3 Patriotic Pop Songs That Will Always Remain Ageless

In the 1980s, no one seemed to rule the pop-rock genre quite like Bruce “the Boss” Springsteen.  Known for his socially conscious mindset, Springsteen’s lyrics always reflected working-class American life.  Ultimately, the New Jersey-born rock pioneer created hits that we all could relate to. As a result, it’s no surprise that “Born in the U.S.A.” will never fade into obscurity.  Released on October 30, 1984, the massive pop-rock hit was brilliantly delivered in Springsteen’s trademark raspy tone.  Its boisterous chorus, perfectly sung in repetition, still makes it one of the most favored sing-alongs in music history.

Contrary to many assumptions, “Born in the U.S.A.” is a loving ode to America. Instead, it describes a disillusioned Vietnam veteran as a tragic figure who feels alienated upon his return from the war.  The song’s pleasantly energetic sound led fans away from acknowledging the bitter critiques of American policy and society. This behavior was common with many unless they took the time to listen to the lyrics.

Born in the U.S.A.” peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1985. After becoming available for download in 2016, it sold over a million digital copies in the U.S.  To date, the Born in the U.S.A. album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. This allowed it to become Springsteen’s best-selling album, as well as one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Living in America(1985)

For decades, hit-making seemed effortless for James Brown. After a brief hiatus, the South Carolina-born Godfather of Soul returned with the upbeat patriotic staple, “Living in America”.  The same year of its release, the song was prominently featured in the Sylvester Stallone film Rocky IV.  In the film, Brown had a cameo appearance while performing the song during Apollo Creed’s ring entrance.  The performance was in reference to Creed’s patriotic image. It also appeared on the Rocky IV Soundtrack.

Written by Charlie Midnight and Dan Hartman, the funky, horn-driven tune reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song entered the Billboard Top 40  in 1986 and remained on the chart for 11 weeks. Additionally, it became a top-five hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart.  At the 29^th Annual Granny Awards in 1987, “Living in America” was nominated for Best R&B Song and won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Party in the USA (2009)

With its catchy lyrics and superb production, “Party in the USA” remains one of the most popular patriotic pop anthems. Additionally, written by Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly, the song was melodically executed by Miley Cyrus.  Still basking in her Hannah Montana fame, a then 16-year-old Cyrus had people of all ages singing and dancing along to this platinum pop classic. Along with many others, the lively hit single further solidified her status as a teen idol.  The Grease-inspired accompanying video proved to be the perfect aesthetic to bring the song’s lyrics to life.

In the United States, “Party in the USA” charted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Since its radio debut in July of 2009, “Party in the USA” has sold six million in pure sales and over 1.6 billion streams on Spotify. To date, its accompanying music video has received over 1 billion views on YouTube. It remains one of the best singles of all time

Patriotic pop songs will never die

No matter how old they are, these three patriotic pop songs will never leave most playlists. Additionally, they will always represent the spirit of America in their own unique and melodic way.