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Song for the 4th: ‘Born In The USA’

The perfect song for the 4th of July.

Editor’s Note: As the 4th of July holiday weekend rolls around, students in the CMN Music Journalism Program were asked to come up with one song they think is appropriate for the 4th of July, 2019.

I battled with myself over what song to write about that reminds me of the 4th of July.

There were several songs that first popped into my head: Katy Perry’s “Firework”, Jay-Z’s “Made In America, even Miley Cyrus’s “Party In The USA.”

Those songs lack real substance about America.

The fact that Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA” oozes with pride is why it reminds me of the 4th of July.

“Born In The USA” is a song about pride in where you are from, and believing in the morals and standards that go along with living in this country. Not only does Springsteen sing about America, but he also continues to talk about having a song that reminds him of his hometown, his “hometown jam” as he calls it. Followed by some other real topics that bring an American perspective about war.

The lyrics as follows:

So they put a rifle in my hand/Sent me off to a foreign land/To go and kill the yellow man

Being a proud American is what the Fourth of July is all about. It is not about the red solo cups, parties or fireworks, but really about knowing you live in the greatest country in the world. There are people from all over the world that want to live and breathe the American culture, but we are lucky that we can live and breathe it everyday. 

The music video for “Born in the USA” also screams America.

It is a combination of live performance and several scenes that depict the American way of life. It opens with a fading American flag and a landscape shot of an industrial park, an honest days work type of job. The other scenes that depict the American way of life include a family birthday party, an amusement park, road trip, hot rod cars and a shot of soldiers in basic training. 

“Born In The USA” is the perfect song for the 4th of July. 

If you obsess over singers and bands, and are one of those people who make a playlist for every occasion, join CMN’s Music Journalism Course and get real-time experience, intense feedback on your writing, exposure to music industry insiders, and a great place to display build your portfolio. Get all the details on the Music Journalism Course here.

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