Okay, I love the Fourth of July. First off, it's summertime, so it's warm and beautiful. And it is a holiday made for spending time with your family and friends-- what could be better? And my neighborhood does it UP! There is a 10k run in the morning, booths of food, parades, live music, bounce houses, rides, food trucks and the best firework show ever! My little culdesac has scavenger hunts and a talent show for the kids and we eat together--it's a magical day!
This year, my daughter Addison and I are going to enter the cupcake making contest- I know a lot about eating them, which I hope will somehow magically translate into some kind of skill in baking them! We shall see!
Anyway, since we are outside most of the day nibbling and relaxing, we need a playlist and I am starting mine now- I thought I would give you some of my favorite songs and maybe you can add some (or all!) to your list. I tend to like songs that everyone is familiar with because it just makes it so fun to sing along! What are your favorite America tunes?
1. Bye Bye Miss American Pie {Don McClean} This is just a goodie that pretty much everyone knows.
2. Born Free {Kid Rock} I don't know if I am a Kid Rock fan per se, but I like this song. It's kinda gritty but it feels American to me.
3. Proud To Be An American {Lee Greenwald} If you don't weep copiously every time this song comes on, you are made of stone or something. It holds a lot significance to me for some reason.
4. American Baby {Dave Matthews} I love DM. He could sing the alphabet and I'd be swaying along happily.
5. American Woman {Lenny Kravitz} Because lets face it, us American women are pretty alright, am I right? :)
6. Brown Eyed Girl {Van Morrison} It doesn't mention America but my bestie is a brown eyed girl and this song is special to me!
7. Tiny Dancer {Elton John} This is possibly my favorite song ever and it was even before Almost Famous, which then sealed the deal. This song is on every playlist I ever make, even my running playlists (which grinds me to halt so I can sing along, but still!!)
8. American Girl {Tom Petty} So, also not a huge Tom Petty fan (I liked Free Falling in Jerry Maguire, I freely admit) but it's a good America song.
9. Miley Cyrus {Party in the USA } I know, I know. But c'mon. You know you kinda like it too!
10. Jack and Diane {John Cougar Mellencamp} I'm not entirely sure what name he goes by-- is he still Mellencamped? (after he divorced Elaine Irwin I stopped keeping track) but this song just feels like America to me.
11. Born in the USA {Bruce Springsteen} Alright, nobody get mad but I'm not the biggest Springsteen fan either. He's just ok to me. But this song is a classic on July 4th.
12. Surfin USA {Beach Boys} This one barely made the cut. My daughter is dancing to this song in her recital that is coming up and it is on at my house a LOT. But every So Cal resident has to love the Beach Boys!
Doesn't it just feel so festive to you right now? Like we are drawing together to celebrate this country of ours, a country we are so blessed to live in? I love it! Happy day, you!β€οΈ