Best Songs About Each State: A-C
Challenge Accepted, 1-5 here.
Ah, America! Don’t look now, but we’re heading into that season of red, white, and blueness. In my part of the world, that generally means the 100-year weather events (that now happen every couple of years, thanks to climate change) start cranking up, and my animals get very jittery as things start exploding. But what better time to take a walk through musical America and listen to the best songs about every state in the Union? I’d love to hear your thoughts or criticisms, so let’s dive right in. (A handy playlist is at the bottom of the post)
Alabama: “Angel from Montgomery” - John Prine: I’m partial to Bonnie Raitt’s version, but Prine is never wrong and he’s never maudlin. And the woman he channels here isn’t either. This song is a simple masterpiece. Read what Prine himself said about it and try not to sympathize, I dare you.
Alaska: “Fairbanks, Alaska” - Joe Walsh. This is the one! Change my mind. Again, is it about Alaska specifically? No, but who cares? This is Mr. Walsh at his best. He’s bemused and confused, but there’s such a wonderful Garpian element to Mr. Walsh’s songwriting that it makes me happy. It’s as if he really can’t believe he gets to do this for a living, and that sentiment is infectious.
Arizona: “By The Time I Get To Arizona” - Public Enemy. Sorry, Arizona, but some of us remember how hard your elected officials and Arizona voters initially fought to keep MLK Day off their books. And I love the simplicity of its titular juxtaposition with “By the Time I get to Phoenix” (A close second choice BTW). I remember my group of friends saying something to the effect of: “You really gotta lean into your racism to deny your while damn state a Federal Holiday.” It’s hard to believe this happened, but Chuck D and Public Enemy remember, and you should learn about it if you don’t know already (bottom line: people suck, groups of people suck hard).
Arkansas: “Going Back To Arkansas” - Big Bill Broonzy. If you don’t know Big Bill Broonzy well, bless your heart, now you do, and you have no excuse not to dive into his catalog, which reaches back nearly 100 years, to about 1927. You read that right, 100 years, and it still pops as strong as anything you’ll listen to today.
California: “California Ube Alles” - Dead Kennedys. Sorry, but you can’t beat it. Jello Biafra is firing on all cylinders here, even channeling Shakespeare (look it up), as he considers the rise of fascism, even when it’s clothed in the trappings of a hippie utopia.
“It’s the suede denim secret police; they have come for your uncool niece.”
More of this kind of writing now, please. The references may be dated, but the sentiment is more relevant than ever.
PS: A close second? The Ramones version of “California Sun.”
I’ll do more of these in the coming weeks. But still, maybe you have better ideas, send them my way. I’d love talk talk about your thoughts. And the inclusion of Prine is a hat tip to a friend who commented on my aging birthday list. Prine deserves a mention as a true American treasure.
Stay cool.