Top 10 Songs to Celebrate the 4th of July
Want to celebrate the Fourth of July with a different flavour than the usual patriotic playlist additions? We’ve got a sweet mix of songs for you to listen to!
From party-pumping hip-hop to rocking American anthems, this list will guarantee to get the good times rolling whether you’re planning on flying the flag, fireworks, family and friend get-togethers or just kicking it at home. Let’s get into Funktasy’s Fourth of July tunes!
Diet Pepsi by Addison Rae
What’s more American than a cold can of a cola beverage? Hot off her debut album, Addison, Rae has created a perfect, timeless summer jam. The track is an effortlessly cool blend of Y2K pop nostalgia (very American!), which sounds perfectly tailored to pool parties and getting ready with your friends.
“You and I” by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga turns a country-hearted song into a foot-stomping glam rock anthem. It’s Americana with a pop punch, and it is unmistakably Gaga. The Born This Way album calls back to her New York roots with a whole album packed to the brim with themes of queer liberation, self-righteousness and finding yourself. The record released in 2013 rocked the nation and sparked many conversations about how marginalized groups are treated in America. She rightfully earned her place on our “Top 10 Female Artists of 2025” list.
American Teenager by Ethel Cain
Coming from one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the past five years, Ethel Cain delivers an exhilarating single from the perspective of, well, an American Teenager. Cain’s storytelling takes the wheel in this song, telling a tale of teenage suffering in the Deep South. This song (of course) has a heavy Americana influence, with a guitar solo that is directly sampled from Journey’s all-American classic rock jam “Don’t Stop Believin”. American Teenager is a catchy critique of American Patriotism and by far one of the most soulfully driven songs released in the past decade.
Summer of ‘69 by Bryan Adams
Nothing says Fourth of July like a song that feels like freedom, youth and a nice warm summer breeze. “Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams has that exact feeling. Despite being from Canada, Adams managed to craft one of the most timeless American classics, exploring themes of young love and summer mischief.
She’s American by The 1975
The title is pretty self-explanatory, and it checks every box of a classic summer jam. The band’s trademark 80s synth beats practically replicate driving through a city lit up by fireworks. The tune captures the carefree yet heavy feeling of the fourth of July – windows down, warm air and a night glowing with vibrant energy with family and friends. Coincidentally, the rumoured muse, Halsey, released her song New Americana about counterculture in the U.S.
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
This list would not be complete without a mention of “The boss”. Born in the USA was Springsteen’s response to America’s encroaching drift into fascism in the late 1970s. This was post-Vietnam War, when soldiers were arriving back at their homes traumatized and disillusioned. The song has since been used as a reminder of what true American patriotism looks like: a love for who makes the country unite, not the people who tear it apart.
National Anthem by Lana Del Rey
Perhaps the best alternative 4th of July song out there, this has also been crowned the “national anthem” of Gen-Z. Lana Del Rey has cemented herself as Miss Americana, with her aesthetic calling back directly to themes of old Hollywood and Route 66 glam.
Your Love by The Outfield
This song is the personification of everything you imagine when you think of a classic, All-American teenage Friday night, just like in the movies. The bittersweet lyrics paint a perfect picture of a fleeting high school heartbreak. The Outfield made a time capsule of youth, freedom and summer mischief. A perfect song for a Fourth of July barbecue.
Alter Ego by Doechii and JT
A dance floor anthem in the truest form, this recent Hip-House hit can get any crowd riled up. The music video is even a direct love letter to Doechii’s childhood in Florida, as well as her fan base, which is lovingly labelled “The Swamp”. She recently dropped this at the Glastonbury festival, tearing up the stage as we anticipated in our article on “Glastonbury 2025 – Ones to Watch”.
Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan
Roan’s overnight success story is something out of an American storybook. “Pink Pony Club”, which was released in 2017, years before Chappell Roan became a household name, adds all the suspense to the song. The song tells a tale that most queer people can identify with; going against your loved one’s wishes and dancing at the said “pink pony club”, which can be seen as a metaphor for living your life as your true, authentic self. The guitar riff during the outro commits to the song’s spirit of being an outcry of individualism and queerness.
There we have it! From songs out of the 70s to The 1975, Bruce to Bryan, Lana to Lady Gaga, this playlist of Funktasy favourites will get your Fourth of July celebrations truly underway. We might not always see eye-to-eye on everything, but we can all agree on one thing: good music is good music. So let’s celebrate our nation’s holiday with these top-quality tunes!
