Ten Totally Underrated Songs to Play at Your Independence Day BBQ
Anna Cieslik ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Editor
Planning an Independence Day bash can be stressful; you have the hot dogs and hamburgers to grill, the drinks to serve up, the pool to open, and the guests to greet, all while trying to get everyone fed in time to see the fireworks at sundown. The last thing you want to be worrying about is manning the iPod to make sure none of your embarrassing songs come up on shuffle (don’t lie, we all have a few Backstreet Boys albums on our playlists). So Emertainment Monthly is here to save the day with a playlist of 10 totally underrated tracks all about our great country.
1) “Living in America” – Dom
A catchy, upbeat song about enjoying life and having fun in America. This is the perfect song to set the mood for your BBQ.
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2) “Surf Wax America” – Weezer
Weezer is one of the most American bands out there, and this song is no exception. Because what says “America” like riding your surfboard to work?
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3) “Help Me Save The Youth Of America From Exploding” – Less Than Jake
Nothing’s more American than a little bit of teen angst! If you’re tempted to play “American Idiot” by Green Day at your 4th of July party but don’t want to be cliché, opt instead for this angsty, punk-tinged ska track.
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4) “Hollywood” – Marina and The Diamonds
This upbeat, dance-y track is all about a foreigner’s perspective about American glamour, making it a wonderful reminder of why we love this country.
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5) “Illmerica” – Wolfgang Gartner
Keep the upbeat vibes going strong with this song by electronic dance music legend Wolfgang Gartner. This track might not have lyrics, but it still paints an epic picture of bald eagles soaring through the sky with massive amounts of fireworks going off in the background. Or something like that.
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6) “Made In America” – Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean
As if hip-hop isn’t American enough as it is, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Frank Ocean upped the ante on this track, which is all about making it in America. This song is just what you need as background music during dinner, as your guests mingle with each other while enjoying your expertly grilled hot dogs.
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7) “America” – Imagine Dragons
We might love our country, but we also know that it’s not perfect. This track does a great job at acknowledging America’s flaws while also encouraging growth and improvement. Because we can always get better – even America.
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8) “Undressing America” – MOD SUN
Turn this song on as the sun sets and everyone is finishing up their dinner. It’s sure to get your party in the mood for the upcoming fireworks thanks to its catchy beat.
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9) “America” – Simon & Garfunkel
As the party starts to wind down, look no further than the folky rock duo Simon & Garfunkel to set the mood. This song in particular is the perfect way to leave your guests with a feeling of nostalgia for our country.
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10) “Miss America” – Something Corporate
What could possibly be a better reminder of how amazing America is than a song all about missing the good old US of A while in a foreign land? Something Corporate will leave your guests with one last reminder of how lucky they are to wake up every day in America.
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Bonus: “Wake Up America” – Miley Cyrus
Because what’s a friendly gathering without one embarrassing song about taking care of our country?
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