SUMMARY
Music has helped tell America's story from the very beginning, reflecting our triumphs, struggles and the many cultures and traditions that have shaped the country. On her “In Pursuit of Happiness” podcast, Judy Woodruff sat down with music historian Ted Gioia and music journalist Sidney Madden to explore how American music became a powerful expression of who we are.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who are Ted Gioia and Sidney Madden, and what are their backgrounds?
- Why does Sidney Madden believe that the Black experience has played a significant role in music development?
- What are some of the common threads in what people think makes an "American song" according to Ted Gioia?
- What was the most commonly chosen most "American song" according to Gioia?
- How do people's choices of music reflect their identities as Americans, according to Gioia?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
If you had to answer the question Ted Gioia asks in this segment, what would be your answer? What do you think is the most "American" song, and why? As you answer this question, keep in mind it is up to you to decide what makes a song representative of the country as a whole.
Media literacy:
It is important to know about key musicians that helped shape America. Pick one of the following musicians mentioned in the News Hour segment:
- Jimi Hendrix
- Paul Simon
- Gil Scott-Heron
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
In this segment, Ted Gioia says that the most common response to his question "what is the most American song" is Jimi Hendrix's playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Why do you think that rendition of the song was chosen? Why do you think responders thought Hendrix represented something particularly American?
To find out more about Hendrix and his performance, see this lesson from Teach Rock. After going through the lesson, discuss why you think the performance might be seen as "quintessentially" American.
You can also watch Hendrix play the Star Spangled Banner below.
Written by PBS News Hour Classroom intern Justin Vasquez
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