On Veteran’s Day weekend, I put my Pandora station on “patriotic songs” for a change of pace and while listening it really hit home how much things have changed in American discourse between then and now.
They were classic songs we’ve all likely heard many, many times. But as I listened it really struck me how by today’s standards, many of the songs would be considered “not politically correct.”
Isn’t it ironic that these same songs that once described the basic ideals our country was founded upon, described who we were as a nation, would now likely be considered by many to be offensive? Unacceptable? Need trigger warnings?
There is something very wrong with that. Isn’t there? Because if that’s not who we are anymore, then who are we?
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Some things are enduring. This is the favorite for the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert and is the second to the last played. The last is the Stars and Stripes Forever. I think it helps if there aren’t lyrics. By the way, the concert is outdoors and they have real guns.
Spawny Get noticed something in the runup to Brexit. Women objected to patriotic music. Perhaps it is being so removed from being soldiers or sailors?
I remember many patriotic songs from the years of running in formation. None of which are repeatable around you women.
Then too, I recall being in a platoon once with 10 (ten) Texans. That was when I was introduced to the singer/songwriter named David Allen Coe and if I never hear the “greatest country song” again it will be too soon. Then too, there were all the songs that absolutely could not be played on the radio.
Patriotic songs and even good songs reflect the idea of free speech where somebody can talk about or sing about anything they want on whatever subject. You used to hear people say things that were strongly worded opinions that might not be popular. And somebody else would disagree with the opinion, but they’d wind up saying something like this:
Well, it’s a free country,..
Ever notice how nobody ever says anything like that any more? That nobody ever mentions that it’s a free country any longer? When was the last time you heard that said by a serious person? Guess what? Nobody had to be told that it isn’t a free country any more, they just look around and know which way the wind is blowing. Which is why you don’t hear patriotic songs any longer.
Pfsh, our national anthem has a part in it claiming how we’ve always honored the king of Spain, though we had our quarrels with Spain before, to say the least. Be glad there is such a thing as patriot songs at all for you guys at all, even if they are old. The best we do is amused self-deprecation.
So true Toad, I haven’t heard anyone say, “Well, it’s a free country” and agree to disagree in awhile…
HH As I recall, you’re from the Netherlands, right? And when Spain invaded you guys opened the dykes and kicked their asses. That was a masterful case of early asymmetric warfare with weaponized dykes. And you know what? The winners not only write the history, they get to make up the songs too. Did the dykes get any of the credit?
Patriotic music for Happyhousewifey.
i don’t think that you ever said where you were form but, I guessed the Low Countries uhntil today.
Then:
Now:
Did the dykes get any of the credit?
Rachel Maddow probably knows the answer she does
What you did there, I see. đŸ˜›
Ana Kasparian and Megyn Kelly prolly knows too.
Of course they know. They all have a lot of experience covering dykes from back when Katrina came to town.
I never specified, just goes to show that Americans are able to distinguish between European countries! I would never be able to guess which states you Americans come from.
The Wilhelmus is the national anthem. And it has that line about the king of Spain in it! The song ought to say that God created the sea but the Dutch created land and for such a tiny country we produce an undue amount of scientists. Most people either steal their land from others or just stumble upon it. We our more deserving of our inherited land IMO.
There are no popular songs about our heroes or history, only a little childrens song about a Dutch government endorsed pirate (forgot how they are called) who got a whole fleet of silver off the enemies (we’re still a little smug about that). And a few neo-pagan songs about the beauty of the land.
“Well, it’s a free country,..”
This spirit has indeed been eroded and is in serious danger of being lost altogether–see my post Sell Your Soul or Lose Your Livelihood:
http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/54174.html
Happyhousewifey,
Glad that you liked it.
George Liquor American,
I believe that Rachel Maddow has declared herself a lesbian. Ana Kasparian and Megyn Kelly are both heterosexual, as far as I know. However, gender fluidity is a popular concept among American women.
@ David sadly what was once unthinkable has come to pass. Hopefully new prevailing winds will sweep away that pollution rather than compound it.