The 10 best American patriotic songs

The loveliest of all American anthems, sung by one of the loveliest of all Americans… one who endured his fair share of the country’s ugliness and still managed to earnestly sing the definitive version of this song. President Barack Obama called it ‘the most patriotic piece of music ever performed.’ It’s hard to argue. As a bonus, Charles also wrote the grade-school perrennial ‘Fifty Nifty United States,’ which is a little less patriotic but no less essential. 

This sappy but undeniably sincere ballad hits all the soft spots: supporting the troops, loving your neighbor, giving it up for religion. Adorned with a rousing chorus and uncontroversial feel-good message (take some notes, Toby Keith), it's become the go-to track for political conventions, military morale-boosting, and Six Flags laser light shows. The song's been re-released multiple times to coincide with various national events, including the death of Osama Bin Laden. Fact: It has been played during every 4th of July fireworks display since 1984.

On The Dick Cavett Show in 1969, Jimi was questioned about his ‘unorthodox’ interpretation of the national anthem. His response: ‘I thought it was beautiful.’ And of course, he was right. His feedback-drenched, cacophonous version updated the anthem for a more ragged, confusing time, but also made use of Hendrix’s electric power (both literal and spiritual) to enhance its true-blue glory. It’s the moment American patriotism went electric.

Consummate showman Diamond’s ode to the American immigrant diaspora is an arena-ready rocket straight from the heart, with Diamond even taking a break at the end of the song to earnestly croon ‘My Country, Tis of Thee’ for good measure. It’s the track where the Jewish Elvis comes down to Earth to pay tribute to all newcomers... and as the son of Polish and Russian immigrants, his message at once universal and deeply personal.

Recorded for the series of jingoistic training montages that comprise the bulk of the ultra-jingoistic Rocky IV (wherein Rocky punches Communism to death) ‘Living in America’ is classic Godfather of Soul: walloping, vibrant horns create a funky bed on which Brown yelps and struts until he—and we—can barely take any more. The tune’s assessment of affairs is fun and uncomplicated: ‘I live in America.’ That's really all you need.

The Man in Black spent his career exploring the very concept of American masculinity and the rough edges of the American experience – sometimes dissenting, often eulogizing, always reverential – and this somber spoken-word piece about a battered, historically significant Old Glory is rife with rich symbolism, serving as a history lesson about the flag’s place on the battlefield.

Simon and Garfunkel's narrative of lovers on a cross-country odyssey manages to capture America in its extremes – the soaring possibility and the crippling despair, the unmatched beauty and the barren emptiness. The willingness to embrace dualities and ask questions is the real source of patriotic strength here: How can we fulfill our potential if we don’t understand who we are and where we're going?

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone often get dinged for their ‘both sides are idiots’ approach to politics, but you have to give them credit for giving the left and the right something wonderful in this de-facto Team America theme. Lefties get to ironically scream the lyrics fully aware that it's a biting satire of chest-bumping jingoism. And conservatives get to yell ‘America, Fu*k Yeah’ wihtout realising the song is brazenly making fun on them. Having it both ways? That's America, baby. FUCK YEAH!

John Denver’s first and biggest hit pays loving tribute to the gorgeous landscape and easy-living style of the rural South. Name-checking the Blue Ridge Mountains, the entire state of West Virginia and of course, moonshine, the song makes a rosy case for the simple pleasures of home. Ironically, Denver's writing partner, Bill Danoff, wrote the lyrics purely out of imagination. He was a Massachusetts native and had never visited West Virginia.

Hip-hop has always had a fraught relationship with the country that birthed it, leaning hard towards social protest rather than celebration. If there’s a party happening, the theme is generally success in spite of oppression. Jeezy doesn't resist those urges on his Obama track, shouting out his cars and his money, and decrying the continued state of affairs for black America. But the hope is undeniable: ‘We ready for damn change so ya'll let the man shine.’ Notably, the hip-hop world would spend the following four years penning very different tracks regarding the Oval Office.