10 Songs For Your 4th Of July Playlist!

We know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. We know who we’re gonna call when there’s something strange in our neighborhoods. But do we know which songs to blast as fireworks light up the sky on the Fourth of July? If your mind goes blank after “Yankee Doodle,” don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

Here are 10 songs—some obvious, some unexpected—that deserve a place on your Independence Day playlist!

1. "Waffle House" by The Jonas Brothers

Okay, okay, yes, starting off with a "hear me out" is a bold move, especially when the song in question isn’t exactly draped in stars and stripes. But we think we’ve built a pretty compelling case for this track — one that’s at least worth, well, hearing us out. "Waffle House" has become the Danny DeVito of American chain restaurants, earning its induction into the Hall of American Sweethearts with its 24/7 service, old-school diner charm, and (of course) killer waffles that leave us speechless, over the edge, and breathless. “Waffle House, it’s more of an idea of a place that we can go to that’s our comfort place,” Joe Jonas told the radio station. “I think people, a lot of listeners out there — you have a spot maybe your family went to growing up, or you go with friends, and you laugh, you cry, you fight, and you make up at this spot.” The Jonas Brothers’ “Waffle House” may not scream patriotism, but its celebration of late-night comfort and heartfelt chaos feels pretty American to us.

2. "Fourth of July" by Sufjan Stevens

If your familiarity with Sufjan Stevens is minimal — or worse, nonexistent — we highly encourage you to change that. The Illinois-born singer-songwriter is known for his poetic lyrics and richly layered music. He truly came into the spotlight after contributing to the soundtrack of the 2017 hit film Call Me By Your Name, where songs like “Futile Devices” and “Mystery of Love” captured the tender yearning of a Summer in northern Italy. While this song — the only one specifically named after the holiday — doesn’t celebrate Summer nights or carefree freedom, Stevens beautifully encapsulates grief and uses the Fourth of July as a metaphor for life’s fleeting brilliance.

3. "party 4 u" by Charli XCX

2024 may have claimed the title of the official BRAT Summer, but if we’re honest, that album isn’t just a collection of Summer bops — it’s a mindset, one that’s sure to thrive this year just as much as it did last. At this point, if you don’t have at least two Charli songs queued up, well… you might as well just burn those burger patties too. With an infectious chorus, the British singer-songwriter celebrates those unforgettable moments with friends that make Summer come alive: 1,000 pink balloons, birthday cakes in August, and DJing to your favorite songs. While none of us were lucky enough to score an invite to those parties, we can still picture our own special moments with friends — the ones that turn our Summers into something magical. The Fourth of July is just one big party 4 all of us.

4. "National Anthem" by Lana Del Rey

Any song that opens with the sound of fireworks is destined to earn a spot on our list. Lana came onto the music scene with a bang, thanks to hits like “Young and Beautiful” and “Summertime Sadness”, both of which have surpassed a billion listens. Her dreamy, cinematic style has made her a favorite among today’s music curators. This song, released as part of her 2012 breakout album Born to Die, is Lana’s way of claiming her own “national anthem” status, and that kind of iconic confidence is precisely what we’re looking for in 2025. To get the full effect, we recommend rolling down your car windows, cranking up the stereo, and letting your hand dance through the rushing wind. Bonus points if you find a red or blue bandana to tie in your hair.

5. "the last great american dynasty" by Taylor Swift

Taylor has entered the chat as one of those artists with a special knack for making us romanticize our Summers. With hits like “august” and her frequent features on everyone’s favorite Summer show, "The Summer I Turned Pretty", she knows just how to capture that feeling. This track, from her 2020 album folklore, stays true to Taylor’s signature style and holds a quiet beauty in its lyrics. Here, she writes and sings about the rambunctious socialite Rebekah Harkness, a powerful woman who was the talk of the town. In Swift’s words, Rebekah was known for “ruining everything” and even dying her neighbor’s dog key lime green as part of a feud. If you know Taylor, you know this is exactly the kind of woman she would admire. This song makes the perfect addition to any Independence Day playlist due to Taylor’s keen attention to detail and her ability to paint a picture through storytelling. Like an oil painting or the backdrop of a Broadway production, Taylor Swift uses her clever lyrics to paint an East Coast setting, one that reminds us of Jackie Kennedy, weathered porches, or nostalgia-pink hydrangeas.

