The band has had some trouble dispelling some of the stereotypical associations, partly because it used to perform with a confederate flag at its concerts at the suggestion of its record label but also name-checking one of Alabama’s most controversial leaders, Gov. George Wallace. The lyrics cite Wallace, who notoriously proclaimed, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever” during his 1963 inaugural address. In “Sweet Home Alabama,” the group includes boos in the lyrics: “In Birmingham, they love the governor (boo! boo! boo!)” to show they disagree with Wallace’s stance on segregation, but it showcases a significant point in America. The history of this country has a dark past, but we can acknowledge that and construct a path to be better. That message — and that feel-good guitar riff — is what should be celebrated with “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’

The Fourth of July can be celebrated in several ways, but one of the first things that comes to mind when we think of the American holiday is the fireworks. Why not keep it to theme and throw in Katy Perry’s hit “Firework” for that barbecue playlist? The song was co-written by Perry with Ester Dean and the song’s producers Stargate and Sandy Vee, but it doesn’t have much to do with America other than the sparkly sky shows.

Perry said in an interview at the 2011 MTV Awards that the song was a metaphor for the inner self and that she believed everyone has that spark. She was influenced by Jack Keuroac’s 1957 novel, “On The Road,” when she read an excerpt about “people that are buzzing and fizzing and full of life and never say a commonplace thing. They shoot across the sky like a firework and make people go ‘Ahhh.’ I guess that making people go ‘ahhh’ is kind of like my motto.” While it isn’t explicitly about America, it is about finding yourself, which has some American sentiment behind it. Plus, who else can make singing about fireworks this fun?

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘American Girl’

For several reasons, one of America’s classic rock staples, “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, deserves its presence on every Fourth of July playlist. The holiday marks the song’s first recording on July 4, 1976. Well, the story focuses on a young woman’s soul-searching to find the strength needed to create a better future, which, for a country built by immigrants looking for better lives, makes the track a uniquely American narrative.

In the book “Conversations with Tom Petty” the musician cleared up the song’s origin story, as it was often said to be about a young college student who committed suicide in Florida. Petty said that narrative was nothing more than an urban legend and that he actually wrote the song while living in an Encino apartment near the freeway. The cars zooming past sounded like ocean waves crashing. He’d just made it to Los Angeles from Gainesville, Florida, and was chasing his own dreams at the time. The American girl in the song is “raised on promises” and wants to manifest her dreams for a bigger, better life, and she’s willing to die trying.

Miley Cyrus’ 'Party in the USA'

Released in 2009, Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” quickly became an anthem of celebration and freedom. Written by Jessie J, Dr. Luke, and Claude Kelly, the song captures the excitement and nervousness of arriving in Los Angeles, a city synonymous with big dreams and new beginnings.

“Party in the USA” resonates with the American spirit of optimism and self-expression. Its lyrics reflect a sense of national pride and the quintessential American experience of seeking opportunity and finding one’s place in the world. The song’s enduring popularity at Fourth of July celebrations underscores its role as a contemporary American anthem, embodying the joy and freedom that the holiday represents.

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