    Holly (63 posts)
    on July 4, 2008 - 10:19pm.

    Lemuria has a great song called "Bristles and Whiskers" about one of the member's closeted gay father. Some of the lyrics are "His life is living colors like the ones in the sky/On the fourth of july /You can keep the closet door cracked /Look outside, and dodge accusing eyes /And be yourself for the first time".

    It can be heard at http://cloakanddaggermedia.com/radio/2006/05/2006-05-08.html

    Hank's picture

    for the 4th.

    Submitted by
    Hank (1497 posts)
    on July 5, 2008 - 10:03pm.

    this is what i listened to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI

     

    I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.

    FonFreaka.'s picture

    Pfffft.

    Submitted by
    FonFreaka. (59 posts)
    on July 5, 2008 - 11:28pm.

    Who needs American patriotic tunes when you can have The Sounds sing about us?

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5rLV6zHzFg

     

     

     

     

    ...and all was well, and the world smiled.


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