Soundtrack Sunday Celebrating America, On July 4th Weekend
Whether it’s a group of kids in a Sandlot playing baseball, a Captain of America, or a fighter these are a few of the songs of Summer and America
“Today is our Independence Day” okay well actually it is tomorrow. Happy 4th of July to all who celebrate. July 4th is a day we celebrate America with many traditions, from history, bbq’s, parades and fireworks, we all have our own special way of celebrating. There are many songs that are featured in movies that are patriotic. Here are some of my favorites, I hope you enjoy my picks today.
“You’re Killing Me Small” The Sandlot will always be 1 of my favorite movies. A group of boys in the summer playing America’s pastime Baseball in the neighborhood Sandlot. Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) is befriended by Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) a baseball phenom who has his sights set on being a baseball player when he grows up. The 4th of July is the only night they can play a night game because of the fireworks lighting the night sky. This is 1 of my favorite versions of “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles.
For all you Captain America fans we can’t forget the “Star Spangled Man With a Plan” I don’t think we can get more patriotic than our own Super Hero Captain America (Chris Evans).
1 of the most famous conductors and composers is John Williams. I could sit here and list all the amazing movies he has worked on but I won’t. Being from Boston Mr. Williams has a special part in our history being the Boston Pop’s Principal Conductor for 13 years. To me it isn’t 4th of July without the Boston Pop’s. 1 film that John Williams composed is Born on the Fourth of July a movie based on the life of Vietnam Veteran Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise).
Just because it isn’t set on the 4th of July Rocky IV is Patriotic. Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) enters the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his “Exhibition bout” with Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in an explosion of Red, White and Blue to James Brown singing “Living In America”. *Spoiler* unfortunately the fight doesn’t go the way it was supposed to and it ends up being Creed’s last fight.
My last song is in honor of my boyfriend…well actually most of these are. He is a big baseball fan, loves super hero’s, ROCKY is 1 of his all time favorite movies and what can I say he is a Neil Diamond fan. So from the Jazz singer, a story of a Jewish Cantor named Yussel (Neil Diamond) who wants to break free from the synagogue and become a singer named Jess. “America” is 1 of the songs that made The Jazz Singer soundtrack so successful
So I leave you with not a song, but probably 1 of the most famous speeches from a movie. In Independence Day President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) has everyone’s attention as he addresses the crew that will be taking down the alien ship. ” We Will Not Go Quietly Into The Night! We Will Not Vanish Without A Fight! We’re Going To Live On! We’re Going To Survive!”
May your Independence Day not be filled with Aliens, but family and friends. From all of us at Fandemonium We Wish You All a Happy and Safe July 4th.