6. "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band

Country music might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s hard to deny the heartfelt charm of this song, as simple and sweet as the iced tea it celebrates. “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band turns 20 this year, and even after all this time, its themes still ring true. In a world that constantly demands more and overwhelms us with overstimulation, the comforting words of this song remind us to cherish life’s simple pleasures — a pair of jeans that fit just right, pecan pie, and homemade wine. It encourages us not to place too much value on material things but instead to hold fast to love, community, and the simple blessings we have.

7. "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus

If a song could speak for itself, this would be it. Following Miley’s early career as a Disney Channel star, she released “Party in the U.S.A.” in 2009, and to say it shook the world like a Polaroid picture is no exaggeration. In all seriousness, this song was on repeat in nearly every American household. While Miley has continued to impress us with a long list of hits, it’s hard not to look back and appreciate this anthem, especially with the Fourth of July upon us. It’s the ultimate feel-good track, and few songs ever catch this level of danceability. We guarantee we’ll have our hands up and our hips swaying as soon as this one starts playing at the BBQ.

8. "American Pie" by Don McLean

The early-1970s were a time of unrest and reckoning, a mix of radical hope and profound disillusionment. Color, chaos, and cigarette smoke curled through diner booths. When a song captures a snapshot of an era — politically, socially, culturally, or poetically — it creates a powerful connection to those who lived through it. Don McLean’s 1971 hit is just that, having been referred to as a “cultural touchstone”. The song is packed with cultural references. McLean sings of Woodstock, The Beatles, and Vietnam, weaving in themes of belief in heroes and simpler times. At its core, it’s about the loss of innocence, although today its meaning has evolved into something quite different. On the Fourth of July, this is exactly the kind of song you can imagine singing alongside your neighbors, arms wrapped around each other. It invites us to look back, not with longing, but with appreciation and a sense of unity. We’ve endured, yes, but we’ve endured together, through both the good and the bad. It earns its place on our list not only because of its powerful message but because McLean delivers it with energy; a stirring piano, magnetic vocal inflections, and a melody that makes reflection feel like a communal celebration.

9. "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock

If there’s ever been a song that drops you right into the middle of memories you never actually lived, Kid Rock’s 2007 hit “All Summer Long” might be the one. American Summers have a unique magic, and people from all over the world take notice. From drive-in theaters and corn dogs to pontoon boats and road trips with the windows down, there’s a mystique to it all, promising Summer experiences that are both distinct and nostalgic. Kid Rock captures that feeling perfectly as he sings about Summer love in northern Michigan and the simple pleasures that come with it. To say it’s infectious would be an understatement. It just pulls you in, urging you to call your friends, make plans, and create some Summer memories of your own. That’s the secret sauce of this track, and exactly why we chose to include it on this list. It’s timeless in every sense of the word, bridging the gap between today’s youth and the youths of Summers past. It makes you feel like you’re part of one big, sun-drenched friend group, and that spirit of youth never fades.

10. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen

Everyone, we present to you the one — and if you disagree, we triple-dog dare you to search it on your favorite streaming platform and hit play. From the first second, this song takes off and doesn’t let you off the ride until nearly 5 minutes later. This song emulates everything good about the American dream, and as Springsteen sings with that coarse, raspy, magnificent voice of his, your memories start playing like a film reel in your mind. For some, it’s going to a baseball game with your dad. For others, it’s sitting on the front porch with your grandma, whose laugh you can still faintly hear if you close your eyes and listen for it. This song is Tom Cruise in Top Gun. It’s frogs and crickets harmonizing on a Summer night. It’s catching fireflies in mason jars. Coke from glass bottles. Your uncle dozing off on the couch. Washing the car in the driveway. The ordinary scenes that become extraordinary in memory. While it would be foolish to ignore the creases and stains in the fabric of our country, it’s just as important to notice the beauty, wherever you can find it. And Springsteen helps us do exactly that.