[MUSIC DISCUSSION] PhillyPOP #2 | Songs about America: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

PhillyPOP is a meetup group for discussing popular music–it’s like a book club for playlists. We meet roughly once a month and every meeting has a playlist of songs on a given theme (see below). Participants listen to the playlist in advance and discuss it at the meeting. It’s a great way to connect with local music superfans and hear stuff you wouldn’t have otherwise. You can find more info on what we’re about here. If you’d like to be notified about future PhillyPOP events, make sure to check the box marked “Keep me updated on more events and news from this event organizer” when you RSVP.

Spotify playlist

YouTube playlist

NEXT MEETING: For the year’s most American month, our subject is America as portrayed through song. As everyone knows, musicians’ opinions vary from patriotically pro-American to stridently anti-American, and our discussion will cover all of it. My starter playlist features Nina Simone, Neil Diamond, Green Day, Run the Jewels, and a whole lot more, but I really wanna hear your picks. Submit up to five of your favorite songs about America via the “Contact” link below–the earlier the better. Here are some potential topics of conversation:

• Are positive or negative songs about America more popular during different historical periods?
• Which genres seem to generally be more positive and negative about the country?
• Lyrically, what are some common ways different genres express their opinions about the country?
• Which songs about America do people misinterpret the most?
• If you attended a Fourth of July party or cookout, what songs did you hear?
• Has your enjoyment of a particular song ever been ruined by a certain group’s use of it?

Please RSVP via Eventbrite to let us know you’re coming. Thanks!