Songs About America
Join Jim and Greg for the ultimate Independence Day celebration. They’ll play their favorite Songs About America and hear some of your picks.
Music News
First up in the news this week is the federal court ruling against RMG Technologies. Ticketmaster accused the software company of selling software that floods their web site, preventing other customers from securing tickets. A judge ordered RMG to pay the ticketing giants $18 million dollars and banned them from further activity, but Jim and Greg are sure that there's another software designer just waiting in the wings to pick up with the "scalping" where RMG left off.
Guns ‘N’ Roses fans haven't heard a peep since 1991's Use Your Illusion II, but now parts of the highly anticipated new album Chinese Democracy have leaked. But, Axl Rose doesn't seem so happy about it. His label not only ordered the leaker to cease and desist, but he worked with the F.B.I. to seek him out and question him. That leaker, known as Skwerl, describes the agents as Mulder and Scully types, and Jim and Greg wonder why they don't have anything better to do. They think Axl would be better off spending less time and money on alienating listeners and more on making music.
Songs About America
Sound Opinions celebrates Independence Day this week with Jim and Greg's favorite Songs about America. These are great rock songs that capture our country's spirit -- the good, the bad and the ugly.
Jim
- Bob Marley, "Buffalo Soldier"
- MC5, "Back in the U.S.A."
- Talking Heads, "The Big Country"
- Robyn Hitchcock, "America"
Greg
- Chuck Berry, "Promised Land"
- Sam Cooke, "A Change is Gonna Come"
- Randy Newman, "Sail Away"
- Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"
Listeners’ Picks:
- Jen from Brooklyn, NY: Simon & Garfunkel, "America"
- Jim from Exton, PA: Drive-By-Truckers, "Sink Hole"
- Paco from San Juan, PR: James Brown, "Living in America"
Featured Songs
- Cheap Trick, "Ballad of T.V. Violence," Cheap Trick, Epic, 1977
- Miley Cyrus, "7 Things," Breakout, Hollywood, 2008
- Guns 'N' Roses, "Chinese Democracy," Chinese Democracy, Interscope, 2008
- Devo, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, Warner Bros., 1978
- Jimi Hendrix, "Star Spangled Banner," Woodstock I, n/a, 1970
- Bob Marley, "Buffalo Soldier," Confrontation, Island, 1983
- Chuck Berry, "Promised Land," Reelin' & Rockin', n/a, 1959
- Blur, "Magic America," Parklife, Food, 1994
- Woody Guthrie, "This Land is Your Land," This Land is Your Land, n/a, 1967
- MC-5, "Back in the USA," Back in the USA, Atlantic, 1970
- Sam Cooke, "A Change is Gonna Come," Ain't That Good News, RCA, 1964
- Simon & Garfunkel, "America," Bookends, Columbia, 1968
- Drive-by-Truckers, "Sink Hole," Decoration Day, New West, 2003
- The Talking Heads, "The Big Country," More Songs About Buildings and Food, Sire, 1978
- Neil Diamond, "America," The Jazz Singer, Capitol, 1980
- James Brown, "Living in America," Rocky IV, Scotti Brothers, 1985
- Randy Newman, "Sail Away," Sail Away, Reprise, 1972
- Robyn Hitchcock, "America," Gotta Let This Hen Out!, Relativity, 1985
- Public Enemy, "Fight the Power," Do The Right Thing, Motown, 1988
- Estelle, "American Boy," Shine, Homeschool, 2008
- Rhymefest, "Thriller Skit" and "Get Up," Man in the Mirror, self-released, 2008
- Lupe Fiasco, "Kick Push," Food and Liquor, Atlantic, 2006
Dear Listeners,
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