The result: A diverse list of 250 songs, from all musical genres, that reflects a beautiful representation of America itself. Correspondent Tracy Smith reports.
Also: A special performance by Jon Batiste of "Georgia On My Mind."
250 Years, 250 Songs
Rather than creating a "Top 250" ranked list, CBS News Sunday Morning assembled The Essential American Songbook, a collection of 250 songs chosen by 90 notable Americans in honor of the United States' 250th anniversary. Contributors included musicians, actors, historians, athletes, writers, and other public figures. Each person selected songs they felt best define America through its music.
The project is interactive, allowing you to see:
- Which contributor chose each song.
- Why they chose it (for many selections).
- Multiple versions of some songs.
- An accompanying Spotify playlist with all 250 songs.
Some of the best-known songs featured include:
- This Land Is Your Land
- America the Beautiful
- Georgia on My Mind (famously recorded by Ray Charles)
- A Change Is Gonna Come
- Blowin' in the Wind
- Respect
- What's Going On
- Born to Run
- Born in the U.S.A.
- Take the 'A' Train
- Rock Around the Clock
- Sweet Caroline
- Footloose
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
- Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
One interesting aspect is that the list is intentionally broad. It isn't limited to what musicians traditionally call the "Great American Songbook" (the Tin Pan Alley and Broadway standards of the 1920s–1950s). Instead, it spans folk, jazz, blues, country, rock, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, Broadway, pop, Latin music, and more, reflecting the diversity of American music.
If you're interested in music history, it's a fascinating resource because it serves almost as a timeline of American popular music rather than a "greatest songs ever" ranking.
You can browse the full interactive project here:
