Jul. 5: Fourth of July playlist

I spent way too much time putting together music for our Fourth of July celebration last night. Here’s how a song met my playlist criteria:

1. The song has something—just about anything—to do with the Fourth of July; uses words like independence, freedom, etc. in the title
2. Anything about America or a state
3. Mentions fireworks, fire, explosives, rockets, bombs, sparks, bright lights, etc.
4. Gettin’ hurt (using said explosives, of course—cuz that’s funny)
5. Party-ish theme, celebrating the holiday
6. Summer or heat—July 4 is hot everywhere but here, apparently
7. War, soldiers, etc.
8. Traditional patriotic songs

Most choices were made by title, but there were a few that had more to do with the lyrics. For instance, “Heart of Rock & Roll” was selected because it mentions all those cities; same with “I’ve Been Everywhere.” “The Remedy” talks about the Fourth of July. “Afternoon Delight” was used because if you take the lyrics literally, it sounds like a fireworks kind o’ song instead of a dirty little thing. Here it is, in all its grand, shuffled order.

• Rocket Man, Elton John
• Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis
• U Can’t Touch This, MC Hammer
• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bette Midler
• Oregon Girl, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
• Breakfast in America, Supertramp
• You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag, James Cagney
• The Safety Dance, Men Without Hats
• R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., John Mellencamp
• Holiday, Madonna
• Dance the Night Away, Van Halen
• Heat & Light, The Rouge
• Dancing in the Street, David Bowie/Mick Jagger
• American Woman, Lenny Kravitz
• God Bless America, Kate Smith
• I’ve Been Everywhere, Johnny Cash
• All American Girl, Train
• I’ll Cover You, from the Rent soundtrack
• Dynamite, Taio Cruz
• The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades, Timbuk 3
• Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree, Tony Orlando & Dawn
• Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins
• I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
• America the Beautiful, Ray Charles
• If It Kills Me, Jason Mraz
• Summer Nights, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
• War (What is it Good For?), Edwin Starr
• Heat of the Moment, Asia
• Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant
• Fireflies, Owl City
• Sunglasses at Night, Corey Hart
• Six-Shooter, The Rouge
• Playing With the Boys, Kenny Loggins
• North to Alaska, Johnny Horton
• America, Neil Diamond
• Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Culture Club
• Route 66, Chuck Berry
• My Country ‘Tis of Thee, Accapella
• All I Wanna Do, Sheryl Crow
• Ohio (Come Back to Texas), Bowling for Soup
• Doctor! Doctor!, Thompson Twins
• Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
• Living in America, James Brown
• Everybody Have Fun Tonight, Wang Chung
• The Star Spangled Banner, Dixie Chicks
• Lights, Journey
• We Didn’t Start the Fire, Billy Joel
• Afternoon Delight, Starland Vocal Band
• Soak Up The Sun, Sheryl Crow
• You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), Dead Or Alive
• Rescue Me, Aretha Franklin
• Freedom, Wham!
• Timebomb, The Rouge
• Sirens, The Gabe Dixon Band
• Heart Of Rock ‘n Roll, Huey Lewis & The News
• Disco Inferno, The Trammps
• Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John
• Battle Hymn of the Republic, Three Irish Tenors
• Miss Independent, Kelly Clarkson
• Summer of ‘69, Bryan Adams
• Celebration, Kool & the Gang
• Burning Up, Madonna
• I Melt With You, Modern English
• Soldier of Love, Donny Osmond
• Eternal Flame, Bangles
• Viva Las Vegas, Elvis Presley
• California Gurls, Katy Perry
• Glow, Nelly Furtado
• Fireworks, Roxette
• Surfin’ USA, The Beach Boys
• Summer Love, Justin Timberlake
• The Remedy (I Won't Worry), Jason Mraz
• Summertime, D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
• I Love L.A., Randy Newman
• Happy Hawaii, ABBA
• Light My Fire, The Doors
• Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd
• 16 Military Wives, The Decemberists
• American Pie, Don McLean
• Freedom 90, George Michael
• She Blinded Me With Science, Thomas Dolby
• 4th of July (Fireworks), Kelis

There ya go. I know you want to steal my excellent playlist. You do. Don’t lie to me. Go ahead—I don’t mind. And just to show you I love you, here’s Ron Burgundy’s music video of “Afternoon Delight.” See? That’s true love right there.