Theme song for each of the 50 states

Posted by: FireFox31

Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 12:20

In my quest to find something unique and interesting about all 50 states, I've been looking for the states' theme songs. I'm not talking about these songs or these songs (Google Music?? AllMusic killer???). I mean, songs that the states' residents feel represents their state. (and maybe I'm just sore because my NJ has no official state song)

Here's what I can think of off the top of my head:
Alabama - Sweet Home Alabama by The Allman Brothers
New Jersey - Jersey Girl by Bruce Springsteen
New York - New York, New York sung by Frank Sinatra
Ohio - Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

What are some others? There must be one for every state out there somewhere.
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 12:31

Hotel California - The Eagles
Posted by: larry818

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 13:00

Funky Western Civilization - Tonio K
Posted by: mlord

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 13:26

South Carolina:

James Taylor › Carolina In My Mind
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 13:58

Actually, that should be North Carolina. James Taylor grew up in Chapel Hill.
Posted by: ithoughti

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 14:44

Massachusetts - Dirty Water by the Standells

Although it's about Boston and played at Fenway Park after each Red Sox win, I feel it fits, as there isn't much else that's important about Massachusetts.


Georgia - Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
Posted by: tonyc

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 17/06/2006 14:46

I guess for Pennsylvania you gotta go with Glenn Miller's "Pennsylvania 6/5000." "Philadelphia Freedom" is a good one, but I don't think the rest of the state would be happy with that.

Others that come to mind just based on the name:

Georgia - Georgia on My Mind (take your pick of the thousand artists that have done it)
Nebraska - Nebraska (Bruce Springsteen)
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 03:09

Quote:
Hotel California - The Eagles


Truly!
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 03:11

Quote:

Georgia - Georgia on My Mind (take your pick of the thousand artists that have done it)



Thank you! I'll take Ray Charles please.
Posted by: peter

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 07:17

If only for the great title, Sufjan Stevens' Come On Feel The Illinoise...

Peter
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 08:28

Bowie's version of the Alabama Song is excellent
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 08:30

South Carolina (that's a state isn't it?) by Gil Scot Heron
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 08:32

New York, New York by the Last Poets
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 08:33

California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys (sooo much better than Hotel California)
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 08:40

I think I'll stop there, not sure these are the kinds of songs you're after.
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 09:43

Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash

That's Florida & California
Posted by: tahir

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 09:45

New England - Jonathan Richman
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 11:23

Quote:
Sweet Home Alabama by The Allman Brothers


That song is by Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the Allman Brothers.
Posted by: Cybjorg

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 16:28

Quote:
Quote:
Hotel California - The Eagles


Truly!


Or California Girls (Beach Boys) or California Dreamin' (Mamas and the Papas).
Posted by: Daria

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 19:40

Quote:
In my quest to find something unique and interesting about all 50 states, I've been looking for the states' theme songs. I'm not talking about these songs or these songs (Google Music?? AllMusic killer???). I mean, songs that the states' residents feel represents their state. (and maybe I'm just sore because my NJ has no official state song)

Here's what I can think of off the top of my head:
Alabama - Sweet Home Alabama by The Allman Brothers
New Jersey - Jersey Girl by Bruce Springsteen
New York - New York, New York sung by Frank Sinatra
Ohio - Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

What are some others? There must be one for every state out there somewhere.

CSNY's Ohio is an antiwar anthem. That's all I'm gonna say. Draw your own conclusion.
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 19:46

California's a tough one, but I'd pick "California Uber Alles" since I couldn't decide among the rest. I had no idea there was a Nebraska song. And I have a friend from Ohio who identifies with the CSNY anthem, which is the only reason it's on the list.

Illinois - The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace ???
I'll never understand that song.

Can't think of any others for some reason... Good call on the Georgia ones. Better than my "Midnight Train to Georgia" idea that I left out. Also, left out Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddamn".
Posted by: pgrzelak

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 18/06/2006 20:41

I am still waiting to see what kinds of things can be located for Wyoming...
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 19/06/2006 00:27

Alaska - Michelle Shocked - Anchorage

Never been there, but I can't think of any other Alaska songs.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 19/06/2006 02:13

Quote:
California's a tough one,

Depending on whether you loathe or love California, you have either Jonathan Coulton, or The Paperboys.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 19/06/2006 02:15

Truthfully, though, all state songs can be covered by a single song.
Posted by: JBjorgen

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 11:56

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Hotel California - The Eagles

Truly!

Or California Girls (Beach Boys) or California Dreamin' (Mamas and the Papas).


or maybe Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Arizona - Mark Lindsay or Paul Revere and the Raiders
Connecticut - Bing Crosby or Judy Garland
Hawaii - Beach Boys
New Mexico - Johnny Cash
Oklahoma - From the musical of the same name
Sweet Rhode Island Red - Ike and Tina Turner
Carolina Girls - Chairmen of the Board
God Blessed Texas - Little Texas
Posted by: russmeister

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 12:06

Quote:
South Carolina:

James Taylor › Carolina In My Mind


You've also got Shaggin' on the Boulevard by Alabama. The video for that song was recorded in Myrtle Beach and this type of dance originated along the coast of North and South Carolina. It's also South Carolina's state dance.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 13:56

There's a band named Alaska. I think their track "The Western Shore" is about Alaska. But I could be wrong.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 13:59

Or Wakko's America.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 14:03

Are there any good ones for Virginia? Preferably not country. Then again, I live in Northern Virginia, which is like a different state from the rest of it. I doubt if any songs about my state apply to my area.

In that case I'll have to find some for DC. Maybe I'll take a look at songs by Duke Ellington and Fugazi - not together, of course, though that would have been an interesting collaboration.
Posted by: Gallagher419

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 19:54

Neil Young's Southern Man for the whole south fits well!
Posted by: Mach

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 20/06/2006 20:03

West Virginia - Take me home, country roads

I heard a busker in a tube station the other night doing this song. It was amusing seeing the number of people coming up the escalator that were singing along.
Posted by: SonicSnoop

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 21/06/2006 08:25

Quote:
Are there any good ones for Virginia? Preferably not country. Then again, I live in Northern Virginia, which is like a different state from the rest of it. I doubt if any songs about my state apply to my area.

In that case I'll have to find some for DC. Maybe I'll take a look at songs by Duke Ellington and Fugazi - not together, of course, though that would have been an interesting collaboration.


I completely agree with you.. Northern Virginia is kinda its own place.. I was trying to think of a song for Northern Virginia or Virginia for that matter and I cant...
Posted by: JBjorgen

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 21/06/2006 10:53

Train - Meet Virginia
Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young
Rolling Stones - Sweet Virginia

Then again...none of those are actually referring to the state of Virginia
Posted by: siberia37

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 21/06/2006 13:41

I'll submit songs for my two states of residence in my life so far <sic>:
Missouri- 16 shells From a Thirty-Out-Six, Tom Waits
Washington- Nitemare Hippy Girl, Beck
Posted by: TigerJimmy

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 21/06/2006 19:13

Well, there's "North to Alaska" and "When its Springtime in Alaska, its 40 Below", both by Johnny Horton.

I was in this fantastic bar in Talkeetna Alaska, and when someone played "North to Alaska" the whole bunch of (armed) drunken Alaskans sang along. It was outrageous. 3AM drunken party and sunshine outside.
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Theme song for each of the 50 states - 22/06/2006 00:00

Quote:
Well, there's "North to Alaska" ...

Aha! Of course!
I would've sung along, too!