The billowing smoke of a backyard barbecue and glimmering displays of fireworks might await you, but what’s a party without a solid Fourth of July songs playlist?
While it’s hard for many of us to feel patriotic this year after Roe v. Wade has been overturned, it’s important to continually find joy where we can. And maybe that includes a curation of catchy chart-toppers to listen to by the lake.
The best songs for this holiday transcend genres—from earworm pop songs like Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A.” to a truly spectacular rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Whitney Houston, there’s not a single musical niche that has to go unheard this Independence Day. They vary in subject matter too. For every empowering anthem like Katy Perry’s “Firework,” there’s a song that calls for protest or points out the many hypocrisies that exist in society. Because, to be truly patriotic, we must ask ourselves how we can make this country a better place for all.
Below, are the best Fourth of July songs to add to your party playlist.
“Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus (2009)
“Party in the U.S.A.” is arguably the most electrifying pop song about the allure of the American dream. And though we play it every year, the incessant rewind never gets old. It quite literally creates a party in the U.S.A., no matter where you live.
“The Star-Spangled Banner” by Whitney Houston (1991)
Etched into our collective memory for its sky-rocketing notes and fervent delivery, this rendition of the national anthem is a playlist no-brainer.
“American Life” by Madonna (2003)
Techno EDM juxtaposed with questioning your identity within modern society lies ahead. Just like Madonna quips, “This type of modern life is for me.”