The Fourth of July Soundtrack: Why Country Music Sounds Like America

This week, the Country Music Dads celebrate America 250, country music’s role in this -- and other -- uniquely American celebrations, and how to honor our history, the details of our past, and advance the American experiment. Happy Birthday America!

Show Notes:

00:05 - Dave and Donnie talk about their memories of the Fourth, how they are getting ready for America 250 and so much more. From childhood memories to debauchery of young adulthood, the guys go over what makes the Fourth of July awesome.

4:46: What makes a great Fourth of July playlist song? And Dave asks if non-country fans use this holiday as an excuse to enjoy something they feel like they can’t otherwise.

6:35: The history of country music and patriotism. The discussion turns serious as the dads address Joseph Thompson’s Time magazine article that explores how the country music industry, titans of industry and the Department of Defense teamed up to feed the concept that country music is the music of America.

12:50: “God Bless the US” has been stuck in Dave’s head since the second grade due to grammatical corrections his school made to the song.

14:05: Fourth of July family traditions growing up and sharing with your kids. Both of us want to raise proud Americans who can still love America while understanding the more complicated aspects of our history.

22:49: The playlist debate. The dads start with “Clear Patriotic Anthems/ Celebrations of American Life.”

36:45: The next section is about “Blind Patriotism” songs, and yes, they talk a bit about post-9/11 reactionary country music.

43:30: And now, for a few Protest Songs because there is nothing more American than speaking truth to power. Just ask our kids.

49:57: Songs that People Mistake for Patriotic Anthems but are Really About Something Else

52:15: The Dad Life Sound Check - American Edition

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Mentioned In This Episode:

• Joseph Thompson's book: Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon
• Joseph Thompson's Time magazine article
• Country Music Association
• Whiskey Riff article about the Hermosa Beach Ironman
• No-No Boy
• Ted Russell Kamp episode
• Shooter Jennings episode
• 60 Songs That Explain the 90's: The 2000s on Toby Keith
• America-themed parties around the world
• Country Country podcast
• Dead Man’s Town: Born in the USA Revisited
• Nathan Evans Fox episode

References/Songs:

• Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” by Moodmode
• Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa
• God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
• The Best God Damn Band in Wyoming - No-No Boy
• This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
• Ragged Old Flag- Johnny Cash
• America - Waylon Jennings
• Born Country - Alabama
• 4th of July/He Stopped Loving Her Today - Medley - Shooter Jennings, George Jones
• Americana - Ryan Bingham
• American Saturday Night - Brad Paisley
• Middle of America - Haily Whitters feat. American Aquarium
• God's Country - Blake Shelton
• God's Country (Live from Red Rocks) - HARDY
• God Bless America Again - Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty
• Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) - Toby Keith
• Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning - Alan Jackson
• Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore - John Prine
• Dress Blues - Jason Isbell
• All American Made - Margo Price
• History Repeats Itself - American Aquarium
• Try That in a Small Town - Jason Aldean
• Independence Day - Martina McBride
• Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen