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"Independence Day" is one with the right lyrics with the right melody, and the right
arrangement with the right performance. You literally can't ask for more in a song!
song works so well, so let's start with the writing techniques used. "Independence
Day" is filled with references to familiar sayings, which automatically gives people
something to recognize in it. But the interesting thing is that those references are
used creatively in a different way than we are used to hearing them. Gretchen Peters
takes patriotic themes as the thread to make a point and tell a story at the same time.
Using lines like "by dawn's early light" (a reference to the Star Spangled Banner), "let
freedom ring", "let the white dove sing", and the fact that the story takes place on
"Independence Day" itself all contribute to the brilliance of the lyrics.
fireworks that we are used to seeing on the Fourth. The analogy of Independence
Day and being freed from the dangers of spousal abuse also made this song
controversial and kept it off the radio in some cities who refused to play it. It pulls no
punches and makes no excuses with lines like "let the weak be strong, let the right
be wrong", "let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning", "roll the stone
away, let the guilty pay", and "talk about your revolution, it's Independence Day". The
lyrics also talk about the tolerance of spousal abuse in society and how people tend
to "look the other way", and I think they may have hit the nail on the head for some
people, which could have also caused some of the controversy. Either way, it's an
important issue, and it does need to be addressed because too many women are
going through it in their lives, and "Independence Day" put the spotlight on it, which is
a huge step in the right direction.
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with a big message, and it needed a voice that was just as big to convey it. The
vocals had to be powerful and very strong in order for the song to carry the kind of
emotion it was meant to have. This is where Martina McBride takes it and really
makes it her own. She has without a doubt one of the greatest voices in music, and
she delivered every single line in a way that made everyone stand up and take notice.
Trust me, this is not an easy song to sing! I've seen a lot of really talented vocalists
fall short with their interpretation of it. As a songwriter, you always want someone
with good vocal skills to sing your songs, but in this case, it was crucial because the
message and the emotion of the song depended on it. The chorus opens things up
and is really brought to life by Martina's incredible range and style.
all, no long intro, no fade out, and no bridge or guitar solo. This is all about the
messages within the verses and chorus. It goes right into the first verse, it's non stop
from there, and then it has a definite ending. Looking at the way a song is mapped
out like that can tell a lot about it. One of the things I've discovered is that if a song
ends and you immediately want to hear it again, you know it's something special.
Using certain instruments like the bells during the chorus just adds even more to the
meaning of the patriotic themes and their impact. It doesn't matter whether you look
at the production, the performance, or the writing of it, "Independence Day" is an
unbelievable song on every level.
ultimate songwriter!
