The United States of Songs: Florida
Friday, June 24, 2011
Welcome back to The United States of Songs, where every week I try to find the perfect song to capture the spirit of a state. We’re moving alphabetically through the Union and picking only songs that have the state name in the title and celebrate the entire state, not just one awesome city or attraction. Which is why this week is so hard, because Florida should probably be two different states, but here we go:
The state: Florida
The song: “Deep Down in Florida” by Muddy Waters
Florida’s a schizophrenic state. Upon first hearing the name, you might be thinking palm trees and white sand beaches and beautiful Cuban-Americans salsa dancing in bikinis and board shorts while mixing cocktails. And damn, if that’s not the way it should be in EVERY state, but it’s not the majority of Florida, just the Southern tip. Sure, the state is pretty much outlined by coastal tourist traps and vacation rentals on the beach, but once you head a little bit inland it gets Southern-Fried in a hurry. The further North you go in Florida, the further South you are: rednecks, swamp people, Jeb Bush, it’s a weird place.
So I was faced with a dilemma: with only one song to pick, and the rules dictating I have to honor the entire state, do I go with some Latino dance anthem, a la Miami Sound Machine, some idle beach bum tune from Jimmy Buffett, or some Skynyrd-esque Southern Rock? Each choice would no doubt offend the other segment of Floridians who feel like that doesn’t represent them at all. In the end I went with Best Song Available, and it’s tough to top Muddy Waters (and before you get angry, yes I know this song owes a lot of its awesomeness to Johnny Winter).
This song definitely represents Florida accurately to me; growing up in the Midwest, Florida was this mythical paradise forever on the horizon of some family vacation we would take later. I could totally relate to the slow, determined blues riff and “Yeah, I be goin’ down in Florida / Where the sun shines damn near every day” while piled into the backseat of my mom’s Buick as we drove down from St. Louis. I think most people’s experience with Florida involves getting to Florida or possibly dreaming of Florida because they haven’t actually been. It’s kind of the California of the Southeast like that.
I’ll admit, it might not be a perfect fit. But Florida, you’ve got yourself a good song here.
Runner-up: “Floridays” by Jimmy Buffett
Most laughable suggestion: “Florida” by Vic Chesnutt
Got a better suggestion for Florida? Want to put in a suggestion for next week’s state, Georgia? Let me know what you think in the comments.
Flickr photo Florida manatees by USFWS/Southeast used under a Creative Commons License.
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