July 4th songs
My brain is a big meanie, and I woke up with "Proud To Be An American" stuck in my head. Fail! FAIL! If your brain is also a big meanie, or you'd just rather skip the patriotic songs in favor of something more... thematically diverse, here:
1) the obvious antidote to the song in my head would appear to be I'm Afraid of Americans. Extra winning, though, for a French cover version. Jeronimo - J'ai Peur des Americains (live). Johnny vies en Amerique et n'a besoin de personne.
2) In a similar vein, Tu Vuo Fa' L' Americano, by Renato Carosone. Skipping over the Brian Setzer cover directly to Sophia Loren's performance for the English lyrics. tu vuoi vivere alla moda, ma se bevi "whisky and soda" po' te siente 'e disturba'! ("You wanna live alla moda but when you drink whisky and soda, all you do is sing off key")
3) Neko Case - Thrice All American. Another reading of this American Dream thing. There was nothing to put me in love with the good life, I'm in league with the gangs, guns and the crime. There was no hollow promise that life would reward you; there was nowhere to hide in Tacoma
4) Slim Cessna's Auto Club - Americadio. A little unsubtle, but Slim Cessna! (Submit 'em to us, submit 'em to our ways.)
5 & 6) Suicide: Rocket USA and -- I just found this cover OMG, Ghost Rider by Soft Cell and Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell, live in 1983. (baby baby baby he's a-screamin' the truth. america america is killin' its youth. (Really, the entire first album is an outstanding collection of commentary on American culture.)
7) One of my favorites provided I feel like crying, X - Fourth of July.
1) the obvious antidote to the song in my head would appear to be I'm Afraid of Americans. Extra winning, though, for a French cover version. Jeronimo - J'ai Peur des Americains (live). Johnny vies en Amerique et n'a besoin de personne.
2) In a similar vein, Tu Vuo Fa' L' Americano, by Renato Carosone. Skipping over the Brian Setzer cover directly to Sophia Loren's performance for the English lyrics. tu vuoi vivere alla moda, ma se bevi "whisky and soda" po' te siente 'e disturba'! ("You wanna live alla moda but when you drink whisky and soda, all you do is sing off key")
3) Neko Case - Thrice All American. Another reading of this American Dream thing. There was nothing to put me in love with the good life, I'm in league with the gangs, guns and the crime. There was no hollow promise that life would reward you; there was nowhere to hide in Tacoma
4) Slim Cessna's Auto Club - Americadio. A little unsubtle, but Slim Cessna! (Submit 'em to us, submit 'em to our ways.)
5 & 6) Suicide: Rocket USA and -- I just found this cover OMG, Ghost Rider by Soft Cell and Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell, live in 1983. (baby baby baby he's a-screamin' the truth. america america is killin' its youth. (Really, the entire first album is an outstanding collection of commentary on American culture.)
7) One of my favorites provided I feel like crying, X - Fourth of July.