We’ll start with the greatest of American traditions – adopting that which came from another country. This is the Canadian Five Man Electric Band’s Signs:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Q7cP3ij5g[/youtube]
The Andrews Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy gives us the ideal:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYoM0qQL6mE[/youtube]
CCR’s Fortunate Son makes it a little more real:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBfjU3_XOaA[/youtube]
Then there’s Nina Simone’s American classic – Mississippi Goddamn (the recording is more important than the (not original) vid, here – need to ff through the first 30 seconds or so):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV7f4umNpo0[/youtube]
And finally, from one of America’s greatest bands:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmrVYMCm8AY&feature=related[/youtube]
~
And an extra one, which gives me hope for the future:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4IECGgyLKo&feature=related[/youtube]
MB
And one more. Maybe it’s just because I’m a huge fan of the Andrews Sisters, but this is just brilliant.
So. What songs say America to you?
Beth
Damn you. For some reason I now have “Pink Houses” stuck in my head. So I guess that fucking song says America to me.
Peej
(I was so tempted to answer your question “American Pie” and leave it at that. Hah.)
I’m not sure what songs say America to me now, but I know excactly what song I will forever associate with my first realization of America as this other, vast, and hugely exotic (to my 4 or 5 year old self) country. It’s been years and years since I saw this movie, and I suspect certain references and sentiments and storylines would have me turning the movie off before it ever got to this song, if I watched it today. But apparently the lyrics are stuck in my head forever from singing it endlessy back then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnUrhptPSo
MB
Oi, that was painful.