Thursday Night Music--American Pride Edition

The usual Friday Night Music is happening tonight because I fully intend to celebrate my freedom and the freedom of the greatest country ever created by indulging in large quantities of food and Yuenglings.

Tonight we feature songs about America and not protest type so you won't be hearing Pearl Jam, Buffalo Springfield or any of the others groups who choose to spotlight the bad in America instead of the good. Granted, some of the best music ever made were protest songs but this is a day for celebrating the good in America.

Update:Celebrating the 4th in Samarra, Iraq (H/T: Jeff Emanuel):


We start with Charlie Daniels and In America. In the late seventies, we had suffered through nearly a term of Jimmy Carter and the country was in the dumps. Iran held our citizens captive, the USSR invaded Afghanistan and the economy and inflation were a nightmare. Unemployment was in the 12% range and the worst president ever told us all to put on a sweater. Fortunately, Ronnie Reagan was elected and we came out of that down period with a renewed sense of optimism and pride This song was released in 1980, not 1976 as it says at You Tube.:


Next we have Simon and Garfunkle singing about traversing the wide open spaces of this great country live in Central Park, NYC:



Next we have Jimi at Woodstock doing the Star Spangled Banner. Some thought this a desecration of the song but I think it was that most American of things: the freedom to interpret and say things as one pleases. Woodstock was a seminal event in our history and this was the most intriguing moment of that event by far.



Next, I'm not a huge country music guy but Toby Keith is a patriot and he sings like one:



Finally, the Marine Poet sets those who blame America straight:



Happy Independence Day to you. Please remember the sacrifices of those who made us and have kept us free for 232 years.