This is the week of two national birthdays. Yesterday was the birthday of our neighbor to the north, Canada. And on Wednesday, we in the United States celebrate our national birthday.
That's why our honorary conductor of the month, Michelle (Naila Moon), has chosen Patriotic Songs as her theme.
Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? Every other week we have a theme, and on alternate weeks, we can blog about any music we wish. We are headed by our head Engineer XmasDolly. Her co-conductors are: ♥Callie of JAmerican Spice♥, (who right now is visiting when she can - please keep her in your thoughts ) and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥ Also, co-conducting is ♥Cathy from Curious as a Cathy♥ And, (last but not least), me.
Welcome, Michelle!
Let's stand for the unofficial National Anthem (in my humble opinion) from the movie The Jazz Singer - Neil Diamond singing about freedom's light burning warm:
He sings about immigrants, such as my grandparents, who came from Eastern Europe, escaping pogroms, yearning for a home where they could live free from persecution.
Johnny Cash singing a song from 1974, in the Watergate era Ragged Old Flag.
Many had lost faith in our institutions. The song is a defiant celebration of what Cash and many others feel what it means to be American.
I learned a song, back around 1963, in sleepaway camp called "You're a Grand Old Flag". In researching for this post, I discovered this song, by the incomparable George M. Cohan, was written for a 1906 stage musical called "George Washington, Jr", and was originally called You're a Grand Old Rag. It became extremely popular during World War I and, again, in World War II.
I chose this version, from Yankee Doodle Dandy, a musical biography of George M. Cohan from 1942. The song is sung towards the end of this clip,which features other patriotic song clips.
What is a Hero? Jim Nabors ponders this in this video, where he sings as Marine Gomer Pyle.
And finally - no Fourth of July oriented post can conclude with out this most wonderful of marches. I bring you, from 1896: John Phillip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever.
As a bonus - a live version with fireworks, because I can listen to this song forever.
Forever may our flag wave high, reflecting the ideals we, as Americans, strive towards.
Besides #MusicMovesMe, this is Day two of the Ultimate Blog Challenge #BlogBoost
As always, great choices
ReplyDeleteThank you, Songbird!
DeleteI love that Neil Diamond song and movie- and will be watching it this week again!
ReplyDeleteI learned the George M. Cohan songs back when I was a tyke and Elliot Richard Dorfman took me under his wing, creating a musical revue in which I could star.
So you were fortunate enough to be taught by a great teacher!
DeleteGreat selection of music to celebrate the 4th of July with!
ReplyDeleteSandra
Thanks for this collection. There were a couple that I hadn't heard before. The most moving for me was Johnny Cash's "Ragged Old Flag."
ReplyDeleteI once sang with a choir that performed for the inauguration of the American Centre in Hyderabad. We mostly sang patriotic songs. One I particularly like was America the Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWonderful songs you chose with us and a perfect addition to this weeks Homeschool Music Class. Although I would add Billy Ray Cyrus Some Game All and Lee Greenwood God Bless the U.S.A.
ReplyDeleteGreat selection. Neil Diamond was being a bit Elvis in the video!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful songs. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post to start my week with! Thanks for sharing all these great tunes!
ReplyDeleteAlana,
ReplyDeleteI love "Ragged Old Flag"! It really stirs ones patriotism after hearing it and it's definitely something I never tire of hearing. We look forward to every 4th watching the various celebrations on broadcast TV. Fabulous Macy's 4th fireworks display! I'm ready to settle to with my hotdog and to see the night show from the cool comfort of my living room. :D
Ha! I loved listening to Neil Diamond. My best friend and I saw him live in concert when we were 14...that was a very interesting experience, lol.
ReplyDeleteWhat great songs!! I love hearing Jim Nabors sing!!
ReplyDeleteGreat lineup of patriotic songs, Alana. ☺ Neil Diamond's "America" has always been a favourite. Happy 4th of July to you. We Canadians are celebrating our country's 151st birthday this long weekend. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteIn Johnny Cash's later days, he turned a bit more radical. We can see the Macy's fireworks from our courtyard. It's a fantastic display made even better by the fact that there aren't thousands or millions of people there and we don't have to travel far to see it. I know it's on tv but seeing it in person is cool. TW has even videotaped it.
ReplyDeleteGreat job my friend! I knew I wasn't wrong to accept you as one of our Conductors! Fan-freakin-tastic!!! Loved Gomer & Jimmy Cagney & to end it off with fireworks... HOW APPROPRIATE!!! HUGS
ReplyDeleteNice list
ReplyDeleteHi Alana,
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful 4th of July. I enjoyed your playlist. Especially Jim Nabors -- his voice is amazing and sooo unexpected when he is playing the Gomer Pyle character. Great clip, thanks for including it.
You included another one of my faves: Johnny Cash. I love hearing the story of the Ragged Old Flag.
And yet another powerhouse with Neil Diamond. I love when he sings America.
I enjoyed seeing the Macy's fireworks. I was so excited last night because I got to see 4th of July fireworks for the first time in a long time. With my dogsitting business I can never leave the dogs to go see the fireworks because so many of them get so stressed and anxious and fearful. But yesterday, for the first time ever, our homeowners association decided to hire a professional company to put on a fireworks display for residents (it's a big subdivision with 2200 homes). Fireworks have always been prohibited here and I've been here since 2003. So it was quite a surprise that they did that. And what was more surprising, to my absolute delight, the show was set off directly across the street from me, in a tract of land next to a school. I saw the entire show from my front porch and watched all the bursts and colors and not only heard the booms but felt them because the fireworks were all going off over my neighbors house across the street. It was amazing!! I loved it. The dogs did surprisingly well, especially because it was soooo loud, being so close. But I gave each of them a Benedryl cocktail about 45 minutes before showtime so they stayed pretty chill....
It was a wonderful surprise and I sure hope they continue to do it...in the same spot next year!
Have a great week,
Michele at Angels Bark
Wonderful job on the setlist this week! I'm finally getting around to everyone. It's been one of those weeks, you know?
ReplyDeleteBetween the heat, the holiday, and fussing with my page... Did you know Google changed some things in the background regarding comments? If you aren't getting notifications anymore, let me know and I'll help you fix it :)
~Mary
I didn't remember that episode of "Gomer Pyle, USMC." Jim Nabors had a hell of a voice, didn't he?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Marines, nothing says America like a Sousa march, and "The Stars And Stripes Forever" is the best of the best. My favorite part by far is the piccolo solo.
Great set!
Beautiful song choices, Alana! Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July! Thanks for the dance! :)
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