Fireworks Mixtape.

July 4, 2008 8:34 AM

Help me make a play list of music that has to be listened to while watching fireworks.

I love fireworks, but I really don't have a good playlist to match that love of said fireworks. I'm not exactly looking for patriotic songs, since there is already an AskMe question about that, this is just looking for awesome fireworks songs. What songs have you listened to while watching fireworks that really did something for you emotionally? Do you know of any songs about fireworks? Do you feel that there are any cliched songs that still need to be listened to even if they are cliched? Any suggestions will be totally rad. Thanks a lot and have an awesome July 4th everyone.

posted by Del Far to media & arts (17 comments total)

William Tell Overture
posted by netbros at 8:46 AM on July 4

Animal Collective - Fireworks
posted by ludwig_van at 8:49 AM on July 4

The Fall - "Light/Fireworks" from The Infotainment Scan (1993)
posted by porn in the woods at 8:50 AM on July 4

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, of course, and Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks both come to mind.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 9:08 AM on July 4

In Canada, at least, the cliched fireworks song (cliched for patriotic truth, that is) is The Tragically Hip's "Fireworks". That may be a bit, um, patriotic to the wrong country, seeing as the verses of the song explore relationship evolution via the metaphor of the 1972 Super Series of hockey between Canada and Russia). But maybe you're a sports fan as well as a fireworks fan. (Note: the video link is the real song, but placed over footage from Corner Gas, a comedy show up here--close your eyes and imagine fewer pratfalls and more oohs and aahs.)
posted by roombythelake at 9:41 AM on July 4

Jimi Hendrix playing The Star Spangled Banner
posted by vito90 at 10:54 AM on July 4

Sparks - "Get in the Swing". Not really about fireworks, but definitely appropriate for a bombastic celebration--very upbeat and marchy (complete with flutes).
posted by equalpants at 11:08 AM on July 4

Soundgarden- 4th of July?
posted by juv3nal at 11:40 AM on July 4

My recommendation, cheese it up and go with America, F**k Yeah!
posted by upplepop at 11:57 AM on July 4 [1 favorite]

I think listening to Explosions in the Sky might be appropriate.
posted by god particle at 12:38 PM on July 4 [1 favorite]

Strauss' "Thus Spake Zarathustra". You know, the 2001 Space Odyssey theme.

Also, always loved it when the local radio station would play Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" at the same time as the fireworks guys shot off all their blue fireworks.
posted by marsha56 at 1:06 PM on July 4

Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever," and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."
posted by LolaGeek at 1:17 PM on July 4

Do you know of any songs about fireworks?

X's "Fourth of July" is a song about a dissolving relationship: "On the lost side of town/ In a dark apartment/ We gave up trying so long ago." It's mournful and hopeful and bittersweet. Given its subject matter and tone, it's possibly (probably) quite unsuited to a cheery fireworks mixtape, but it has a little place in my heart. The chorus does mention fireworks:

On the stairs I smoke a
cigarette alone
Mexican kids are shootin'
fireworks below
Hey baby, it's the Fourth of July
Hey baby, it's the Fourth of July

You can find it on their album See How We Are.
posted by Elsa at 4:29 PM on July 4

American Analog Set: Magnificent Seventies and Using the Hope Diamond as a Doorstop.
Oddly enough, these songs are on their album, From Our Living Room to Yours, not The Fun of Watching Fireworks.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 5:12 PM on July 4

"the new year" by Death Cab for Cutie is a great song for watching fireworks.
posted by gursky at 8:35 AM on July 5

I can't believe no one mentioned Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks.
posted by Daddy-O at 9:23 AM on July 5

-America- by Neil Diamond
posted by Spyder's Game at 1:19 PM on July 5