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Music shapes us. It defines movements, sparks revolutions, and captures moments that words alone cannot express. Some songs transcend their era and become woven into the national fabric, influencing generations and shifting culture. Here are ten tracks that changed America forever, though whether you agree with this list might spark some heated debate.
The Star-Spangled Banner – Francis Scott Key
On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812, and the sight of those broad stripes and bright stars inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem. What many don’t realize is that Congress passed the bill making it the national anthem, and President Herbert Hoover signed it into law in 1931, meaning it took over a century for the song to achieve its official status. Key’s song became especially popular and a powerful expression of patriotism during the Civil War, with its emotional description of the enduring national flag, which had become the symbol of the still-new nation. A recent poll reports that two-thirds of Americans do not know all the words to the first verse of their own national anthem, which is somewhat ironic considering how frequently we hear it.
Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-01-16 13:14:00
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