12 Patriotic Songs Better than Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." | Josh Jackson, Paste Magazine

I know it's a day late, but for listening anytime and for the next Fourth of July, this article provides an intriguing list of tunes.

Jackson comments on most of the songs. Here are their titles and performers:

1. Bruce Springsteen - "Born in the U.S.A."
2. Johnny Cash - "Ragged Old Flag"
3. Paul Simon - "American Tune"
4. Ray Charles - "America, the Beautiful"
5. Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"
6. Wilco - "Ashes of American Flags"
7. Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Fortunate Son"
8. Aaron Copland - "Appalachian Spring"
9. Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"
10. Violent Femmes - "American Music"
11. Bob Dylan - "With God on Our Side"
12. Jimi Hendrix - "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Jackson also provides 12 honorable mentions, mostly from Twitter followers:

1. The Dixie Chicks - "Travelin' Soldier"
2. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - "This Land Is Your Land"
3. Aimee Mann - "Fourth of July"
4. David Bowie - "Young American"
5. Shooter Jennings - "4th of July"
6. Beastie Boys - "Fight for Your Right to Party"
7. Team America soundtrack - "Freedom Costs a Buck-o-Five"
8. Little Stevens - "I Am a Patriot"
9. Tom Petty - "American Girl"
10. Ozomatli - "Who Discovered America"
11. The Muffs - "Kids in America"
12. The Weepies - "All This Beauty"

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This article is featured in today's (July 5) Garbl's Americana Songbook -- available at the Americana Music tab above and by free email subscription.