Consider This from NPR: The Songs That Define America
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Host: Ailsa Chang

Introduction: Celebrating America's Musical Heritage

On Independence Day, Consider This from NPR delves into the rich tapestry of songs that have shaped and reflected American culture. Host Ailsa Chang sets the stage by highlighting how songs like Ray Charles's rendition of "America the Beautiful" and Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" go beyond mere melodies to embody the nation's values and aspirations.

"This Little Light of Mine": From Children's Song to Civil Rights Anthem

A foundational segment explores the transformation of "This Little Light of Mine" from a beloved children's song into a powerful civil rights anthem.

• Evolution of the Song:

  • 00:00-01:30: Chang introduces the song, emphasizing its journey from spirituals to freedom songs that galvanized the civil rights movement.

• Betty Mae Fikes's Iconic Version:

  • 02:15: Blues singer Betty Mae Fikes shares her experience improvising the song's lyrics during a protest:

    “And I'm thinking, you know, how does the light shine when they're trying to put our lights out? So everybody was taking verses in order to come in. I just went into the slave call, and all of a sudden I just started adding our oppressors in the song.”
    (02:15)

• Academic Insight:

  • 04:50: Robert Darden, a professor at Baylor University, reflects on the song's enduring legacy:

    “Because those songs are anointed.”
    (04:50)

Darden posits that the song's spiritual and anointed nature has allowed it to remain a beacon of hope and resilience across generations.

Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man": A Timeless Anthem

Transitioning to instrumental anthems, the podcast examines Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" and its significance in American culture.

• Composition and Impact:

  • 06:30: Mandalit del Barco discusses the fanfare's dramatic percussion and inspiring melodies, noting its almost divine quality.

    “It's a piece that feels like it was written by God and not by a human.”
    (06:45)

• Musician's Perspective:

  • 07:20: Jazz trumpet player Terrence Blanchard shares his personal connection to the piece:

    “Whenever I hear it, it stops me in my tracks, and it makes me reflect on the goodness of man, really.”
    (07:25)

• Historical Context:

  • 08:10: The episode delves into the song's creation during World War II, inspired by Vice President Henry A. Wallace's vision of the "common man" as the backbone of the American century.

• Listener Reflection:

  • 10:00: Lynn Gilbert from Bristol, Maine, expresses her admiration:

    “I still believe that there is an American dream of peace and prosperity for everyone. And music that soars and inspires like this piece does brings hope for the future.”
    (10:05)

Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'": An Anthem for Generations

The discussion shifts to Bob Dylan's iconic protest song, highlighting its enduring relevance and impact on new generations.

• Personal Connection:

  • 11:30: Lynn Neary recounts hearing "The Times They Are A-Changin'" as a teenager and its profound effect on her worldview.

• Modern Usage:

  • 12:10: The song's role in the 2018 March for Our Lives is explored, featuring Jennifer Hudson's powerful rendition accompanied by a choir of young people.

• Choir's Experience:

  • 13:00: Choir director Jonathan Ball shares his initial unfamiliarity with the song and the transformative process of rehearsing it:

    “I hope the senators, the congressmen are actually listening like a movie, almost like, you know, like they hear the music and they just like, write a new law.”
    (13:15)

• Emotional Impact:

  • 14:45: Lead singer Erica Edmond describes the emotional resonance during the march:

    “You have people that are begging, screaming for change. So it makes it easy for me to sing the song because it means so much to what I've seen now.”
    (14:50)

• Unity Through Music:

  • 15:30: Choir member Theron Fowler reflects on the song's unifying power:

    “This anthem, it brought us together for something bigger than ourselves. No matter what race, what culture, background, religious, whatever, it brought everyone together.”
    (15:35)

Listener Stories: Personal Anthems and the Search for America

NPR engages listeners by sharing personal stories about songs that resonate deeply with their sense of American identity, focusing on Simon and Garfunkel's "America."

• Eugene Lisansky's Reflection:

  • 17:00: Eugene expresses a sense of emptiness and longing while listening to "America":

    “The whole part where he says, I'm empty and aching and I don't know why, just really is kind of how I feel as an American right now.”
    (17:05)

• Yael Cohen and Val Sullivan on Defining America:

  • 18:20: Listeners discuss the metaphorical quest for America, emphasizing that the journey is more about the questions posed than the answers found:

    “Getting to know America is more about the questions that we ask than the sort of sureness that we might reach in our own experience.”
    (18:25)

These narratives underscore the ongoing search for what America represents, highlighting the personal and collective dimensions of this quest.

Conclusion: A Continuing Legacy of Musical Inspiration

As the episode wraps up, Ailsa Chang extends warm wishes for Independence Day, acknowledging the power of music to inspire, unite, and define the American experience. She invites listeners to continue exploring NPR's American Anthem series and expresses gratitude to the supporters who sustain NPR's journalism.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Betty Mae Fikes on adding oppressors to the song:

  “I just went into the slave call, and all of a sudden I just started adding our oppressors in the song.”
  (02:15)

• Robert Darden on the song's longevity:

  “Because those songs are anointed.”
  (04:50)

• Terrence Blanchard on "Fanfare for the Common Man":

  “Whenever I hear it, it stops me in my tracks, and it makes me reflect on the goodness of man, really.”
  (07:25)

• Lynn Gilbert on the American Dream:

  “I still believe that there is an American dream of peace and prosperity for everyone...”
  (10:05)

• Jonathan Ball's hope for lawmakers:

  “I hope the senators, the congressmen are actually listening like a movie...”
  (13:15)

• Erica Edmond on the song's meaning:

  “...it means so much to what I've seen now.”
  (14:50)

• Theron Fowler on unity through the anthem:

  “It brought us together for something bigger than ourselves.”
  (15:35)

• Eugene Lisansky on feeling as an American:

  “...how I feel as an American right now.”
  (17:05)

Further Listening

Consider This from NPR invites listeners to explore more stories from the American Anthem series available at npr.org. Supporters can access sponsor-free episodes and additional content through plus.npr.org.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and personal reflections shared in the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened.