"Independence Day" is a song written by Gretchen Peters, and performed by American country music singer Martina McBride. It was released in April 1994 as the third single from her album The Way That I Am. The song peaked at number 12 on Hot Country Songs. Peters later recorded it herself on her 1996 album The Secret of Life. It was first offered to Reba McEntire, who turned it down.
In 2003, it ranked 50th in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music. The following year, it ranked #2 in CMT's 100 Greatest Videos in Country Music. The song was also featured in CMT's Controversy in terms of release and included interviews from "The Today Show" reporter Tiki Barber, Brad Paisley, McBride herself, and former National Organization for Women president Patricia Ireland. In 2014, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #77 in their list of the 100 greatest country songs. The song has sold 550,000 copies in the US as of July 2015.
Songwriter Gretchen Peters received the Country Music Association's Song of the Year award in 1995 for "Independence Day."
Video Independence Day (Martina McBride song)
Content
In the song, a daughter recalls a tragic incident she experienced as a child. Her mother was involved in a domestic abuse incident with her alcoholic father. On Independence Day, the daughter walks to the town fair and hears rumors going on about the father's abuse. That day, the mother burns down their house and the daughter is sent to a county home. According to McBride, the mother does not die in the fire, as she has now gained her independence from an abusive relationship. The music video was produced by American director team Deaton-Flanigen Productions, consisting of William Deaton III and George Flanigen IV.
The lyrics have a double meaning in that the woman in the story is finally gaining her "freedom" from her abusive husband. Thus, it is her "Independence Day." The title also refers to the fact that the events noted in the song happened on the United States' Independence Day, or July 4.
According to National Public Radio as broadcast on April 3, 2017, the song is about Francine Hughes, an American woman who, after 13 years of domestic abuse, set fire to the bed of her live-in ex-husband Mickey Hughes, on March 9, 1977. Mickey was killed and the house destroyed in the resulting fire.
Maps Independence Day (Martina McBride song)
In media
Beginning shortly after September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, Sean Hannity began using part of the chorus as an opening bumper for his Premiere Radio Networks radio talk show. The song is about domestic violence, not patriotic values, according to the writer of the song, Gretchen Peters, who does not agree with Hannity's use of the song. Since she cannot stop his use, she collects royalties from him every time it is played and uses those royalties to donate to her causes.
Hannity chose the elements that could be seen as applicable to the people, culture, and geopolitics surrounding the attack and the American response: "Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing. Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning. Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong, roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it's Independence Day."
Personnel
- Martina McBride - lead and background vocals
- Joe Chemay - bass guitar
- Ashley Cleveland - background vocals
- Paul Franklin - pedal steel guitar
- Vicki Hampton - background vocals
- Bill Hullett - acoustic guitar
- Mary Ann Kennedy - background vocals
- Brent Mason - electric guitar
- Steve Nathan - keyboards
- Pam Rose - background vocals
- Lonnie Wilson - drums
- Paul Worley - acoustic guitar
Chart performance
Awards
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Cover versions
In 2002, singer Taylor Horn covered the song for her debut album taylor-made at the age of nine.
In 2003, rock superstar Pat Benatar performed the song in a duet with McBride on the CMT television series Crossroads.
On American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Lil Rounds, and Tristan McIntosh have each performed the song on the show. Underwood also released the song as a B-side track with her single of "Inside Your Heaven".
In 2011, Little Big Town performed Independence Day as a tribute to McBride, who was being honoured as part of ACM's Girls Night Out - Superstar Women of Country show.
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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