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Playlist Challenge: 50 Songs for 50 States

Thu, 06/28/2007 - 2:13pm by BuzzSugar
26,293 Views - 64 comments


Okay, Buzz readers, I know how great you are at selecting new casts for classic shows and hunting down the most buzzworthy movies, books and albums around, so I know you can handle this all-American playlist challenge! In honor of July 4th (and the great party PartySugar's been planning), I challenge you to name one song for each of the 50 states so that put together, we can make a playlist of 50 songs celebrating every corner of the country.

The guidelines:

  • The state name can either be in the title of the song or in a song lyric.
  • If the state name is in a lyric, please provide the lyric in your comment.
  • Official state songs do not count.

So get thinking and put your ideas in the comments section below! I'll re-post this challenge over the weekend and then I'll do a follow-up post with the master playlist on Wednesday, July 4th. If there are multiple songs suggested for one state, I'll choose one of them to put on the playlist. Good luck!

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64 Comments Add a Comment

  • Whiplash's picture
    Whiplash
    2

    Okay, here are a bunch, but not all.

    Alabama - "Alabama" by Neil Young
    Alaska - "Alaska" by Dr. Dog
    Arizona - "Hotel Arizona" by Wilco
    California - "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin
    Colorado - "Colorado" by Grizzly Bear
    Florida - "Florida" by Granddaddy
    Georgia - "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles
    Hawaii - "In Blue Hawaii" by Brian Wilson
    Idaho - "My Own Private Idaho" by the B-52's
    Kansas - "Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!" by the Beatles
    Kentucky - "Nashville to Kentucky" by My Morning Jacket
    Louisiana - "Louisiana" by the Walkmen
    Michigan - "Say Yes! To Michigan" by Sufjan Stevens
    Mississippi - "Mississippi" by Bob Dylan
    Missouri - "Missouri" by Low
    New Jersey - "New Jersey" by Red House Painters
    New York - "The Only Living Boy in New York" by Simon & Garfunkel
    North Carolina - "North Carolina" by the Oranges Band
    Ohio - "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
    Oklahoma - "Oklahoma" by Whiskeytown
    Oregon - "Oregon Girl" Loretta Lynn with Jack White
    Pennsylvania - "Pennsylvania 6-500" by Glenn Miller & his Orchestra
    South Carolina - "From South Carolina" by Her Space Holiday
    Tennessee - "Tennessee Stud" by Johnny Cash
    Texas - "West Texas Teardrops" by Old 97's
    Vermont - "Taxi On Vermont" by Old Canes
    Virginia - "Sweet Virgina" by the Rolling Stones
    Washington - "Four Hours In Washington" by M. Ward
    Wisconsin - "Wisconsin River Blues" by Matthew Friedberger

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • nancita's picture
    nancita
    4

    Wow Whip has a lot of my ideas, too! Here's some more:

    "Florida" by Modest Mouse
    "Texas Eagle" by Steve Earle
    "Minnesoter" by the Dandy Warhols
    "Nebraska" by Bruce Springsteen
    "Montana" by Gipsy Kings (I mean, they're not really talking about the STATE, but if you get desperate)

    For South Dakota, you could use "Rocky Raccoon" by the Beatles..."Somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota / there lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon."

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • pinkflats's picture
    pinkflats
    5

    Whoa Whip I'm impressed. I'm even more impressed that you could name a song of my state.

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Livience's picture
    Livience
    6

    Alabama has got to be "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynrd Skynrd!!

    And California has to be "California Love" by Tupac Shakur feat. Dr. Dre!!

    New York: "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra.

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • tiatia's picture
    tiatia
    7

    Alabama - Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
    Arizona - There is no Arizona - Jamie O' Neal
    Texas - All my ex's live in Texas - George Strait
    New York - NYC song - John Cafferty
    California - Hotel California - Alabama
    Georgia - Georgia Rain - Trsha Yearwood
    Tennesee - James Dean in Tenessee - Jessica Andrews
    Oregon Girl - Loretta Lynn and Jack White
    Michigan - Say yes to Michigan - Sufjan Stevens

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Linda McP's picture
    Linda McP
    8

    Wow, Whip! Very impressive. How about California Dreamin'(Mamas and Papas)for CA.

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • kimberlyfaye's picture
    kimberlyfaye
    9

    West Virginia - Country Roads by John Denver ("Take me home, country roads to the place where I belong. West Virginia, mountain mama...")

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Whiplash's picture
    Whiplash
    11

    How could I have forgotten "Minnesoter" by the Dandies? And "Nebraska?" Good call, nancita!

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • dizzlemcd's picture
    dizzlemcd
    12

    new york, new york by Moby and for colorado-rocky mountain high by john denver

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Molly's picture
    Molly
    13

    Massachusetts: "Dirty Water" by the Standells (ironically enough, they're not from Boston despite their lyrics: "Love that dirty water/Boston you're my home") or "More Than A Feeling" by Boston (cause it's awesome, natch).

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Happsmjc's picture
    Happsmjc
    14

    Ohio: Ohio is for Lovers by Hawthorne Heights OR Hang on Sloopy by the McCoys--but The Ohio State Marching Band version with the O H - I O. Love them both!

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • ekadamek's picture
    ekadamek
    15

    Louisiana: "Callin' Baton Rouge" by Garth brooks
    "I spent last night in the arms of a girl in Louisiana..."

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • rhimarie's picture
    rhimarie
    16

    Kansas - "Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!" by the Beatles is a good one but most of Kansas City is actually in Missouri! How about "Manhattan Kansas" By Glenn Campbell. (I've actually never heard it..) There aren't too many songs about Kansas. Does the band count? Smiling

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • pircy's picture
    pircy
    17

    i'm from chicago, so if you're looking for an illinois tune, i reckon you should go with something about our great city.. (aka, it's nearly impossible to find a decent illinois-themed song, unless you want to go by way of sufjan stevens, in which case, there is a whole album touting the greatest of our corn and mob scene).

    spoon - "chicago at night" OR the classic, blues brothers - "sweet home chicago"

    as for michigan, you should definitely go back to sufjan:

    sufjan stevens - "say YES! to michigan"

    and some more:

    jackson five: "goin' back to indiana"
    matt pond pa: "new hampshire"
    johnny cash: "new mexico"
    ryan adams: "oh my sweet carolina"
    ryan adams: "new york, new york"
    ryan adams: "tennessee sucks"

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • pircy's picture
    pircy
    18

    some more:

    ryan adams: "PA" (one might think i am a fan of this ryan adams fellow)
    wilco: "hotel arizona"
    tom waits: "jersey girl"
    john mayer: "why georgia"
    faith hill: "mississippi girl"

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • jewelsugar's picture
    jewelsugar
    19

    Texas/Oklahoma/Maine: Vince Gill - "
    Arkansas: Beck - "No Complaints"
    (but it's overrated, that's for sure / take a bus back
    from Little Rock, Arkansas)
    Connecticut: Coheed and Cambria - "The Velourium Camper II:
    Backend of Forever"
    (over and out Connecticut / but you had your back turned
    there as you faded away)
    Connecticut: Aerosmith - "I Live in Connecticut" (no words
    here, though)
    Delaware: clearly, it should be "Delaware" as in "what did
    Dela wear, boys?"
    Georgia: Gladys Knight - "Midnight Train to Georgia"
    Illinois: Spitalfield - "Gold Dust vs. State of Illinois"
    Indiana: Jackson Five - "Goin' Back to Indiana"
    Iowa: Dar Williams - "Iowa"
    Kentucky: Neil Diamond - "Kentucky Woman"
    Montana: Marie Osmond - "Meet Me In Montana"
    New Jersey: Taking Back Sunday - "Timberwolves at New Jersey"
    New Mexico: OAR - "About An Hour Ago"
    (There was a man on the road bout an hour ago / and he
    was looking for a ride to New Mexico)

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • jewelsugar's picture
    jewelsugar
    20

    The Vince Gill song above should read "What The Cowgirls Do"
    Texas: (Have you ever been down to Texas / Down around San Antone / They love to go all night and treat you right / And party till the cows come home)
    Oklahoma: (They ain't no different up in Oklahoma / They ain't afraid to stay up 'til dawn / They love to cut a run and chug a lug / Longnecks 'til their money's all gone)
    Maine: (There's cowgirls all across the country / From Baton Rouge to Bangor Maine / It ain't hard to see they'll be the death of me / They're gonna drive my little heart insane)

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • fashionvictim85's picture
    fashionvictim85
    21

    alabama: sweet home alabama by lynyrd skynyrd
    california: californication by red hot chili peppers or better california by phantom planet!
    new york: new york by u2

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • UTAngela's picture
    UTAngela
    22

    Little Texas - "God Blessed Texas"

    The band and song title are both perfect!

    "100% Texan" by Kevin Fowler is also great, but I suppose people out of the Texas country scene haven't really heard of him...

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • angelik416's picture
    angelik416
    23

    i will do more thinking about this from work, but what about california by rufus wainwright?

