The honky-tonk anthem was later covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks. Don McLean's rollicking run through pop-culture history was so popular in 1971-72 that many stations played the full-length version, which ran 8:37. You may also like: Mistakes from the 50 best movies of all time, - Artist: John Anderson - Billboard rank: #70. To be honest, I can't disagree with those who just heard the catchy chorus and misconstrued the meaning. Along with a solo acoustic performance in a chapel, the video features diverse members of the Nashville community: a young man impacted by the Trump administration’s handling of the DREAM Act; the family of Daniel Hambrick, who was shot and killed by Nashville police in 2018; and young organizers of a protest supporting Black Lives Matter. Join Free the People. Kate Smith introduced Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" on her popular radio show in November 1938. He's isolated from the government. - Artist: Thomas Rhett - Billboard rank: #78. Born in the USA endures because it is entirely emblematic of the country it’s singing about: conflicted, wounded, weary, worried and ragged, but still standing. In the emotional song, the narrator tells his romantic partner he's looking forward to finishing his concert tour, so he can return home. One such version is included on the Live/1975–85 album. [18], Springsteen refused Chrysler Corporation CEO Lee Iacocca's request to use "Born in the U.S.A." in commercials for Chrysler cars, turning down an offer that would have been worth several million dollars. In his 2009 single, Josh Turner tells the story of a couple that dances together in their living room to forget all the troubles in the world. Will thought that Springsteen might endorse Reagan (not knowing that Springsteen did not support him), and got the notion pushed up to high-level Reagan advisor Michael Deaver. As a result, the song was shelved. The Allmusic describes this version as "a black man's parody of white arena rock, with Springsteen's bitter lyric ground out rap-style by Clarke. Though the primary enemy combatants in the Battle of Khe Sanh were the North Vietnamese Army, the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) did aid the NVA forces in the fighting. The right answer is Bristol, Tennessee. Khe Sanh thus became one of the media symbols of the futility of the whole war effort in the States. The song tells the tale of an encounter with an elderly man, who is sharing the secret to a fulfilling life. It's famous for its surprise ending, which country songs often have. - Artist: Rodney Atkins - Billboard rank: #24. The instrumental piece was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and the National Recording Registry in 2002 (its inaugural year). - Artist: Lady Antebellum - Billboard rank: #14, The 2009 song, about an on-again, off-again relationship, won four Grammy Awards in 2011, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Structurally, they noted that "the anthemic chorus contrasted with the verses' desperate narrative," a tension which informs an understanding of the song's overall meaning: the nationalist chorus continuously overwhelms the desperation and sacrifice relayed in the verses. album.[5]. True love sometimes means tough love, and it’s incumbent upon all of us, if we really care, to apply that tough love to our country when it’s called for. Born in America. - Artist: The Judds - Billboard rank: #92. - Artist: Merle Haggard - Billboard rank: #71. This heartwarming, upbeat song about a father's close relationship with his child was named the #1 song of 2007 on Billboard's year-end chart. [16] The song was also a hit in the UK, reaching #5 on the UK Singles Chart. Casual home demos were made later that year, following the completion of The River Tour. 4 on the Hot 100 in 2003. You may also like: Most famous musician born the same year as you, - Artist: Brooks & Dunn - Billboard rank: #40. This sultry ballad sparked controversy on the radio for its suggestive nature and electronic dance music sound, but "Burnin' It Down" still won Jason Aldean the Top Country Song category at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. The great bass singer/actor Paul Robeson sang this patriotic cantata, which puts American history into a 10:42 opus. This fast-paced, heartfelt song filled country music fans with hopeful nostalgia. During the 1999–2000 Reunion Tour, "Born in the U.S.A." was not always played, and when it was, it was the stinging solo acoustic version, now on 12-string slide guitar. - Artist: Florida Georgia Line (featuring Luke Bryan) - Billboard rank: #34. The Judds' third song on the list of best country songs is yet another condemnation of a man who treats a woman poorly. - Artist: Johnny Lee - Billboard rank: #69. The 1983 recording was the Gatlin Brothers’ third and final #1 hit on the country chart. Though George Strait is one of the biggest names in country music, this 1983 recording was his first hit song in many years. It also involves feeling pain when the thing you love engages in self-destructive behavior. Bruce Springsteen's rousing song seemed to be a flag-waver, but actually had a more nuanced message. - Artist: Charley Pride - Billboard rank: #84. Reeves, also known as "Gentleman Jim," was more popular in South Africa than Elvis Presley, and recorded several albums in the Afrikaans language. This version topped the country charts, and a cover by pop group All-4-One topped the Billboard Hot 100 the following year. Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) co-wrote the song with Ludwig Göransson and Jeffery Lamar Williams. Two scholars writing in the journal American Quarterly explored the song as a lament for embattled American working-class identity. The political climate we live in right now doesn’t give a lot of room for people to converse, and it’s so easy look at our world in black and white. Jazz-funk bassist Stanley Clarke recorded the song for his 1985 release, Find Out!. Childish Gambino's examination of the state of race and policing in America won Grammys for record and song of the year and best music video. James Otto’s deep vocals have been compared to those of country legend Conway Twitty. The simple song tells a familiar tale of undying love. In this romantic tune, Faith Hill showers her significant other, presumably husband Tim McGraw, with sweet nothings. Hank Williams Jr. released his rendition in 1986. “Giddyup Go” is a country song about driving a truck, following the story of a father and son who have an emotional reunion at a truck stop. Singer-songwriter Richard Shindell covered the song in concerts, performing solo and playing bouzouki. It’s super easy, we promise! Our modern national anthem, basically. The remix, which featured rapper Nelly, hit #6 on the Hot 100. 9 on the Hot 100 and received a 1985 Grammy nom for record of the year. You may also like: The richest country music stars, - Artist: Faith Hill - Billboard rank: #95. It didn't win, but it was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and the National Recording Registry in 2006. Grateful for everyone in the video who told their story & for @g.wood.land for sharing them so beautifully. Faron Young’s 1959 single stayed on the country charts for 32 weeks. In his 1994 ballad, Joe Diffie jokes throughout the course of the song he'll win over the girl of his dreams by driving a pickup truck. - Artist: Toby Keith - Billboard rank: #22. Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. CMT and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Country Music Television, Inc. View the video for "Better Than We Found It", Hear Maren Morris’ New Protest Song, Written as a Promise to Her Son. [4] This is the version that appeared on the Born in the U.S.A. album, a full two years later. Matt Battaglia is the Executive Producer at Free the People. Heart lost his record contract when an earlier song didn't do as well as expected. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt intervened and persuaded the secretary of the interior to arrange this open-air concert, which attracted a crowd of more than 75,000 and a national radio audience in the millions. 'Born in the U.S.A.': 17 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings. However, Springsteen's manager/producer Jon Landau and others felt that the song did not have the right melody or music to match the lyrics, and also did not fit in well with the rest of the nascent Nebraska material. The red-headed family duo lament their relationships in "Why Not Me"—this time, he’s not giving them the attention they crave. The physical single was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 23, 1999,[15] and additionally it has sold over a million digital copies in the U.S. by July 2016 after becoming available for downloads. It was one of the first country-rock songs that inspired bands like The Eagles. [4] The famous snare drum sound on this record, notable for its gated reverb, was obtained by engineer Toby Scott running the top snare microphone through a broken reverb plate with a fixed four-second decay and into a Kepex noise gate. It is an ironic retort to the indifference © 2020 Billboard. "God Bless the USA," Lee Greenwood (1984). It was the third of a record-tying seven Top 10 hit singles to be released from the Born in the U.S.A. album. - Artist: Buck Owens - Billboard rank: #81. Later, in a separate question and answer session, Weinberg explained that it was his favorite because the song was not written in advance for the various instrumental parts. In 1985, Patti LaBelle covered the song on her live album. The song serves as a warning to the loved ones of cowboys, while also paying tribute to the hardships of the job. Some even say the sound of country music has changed: Younger subgenres of country music include bro-country (Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line), stadium country (Garth Brooks, Keith Urban), and pop country (Taylor Swift)—and some artists are even experimenting with country rap (Bubba Sparxxx, Colt Ford). A more formal solo acoustic guitar demo was made on January 3, 1982 at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, New Jersey during the long session that constituted most of the Nebraska album released later that year. Released on November 28, 1984, there supposedly had not been enough time to mix the audio from the concert. The lyrics encourage listeners to keep on fighting when the going gets tough. Buck Owens’ 1963 hit held the top spot for 16 weeks, a record that stood for a jaw-dropping 49 years. That second studio take was the CD release on the Born in the U.S.A.