- Independence Day (song)
Infobox Single
Name = Independence Day
Artist =Martina McBride
from Album =The Way That I Am
Released = 1994
Format =CD single
Recorded = 1993
Genre =Country music
Length = 3:25
Label =RCA Records
Writer =Gretchen Peters
Producer =Paul Worley
Certification =
Last single = "Life #9"
(1994)
This single = "Independence Day"
(1994)
Next single = "Heart Trouble"
(1994)"Independence Day" is a song performed by country singer
Martina McBride , originally included on her1993 album "The Way That I Am ". Released as a single in1994 , the song peaked at #12 [ [http://billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=25616&model.vnuAlbumId=740888 Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Martina McBride ] ] .Gretchen Peters wrote the song, and later recorded it herself. It was first offered toReba McEntire , who turned it down. [ [http://www.reba.com/backstage/didyouknow/ Reba :: The Official Site - Backstage] ]It is used by news commentator
Sean Hannity for hisCitadel Broadcasting radio talk show. (The other music used in the radio show introduction isCarl Orff 's "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana.)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" reporterTiki Barber ,Brad Paisley , McBride herself, and formerNational Organization for Women presidentPatricia Ireland .The song appears on the game
Karaoke Revolution Country .Background
The lyrics tell a story of a woman's response to
domestic abuse , seen from the point of view of her daughter (Martina in the song). The song'smusic video was somewhat controversial at the time of its release, because of its graphic depiction of domestic violence.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 America's Independence Day, orJuly 4 .Use in politics
Writer Gretchen Peters has objected to Hannity's use of the song, and engaged in a "personal protest" by donating to organizations such as ACLU, PFLAG and
MoveOn.org . When the song was used to introduce Republican Vice Presidential candidateSarah Palin at a rally in October, 2008, Peters publicly announced that she considered the use of the theme, in view of Palin's opposition toabortion even in cases of rape and incest to be "beyond irony," and said that she intended to donate all royalties from the song during the election cycle toPlanned Parenthood , in Gov. Palin's name. [ [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/10/independence-da.html 'Independence Day' songwriter jabs McCain-Palin campaign's use of song] ,Los Angeles Times Music Blog, October 6, 2008]Cover versions
In
2002 , singerTaylor Horn covered the song for her debut album "taylor-made " at the age of nine.In
2003 ,1980s pop superstarPat Benatar performed the song in a duet with McBride on theCMT television series "Crossroads".In
2005 , "American Idol " winnerCarrie Underwood performed the song several times on the show, and released a version on the B-side of her debut single "Inside Your Heaven ".References
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