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • hepsmom's picture
    hepsmom
    26

    My favorite Mississippi song, of late, is "Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good)" by Sugarland. Great for running too!

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • lynp's picture
    lynp
    27

    "Minnesota Girl"-Green Day
    "North Dakota Boy"-Lyle Lovett

    That's all I've got for now!

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • lynp's picture
    lynp
    28

    Few more:

    "Wisconsin is not a Country"-33Degree
    "Alaska Chic"-No-Fi Soul Rebellion
    "South Dakota Hairdo"-Joe West
    "Iowa Ditch Weed"-Larry Heagle
    "Rhode Island Freakout"-Kinski

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • In_my_own_way's picture
    In_my_own_way
    29

    Alabama - Sweet Home Alabama
    Tennessee - Tennessee Waltz
    Virginia - Oh, Virginia (Blessid Union of Souls)
    Georgia - The Devil Went Down to Georgia
    Ohio & Texas - Ohio (Come Back to Texas) [Bowling for Soup]
    New York - New York State of Mind (Billy Joel)
    Oklahoma - "Oklahoma!" (you know, the musical?)
    Carolinas & California - Heads Carolina, Tails California (JoDee Messina)
    Lousiana & Mississippi - Lousiana Woman, Mississippi Man (Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn)
    Idaho - Private Idaho (B-52's)

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • krampalicious's picture
    krampalicious
    31

    Any song to represent Kentucky MUST come from the original country boyz, Nappy Roots, no question. Forget all those other playas and poseurs, the Nappy boys are the original and the best when it comes to repping their home state.

    And while they do have a song called "Kentucky Mud," their best representation Bluegrass life is "Awnaw," featuring the lyric:

    "Kentucky mud, them kinfolk, twankies with them hundred-spokes/Skullied on that front po'ch, plus you know they got 'dro."

    Their song "Slums" also has one of the best intros ever:

    "Let's get this motherf***er crunkin' from Kentucky to Baghdad"

    but since representing Kentucky means much, much more than representing the slums, the best choice to represent the great state of Kentucky is:

    KENTUCKY - NAPPY ROOTS "AWNAW"

    Also because if a country song or a My Morning Jacket song gets picked there will be hell to pay.

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • bonbonfay's picture
    bonbonfay
    32

    Ok, I had to find some songs for all the states I've lived in and here's what I've come up with:

    Tennessee and Colorado: Tennessee Christmas (Amy Grant) "I know there's more snow up in Colorado than my roof will ever see, but a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me"

    Wyoming: Song of Wyoming - Chris LeDoux

    Virginia: Virginia - Clipse

    Oklahoma and Texas: Oklahoma-Texas Line - Rascal Flatts

    Oklahoma: I Ain't in Checotah Anymore - Carrie Underwood "I miss the big blue skies,
    the Oklahoma kind."

    Ok, I'm spent.

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • thisisalladream's picture
    thisisalladream
    33

    Kentucky - "Oh My Sweet Carolina" Ryan Adams - lyric : "I miss Kentucky and I miss my family, All the sweetest winds they blow across the south"

    I suppose it could work for South Carolina as well, I just love the verse

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • delia's picture
    delia
    34

    I've got two for Massachusetts!

    Roadrunner by Modern Lovers - "I'm in love with Massachusetts" (and one of my all time favorite songs)

    Umass by The Pixies - "University....Of...Massachusetts, please"

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • khy8w's picture
    khy8w
    35

    Virginia - "Meet Virginia" by Train.

    Texas has to be "God Blessed Texas" by Little Texas

    Mississippi Girl (Faith Hill)

    Carolina on my Mind, Carolina Girls - either Carolina state!

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • dharmalove's picture
    dharmalove
    37

    The Bee Gees- "Massachusetts"
    Ray Charles- "Georgia On my Mind"
    Johnny Cash- "Tennesee Stud"
    Loretta Lynn- "Blue Kentucky Girl"
    Ryan Adams- "New York, New York"
    Neil Young - "Ohio"
    Elvis- "Blue Hawaii"

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Alphacutiepi's picture
    Alphacutiepi
    38

    Louisiana - Definately Louisiana Saturday Night

    "Well you get down the fiddle
    And you get down the bow
    Kick off your shoes
    And you throw 'em on the floor
    Dance in the kitchen till the morning light
    Lousianna Saturday night"

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Pattyg681's picture
    Pattyg681
    39

