American Anthem: Music That Challenges, Unites And Celebrates
Hear the stories and stream our American Anthem playlist.
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For the past year, NPR has been celebrating American anthems. We’ve looked at the myriad forms that anthems can take: songs that unite us, inspire us or say something about what it means to be an American — songs as traditional as “America the Beautiful," or as defiant as Public Enemy's "Fight the Power." A yearlong series of reported pieces, appearing both on air and online, American Anthem was created to identify 50 pieces of music that have found anthemic status in American life, and unpack how and why they've come to mean so much to so many.
“We’re living in a time when we’re asking a lot of questions about what it means to be an American,” says Elizabeth Blair of the NPR Arts Desk. “And music is a powerful tool that helps us express those ideas and feelings,” adds the Arts Desk’s Tom Cole.
This week, in honor of the Fourth of July, we’ve been thinking a lot about the stories behind these powerful songs. All Songs Considered released a special episode featuring highlights from the series, and we thought we’d share some of our favorites in this week’s newsletter.
We also made a playlist of songs from the series for you to stream over the holiday weekend.
This land is made for you and me, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna
More American Anthem
Woody Guthrie was born into the Dust Bowl's devastation and displacement. His signature song, “This Land Is Your Land,” is taught in classrooms and sung at protests; it offers an expansive, inclusive idea of what home can be.
When TLC released “No Scrubs” in 1999, the smash hit was a song women loved about the men they wouldn't put up with. Two decades later, fans still take its message to heart when scrubs run amok.
Some of the most beloved and revered anthems revolve around ritual. From memorials to worship services to jam sessions, the anthemic singalong “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” has become a rite of passage.
Lizzo’s “Juice” may be a contender for Song of the Summer, but the rising star’s already released a different anthem of her own. Like most great anthems, “Good as Hell” is a communal exercise that invites. But the self-love song turns a mirror to the listener, putting the shine on your best you.
When we launched the American Anthem series in July of last year, we asked you to send us stories about your own personal anthems. One popular and poignant choice was Simon & Garfunkel's "America": a road trip song that's about more than just traveling across the country.
We want to hear from you again. What’s your American anthem? Share your own pick with "#NPRMyAnthem" on social media, or email us.
What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org
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