What makes an American song? A USC professor’s test

what makes – A USC musicology professor says an American song should invite people in—something communal, shaped by changing times, and still able to stand the test of time. The “Sunday Morning” Essential American Songbook pairs iconic performances with the reasoning behin

When Nate Sloan tries to explain what it means to be American, he doesn’t start with politics or promises. He starts with sound.

“Almost impossible question,” Sloan, a professor of musicology at USC’s Thornton School of Music, said. “One of the ways we might try and answer that is through music.”

His basic question is surprisingly simple: what does America actually sound like at different points in time?. He points to Ray Charles singing “America the Beautiful. ” Mahalia Jackson’s performance of “We Shall Overcome. ” and Bob Dylan in 1963 at the Newport Folk Festival singing “Blowin’ In The Wind.”.

Asked what makes a quintessential American song, Sloan said it has to be something people can join—something shared. “It has to be something that people can sing along to,” he said. “I think an American song needs to be communal.”

He also argues that American songs don’t have to speak with one voice. “And beyond that, I think an American song can take a lot of different forms,” Sloan said. “I think it can be something that comments on society and our nation in some way.”

In one direction, that’s a song like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” In another, it can be timeless comfort. Sloan named Hawaiian artist Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” as an example of a song that “can simply be a song that has stood the test of time.”

What ties all of it together, Sloan said, is the sheer mix of America itself. “What’s so unique about our country is the plurality of cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds we have here.”

That pluralism shows up in the song selections—whether the music leans toward tradition, argument, or simple endurance. Composer George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is described as a “beguiling mixture of classical and jazz,” a reminder that American music has long blended worlds.

Even the way the “Sunday Morning” jury talks about favorites suggests a wide range of what “American” can mean in practice. Among the top favorites was Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

But when Sloan was asked about what sits at the center, he didn’t waver.

“If there is a #1, it’s this Woody Guthrie tune: ‘This Land Is Your Land,’” Sloan said. “It’s such a powerful homage to this country,” he said. “It’s not overly nationalistic. It doesn’t take sides. It’s a message we can all relate to. This land is our land.”

Still, the list doesn’t try to smooth out the contradictions. The gap between songs is part of the point.

Billie Holiday’s devastating song about lynching. “Strange Fruit. ” isn’t far from the Beach Boys classic “God Only Knows.” Sloan called the sprawl itself an accurate reflection of the country. “The songs on this list are kind of all over the place,” the piece notes, and Sloan agrees. “We’re a diverse country, and we’re a young country,” he said. “This list is almost like the wild, wild west of music. Anything goes!. The sort of chaos of that is actually a beautiful representation of America itself.”.

That sense of “anything goes” extends beyond the theory. The “Sunday Morning” Essential American Songbook is described as including 250 “Essential Songs,” which are online through Spotify.

As a sample, the program also includes performances by artists sharing their favorites. Jon Batiste plays “Georgia On My Mind.”

Story production is credited to Reid Orvedahl, with editor Lauren Barnello. The “Sunday Morning” Essential American Songbook credits list includes production by Emily Lazar. Mark Hudspeth. Liza Monasebian. Young Kim and Robert Marston. Graphic design is credited to Andro Buenta, and design and development to Grace Manthey. Editing and project leadership are credited to Jamie Reysen and John Kelly. The Executive Producer for “Sunday Morning” is Rand Morrison.

American music Nate Sloan USC Thornton School of Music Essential American Songbook Sunday Morning Woody Guthrie This Land Is Your Land Aretha Franklin Respect Billie Holiday Strange Fruit Bob Dylan Blowin' In The Wind Mahalia Jackson We Shall Overcome Ray Charles America the Beautiful