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By Jim Kelly, drummer and singer for southern New Jersey rock band Revolver

(Independence Day is Saturday.)

1. "The Star Spangled Banner," Jimi Hendrix version performed at Woodstock - "He kind of shocked all the old people because of his medium (electric guitar), but he was being very patriotic. He woke people up at Woodstock with that."

2. "God Bless America," Ray Charles version - "This one is purely based on performance. He sings the s*** out of that song. I'm not really into God. However, when he sings that song, it has to move you or you're dead."

3. "America," Simon and Garfunkel - "The song is all about how attractive America is to everyone else. How people journey to be here because of what it is."

4. "Pink Houses," John Mellencamp - "There's a chorus in there that goes 'ain't that America' where he's talking about Middle America, the heartland and what it's all about. I think that (Middle America) life is what immigrants are attracted to when they come here. That middle class, pink houses, picket fence thing."

5. "Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen - "I'm not a Bruce fan. But I do think that it's an anthem, and I think a lot of people stood up and cheered for it."

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