    1. Alabama: "Stars Fell on Alabama" - Jimmy Buffett
    2. Alaska: "Alaska and Me" - John Denver
    3. Arizona: "Arizona" - Kings of Leon
    4. Arkansas: "Arkansas Killing Time" - The Pine Box Boys
    5. California: "California Dreaming" - Mamas and the Papas
    6. Colorado: "Colorado" - Linda Ronstadt
    7. Connecticut: "Connecticut" - Judy Garland and Bing Crosby
    8. Delaware: "Delaware Slide" - George Thorogood
    10. Georgia: "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" - Reba McEntire
    11. Hawaii: "Blue Hawaii" - Elvis Presley
    12. Idaho: "Private Idaho" - B-52's
    13. Illinois: "Illinois" - Dan Fogelberg
    14. Indiana: "Indiana" - Jon McLaughlin
    15. Iowa: "Iowa" - Dar Williams
    16. Kansas: "Kansas City" - Fats Domino
    17. Kentucky: "Kentucky Woman" - Neil Diamond
    18. Louisiana: "Lousiana Bayou" - Dave Matthews Band
    24. Mississippi: "Mississippi Girl" - Faith Hill
    26. Montana: "Wild Montana Skies" - John Denver
    28. Nevada: "Stop in Nevada" - Billy Joel
    30. New Jersey: "New Jersey" - Antigone Rising
    32. New York: "New York, New York" - Liza Minelli
    33. North Carolina: "Charlotte's in North Carolina" - Keith
    36. Oklahoma- "Oklahoma-Texas Line" - Rascal Flatts
    42. Tennessee: "Tennessee" - Arrested Development
    43. Texas: "All My Ex's Live in Texas" - George Strait
    46. Virginia: "Meet Virginia" - Train

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • MLB's picture
    MLB
    40

    Pattyg681 - I'm so glad you got "Iowa" by Dar Williams in there! That song makes me cry and miss home!

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment
  • tikilite's picture
    tikilite
    41

    Alabama "Sweet Home Alabama" Lynyrd Skynyrd
    California "California Uber Alles" Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
    Florida "Moving to Florida" Butthole Surfers
    Illinois "The Night Chicago Died" Paper Lace
    Kentucky "Kentucky Woman" Neil Diamond
    Massachusetts "Feeling Massachussetts" Juliana Hatfield
    Missouri "Oh Shenandoah" The Waterboys
    New Hampshire "New Hampshire" Sonic Youth
    North Carolina "Chapel Hill" Sonic Youth
    Oregon "Portland Oregon" Loretta Lynn
    South Dakota "South Dakota" Liz Phair
    Vermont "Moonlight in Vermont" Ella Fitzgerald
    Wisconsin "Wisconsin Death Trip" Static X
    Alaska "North to Alaska" Jerry Lee Lewis
    Colorado "I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado" John Denver
    Georgia "Georgia On My Mind" Ray Charles
    Indiana "Goin' Back to Indiana" Jackson 5
    Louisiana "Lake Charles" Lucinda Williams
    Michigan "Especially in Michigan" Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Montana "Montana" Frank Zappa
    New Jersey "Jersey Girl" Tom Waits
    North Dakota "North Dakota Boy" Lyle Lovett
    Pennsylvania "Philadelphia Freedom" Elton John
    Tennessee "Tennessee Stud" Johnny Cash
    Virginia "Virginia Plain" Roxy Music
    Wyoming "I Can Still Make Cheyenne" George Strait
    Arizona "By the Time I Get to Arizona" Public Enemy
    Connecticut "The Wives Are In Connecticut" Carly Simon
    Hawaii "Blue Hawaii" Elvis Presley
    Iowa "Iowa Stubborn" Music Man Cast Recording
    Maine "Maine" They Might Be Giants
    Minnesota "Christmas Card From a Hooker In Minneapolis" Tom Waits
    Nebraska "Cornhusker Refugee" Austin Lounge Lizards
    New Mexico "Albuquerque" Neil Young
    Ohio "Ohio" Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
    Rhode Island "The Last Resort" Eagles
    Texas "All My Exes Live In Texas" George Strait
    Washington "Seattle" Public Image Limited
    Arkansas "Arkansas" They Might Be Giants
    Delaware "Delaware Park" Evil Jake
    Idaho "My Own Private Idaho" The B-52s
    Kansas "Kansas" Neil Young
    Maryland "Baltimore" Lyle Lovett
    Mississippi "Greenville" Lucinda Williams
    Nevada "Don't Make Me Come to Vegas" Tori Amos
    New York "Christmas in New York" The Pogues
    Oklahoma "Oklahoma" Cast Recording
    South Carolina "Yankee Bayonet" The Decemberists
    Utah "The History of Utah" Camper Van Beethoven
    West Virgina "Country Roads" John Denver

    1 year 27 weeks ago Report Comment