Fourth of July celebrations are about to get underway and now that you have the guest list, decorations, menus and games sorted, it's time to turn your attention to the tunes.
Independence Day is the perfect chance to pump up the volume on all those patriotic hits that make us proud to be Americans.
Songs celebrating the United States run the gamut from "The Star-Spangled Banner" to Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." to "Living in America" by James Brown, and beyond.
So in honor of July 4, here's a short list of patriotic songs (or songs with a patriotic bent) that will keep the feelings of pride riding high, and have you and your guests grooving through the fireworks and well into the star-spangled night.
And don't forget to check in with YouTube, Facebook, Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Songza, iHeartRadio, Pinterest, Twitter and your other favorite social media and streaming services on July 4 for more patriotic music recommendations.
Old-School and Essential July 4 Tunes:
"The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key
"Yankee Doodle" attributed to Dr. Richard Shuckburgh
"America (My Country ‘tis of Thee)” by Samuel F. Smith
"God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood
"You’re a Grand Old Flag" by George M. Cohen
"The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa
"God Bless America” by Irving Berlin
"America the Beautiful" by Katharine Lee Bates
"Halls of Montezuma"
"This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie
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Pride-Heavy Rock, Pop and Groovy Songs and Anthems:
"Born in the USA" - Bruce Springsteen
"Our Country" - John Cougar Mellencamp
"Empire State of Mind" - Jay Z/Alicia Keys
"R.O.C.K. in the USA" - John Cougar Mellencamp
"American Girl" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"American Boy" - Estelle (feat. Kanye West)
"Rockin’ in the Free World" - Neil Young
"American Woman" - Lenny Kravitz
"An American Trilogy" - Elvis Presley
"New York City Boy" – Pet Shop Boys
"Georgia On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
"4th of July" - Shooter Jennings
"Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Philadelphia Freedom" - Elton John
"Surfin’ USA" - The Beach Boys
"Living in America" - James Brown
"Ragged Old Flag" - Johnny Cash
"Independence Day" - Bruce Springsteen
"New York, New York" - Frank Sinatra
"American Pie" - Don McLean
"America" - Simon & Garfunkel
"Carolina In My Mind" - James Taylor
The above is only a sampling of songs suitable for July 4 playlists. Sound off in the comments section below with your patriotic picks for Independence Day 2014.
