Does it have to be patriotic? Does it need to be a Sousa March? Or does your list of American favorites simply qualify for them being a song that exemplifies the American standard for music? Something for you to keep in your head…even hum…on this 4th of July.
For years now I’ve been close-minded pertaining to the music I think of representing American values on the 4th of July. Every ad on TV this week has background music from Stars and Stripes Forever, they never change it, and after a while it becomes your holiday character.
I grew up hearing marches, and I’ve always wanted to be near history. So whenever I can I spend the holiday at one of the national battlefield parks, and I listen to the old marches by Sousa, Begley, and Chambers.
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Musically, even at this age I still thrill to the creativity of John Phillip Sousa and all of those tunes of the 19th century that just felt and sounded like America.
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes the holiday for Press Pros, and on this 4th of July…the music (all kinds of music) that sounds like America.
E. E. Begley’s National Emblem march still makes the hair stand on the back of my neck. There has to be respect paid for history, and the sacrifice made for us to get this far. And what music can pay tribute more poignantly than the great marches of the American military bands?
And after all, how many can claim 250 years and the list of achievements benefiting mankind like those of the United States of America?
What has Russia done for mankind…or music, outside the impressive list within the classical genre? I give them Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.
What’s China contributed, including its music, that the rest of the world can recognize? The pentatonic scale?
England, France, Germany or Italy?
Well, the Beatles, certainly. And the Rolling Stones. Chopin, Beethoven and Rossini. For certain.
But none of them qualify for the sake of that which we celebrate annually on the 4th of July. You don’t shoot off fireworks when you hear Beethoven, do you?
OK, enough. I still want to hear The Stars and Stripes and The National Emblem march on the 4th.
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I want to be inspired. Having five years of music study from Ohio State University, I want to marvel at the structure of the tune, the harmonies, and the uniqueness of the instrumentation.
I want to tap my foot, be taken over by the song.
And I want to recognize the tune, instantly!
Harmonies? The most important part of any song, because it’s pleasing to the ear. Just like harmony brings people together, so, too, does harmony bring people and music together. It’s why I don’t listen to rap and hip-hop. There’s no harmonies, or structure. Try and whistle the tune. You can’t. People like structure, not chaos and profanity.
The song must have its tune, and lyrics – something you can think about all day, something you can hum or whistle to yourself. Doesn’t matter if its patriotic, country, Broadway, or pop. But a song without a recognizable tune is just noise.
Beat? Depends on the type of song, of course. Beat is nothing more than tempo, and tempo in music should put your mind in an accepting place.
Recently I’ve been listening a lot to a group called Brothers of The Heart, featuring former Stater Brothers tenor Jimmy Fortune. Simply put, they’re a quartet, like the Statlers or the Oak Ridge Boys, that make beautiful harmonies together, on any holiday or day of the year. By all means click on the embedded link and enjoy their version of the old J.D. Souther tune, You’re Only Lonely (https://youtu.be/msE-B5XdhvE?si=MRlKEK-bXzEr3zST). It has it all. Then tell me how you like it. 100% American!
And, a good song is something you want to share, and share without fear of offending someone. They may not like it, but they don’t have to be embarrassed, either.
So if I had to pick out five songs for the 4th of July that personally appeal to me, what would I pick?
If it was a traditional march I would select either Begley’s National Emblem March, or Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever.
You want country? There’s so many to like, but one that I can listen to at 4 am is Dwight Yoakam’s, Streets of Bakersfield (https://youtu.be/15lURJzLIds?si=KGYTUdO8OrMSEFMv)…great tune, harmonies, good lyrics, and Buck Owens, to boot. It’s what you listen to in boots and jeans. What you might not know is that Dwight Yoakam’s a graduate of Northland High School, in Columbus. The link’s right there for you. Go ahead and kick back with a classic.
If it’s patriotic, I always enjoy Ray Charles’ version of America The Beautiful. No one…not Kate Smith or Irving Berlin, has ever delivered a more entertaining patriotic performance.
Pop? Got to be summer, and it’s got to be fun. No one ever did a great tune, lyrics, and harmonies better than the Beach Boys…probably Kokomo (https://youtu.be/jOGY1jH0AUg?si=1ReRMKSq5BASTZ2-), or Wouldn’t It Be Nice (https://youtu.be/189m5iIi1q4?si=6Euj7DtpUPvDPZhk). To this day when I hear them perform I think of friend and former colleague Stan Wilker!
I’ve provided a couple of great choices for your listening pleasure, and feel free to share either the message, or the tune. Hopefully, it’s something you can’t forget.
Hopefully, it’s something that makes you do your own search…for music suitable on the 4th of July.
Dave Arbogast is the official transportation source for Press Pros Magazine.com.