Image credit : @sanfield71 via pinterest
The story of America has always been conveyed through music. Some songs are so much associated with their states that using a single opening note, one is immediately transported to that state. The most famous combinations of American musical history are these ten pairings.
Alabama, Sweet Home Alabama
No one has a song like Alabama has this one. The 1974 classic of Lynyrd Skynyrd is known everywhere – here is the twist. None of the band members was an Alabama native. All from Florida. Alabama had taken possession thereof, and rightly, good luck to them.
California, Hotel California
Get California to leave it to California to have a glamorous and unsettling song at the same time. Something the Eagles hit about the Golden State in 1977 is true: sunshine concealing darkness below. No one has brought California down to this since then.
Georgia, Georgia On My Mind
Ray Charles not only sang this, but he breathed into every note. What began as a Hoagy Carmichael standard was transcendent in his hands. In 1979, it became the official state song of Georgia. Nobody could emanate government policy with such soulfulness as Ray Charles.
New York -New York State of Mind
This was written on a Los Angeles bus by Billy Joel as he desperately missed New York in 1976. Officially, the state song is actually the tourism ditty I Love New York, although still, no one ever felt their heart swell singing that one like this.
Arizona, All My Exes Live in Arizona
This 1987 country number one hit was, at the same time, George Strait celebrated and was roasting Texas. Warm and humorous, right on point in a state that does not take itself too seriously. Texas heard and at once replied yes, that is us.
West Virginia- Take Me Home, Country Roads
In 1971, Denver had never been to West Virginia when he penned this. It was indeed adopted by the state in 2014. West Virginians of the generations consider it the most touching letter of love that their homeland ever received.
Louisiana – House of the Rising Sun
Knowing that it is about New Orleans, the opening chord comes out differently. Something really haunting indeed was recorded by The Animals in 1964. The real official anthem of Louisiana is You Are My Sunshine – though nothing could be a better hallucination of the very spirit of that city than Rising Sun.
Nevada – Viva Las Vegas
Elvis recorded this for his 1964 film, and has given Nevada the highlight of its song forever. Today, everywhere you can hear it walking the Strip. It ceased to be a song- it is merely the breathing of Las Vegas.
Illinois, Sweet Home Chicago
This was recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936, with his initial lyrics making a strange reference to California. The state song is only known as Illinois. But Sweet Home Chicago made the emotional anthem of the city all by itself – Chicago could not have it otherwise.
About the Author
