Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" Took a Dip in Airplay This Independence Day
Since the song's inaugural release in 1984, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" has been the soundtrack for Independence Day. In fact, the song's popularity soared after the September 11 attacks and during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the song was re-released as a single, re-entering the country music charts at No. 16 and peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 2001. However, this year over Independence Day, the song has dipped significantly in airplay.
A Gallup poll released over the holidays indicated that fewer than half of Americans are extremely proud of their citizenship. Some 47 percent of respondents self-identified as extremely proud, the lowest figure in the 17 years that Gallup has tracked the question. Also setting a new low was the 72 percent combination of extremely proud and very proud participants. "God Bless the U.S.A." slipped 33 percent in airplay this year.
Greenwood wrote God Bless the U.S.A. in response to his feelings about the shooting down of Korean Air Lines Flight 007. He said that he "wanted to write it my whole life. When I got to that point, we were doing 300 days a year on the road, and we were on our fourth or fifth album on MCA. I called my producer, and I said I have a need to do this. I've always wanted to write a song about America, and I said we just need to be more united." As for writing the song itself, Greenwood wrote that it more or less "wrote itself", and that the lyrics flowed naturally from the music as a reflection of his pride to be American.
Tags : lee greenwood lee greenwood god bless the usa lee greenwood news independence day
Hot Trends
-
Watch Colton Dixon, Danny Gokey and Melinda Doolittle Pay Tribute to Mandisa on "American Idol"
-
Travis Cottrell, Beth Moore, Fisk Jubilee Singers & More Pay their Respects at Mandisa's Funeral
-
Lawrence Jamal Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence Charge
-
Anna Crenshaw, Indecent Assault Victim, Turns Down Hillsong Church Settlement Deal
-
"American Idol" to Air Live Tribute to Mandisa
-
Point of Grace Inducted Into South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame
-
Planetboom Releases "Till The Walls Come Down;" Featured On New Album Out May 17
-
Down East Boys’ “He Looked Beyond My Fault” Offers a Profound Message
-
V1 Worship Drops New Song “Your House”
-
The Tragic End of Kingdom Heir's Founder Steve French
-
Jeff Deyo, Brenton Brown, Charlie Hall, and More Reimagine Powerful '90s Worship Songs
-
Hillsong Worship Former Leader Miriam Webster Gets Married
-
Natalie Grant is #1 Most Added at AC Radio with Dolly Parton Collaboration, “Step By Step”
-
Cochren & Co. Release New Single "One Day"
-
Brandon Heath Releases His First Single Of 2024 Tour; Launches Tour with Josh Wilson & Natalie Layne
Most Popular
-
Watch Colton Dixon, Danny Gokey and Melinda Doolittle Pay Tribute to Mandisa on "American Idol"
-
Travis Cottrell, Beth Moore, Fisk Jubilee Singers & More Pay their Respects at Mandisa's Funeral
-
Lawrence Jamal Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence Charge
-
Anna Crenshaw, Indecent Assault Victim, Turns Down Hillsong Church Settlement Deal
-
"American Idol" to Air Live Tribute to Mandisa
-
Point of Grace Inducted Into South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame
-
Planetboom Releases "Till The Walls Come Down;" Featured On New Album Out May 17
-
Down East Boys’ “He Looked Beyond My Fault” Offers a Profound Message
-
V1 Worship Drops New Song “Your House”
-
The Tragic End of Kingdom Heir's Founder Steve French
-
Jeff Deyo, Brenton Brown, Charlie Hall, and More Reimagine Powerful '90s Worship Songs
-
Hillsong Worship Former Leader Miriam Webster Gets Married
-
Natalie Grant is #1 Most Added at AC Radio with Dolly Parton Collaboration, “Step By Step”
-
Cochren & Co. Release New Single "One Day"
-
Brandon Heath Releases His First Single Of 2024 Tour; Launches Tour with Josh Wilson & Natalie Layne