DerekPlease.com wishes you a Happy Independence Day! Enjoy the only pop songs that matter today, ones that celebrate 'Murica.
Spotify Playlist:
Apple Music Playlist:
Go to my Derek Scott artist page on Apple Music.
YouTube Playlist:
1. Lana Del Rey, "National Anthem"
An absolute masterpiece to kick off this epic U! S! A! playlist. Check out her Marilyn Monroe cover of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," which begins this modern pop video retelling of the tragic assassination of JFK.
Trivia: A$AP Rocky plays the POTUS.
2. Miley Cyrus, "Party in the USA"
UK pop singer/songwriter Jessie J originally wrote this for herself, but gave it to Miley Cyrus. God bless the Britney shoutout.
3. Jada, "American Cowboy"
One of those perfect 2008-2009 RedOne-produced pop songs that the general public never caught on to. Yee haw!
4. RuPaul, "American"
The title track on his latest studio album, RuPaul's "American" is a defiant pop jam that celebrates the melting pot and land of love that should be America.
5. Madonna, "American Life"
Part of the American Dream is to create and live without censorship, something Madonna herself couldn't do with this sanitized Dubya-era music video; search "American Life Madonna uncut" on YouTube for the real tea!
6. Bonnie McKee, "American Girl"
Can't we let Bonnie McKee have a hit? If Katy Perry sang this song, it would have been the Song of the Summer. Ugh!
Trivia: Bonnie McKee co-wrote most of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" era hits.
7. Mariah Carey, "America the Beautiful (Target Bonus Track)"
Nobody can sing the basics quite like this diva! #LambForLife
Bonus points for this being the most random Target bonus track ever.
8. Rihanna, "American Oxygen"
Wrongfully considered a flop, this actually great and soulful pop anthem was ahead of its time.
9. AAA Girls, "American Apparel Ad Girls (feat. Courtney Act, Alaska 5000 & Willam)
Great references to American pop culture past and present. Drag queens rock!
10. Britney Spears, "Piece of Me"
A flawless and complete take down of the public's celebrity and tabloid obsession, something America pioneered and has spread worldwide.
11. Dave Matthews Band, "American Baby"
Yes, I'm okay; yes, I willingly included a Dave Matthews song on my playlist. It's a bop!
12. Green Day, "American Idiot"
Green Day's rockin' and scathin' critique of American apathy is even more relevant in 2017.
13. Kevin Federline, "America's Most Hated"
Unlucky #13! Despite flopping, Kevin Federline's only studio album contains some decent production from 00s hip-hop/pop king JR Rotem heard here.
14. David Bowie, "Young Americans"
Pour out a cold one for our fallen friend, David Bowie, who brilliantly wrote about America in several songs.
15. Halsey, "New Americana"
Probably the least controversial Halsey song, in that everyone knows it's a total bop.
16. The Muffs, "Kids In America"
I considered several many versions of this classic, youthful anthem, but something about the Clueless version far exceeds even the original.
17. Mariana and the Diamonds, "Hollywood"
Kinda like David Bowie, Marina's outsider perspective of America lends to flawless pop/rock critiques.
18. Lady Gaga, "Americano"
Fun Fact: I didn't like this song until Kate Hudson covered it on Glee.
19. Lenny Kravitz, "American Woman"
One of those flawless covers that erases the memory of the original from the public consciousness.
20. Madonna, "American Pie"
The original Don McLean version is honestly better, but Madge further pop-ifies the song in her Y2K lite cover of this American classic.
21. Lana Del Rey, "American"
I could honestly include the entire "Paradise - EP" by Lana Del Rey on this playlist, because it's all based on this sort of Route 66, classic Bruce Springsteen fan sorta feeling.
22. Adore Delano, "My Address Is Hollywood"
A Mexican-American drag queen proudly celebrating their success over a juicy pop beat? Here for it!
23. Morningwood, "New York Girls"
You remember it as the flawless New York Fashion Week runway song in the first Sex and the City movie. I remember it as a standout track on Morningwood's would-be-iconic self-titled debut LP.
24. Carrie Underwood, "Cowboy Casanova"
I have not forgotten my country divas! Carrie Underwood serves up some flaw-free Nashville pop fit for the Great American Songbook.
25. Sheryl Crow, "Halfway There"
Sheryl Crow's sound is hard to define, which is probably why she stopped trying this go-around. Instead, she presents this beautiful mesh of genres along with a eyebrow-raising animated video featuring POTUS Donald J. Trump himself. An anthem of peace and mutual understanding we should all listen to right now!
Huh huh, huh huh, that's all folks!
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