We asked selected nonprofit and civic leaders, Generocity members and friends, to send us one or two suggestions of songs they would include in a Fourth of July playlist. We compiled them and — ta dah! — our (your) playlist was born.

Some people responded with a bit of commentary attached, others exceeded their quota of songs by … a lot (must be a Delco thing 😏), and others struggled with whether to suggest songs with too-explicit lyrics.

In the end we got a playlist where Beyoncé and Springsteen songs outnumber the others (of course), a playlist that is a lot like Philadelphia itself: diverse, quirky but real, full of poetry and sharp edges, at once giving a nod to history and looking ahead to see if we can outsmart what’s coming.

Happy Fourth!

Elicia Gonzales, executive director, Women’s Medical Fund:

Talkin’ About a Revolution — Tracy Chapman

This is America — Childish Gambino

Evon Burton, associate director, development and communications, Philadelphia FIGHT:

Golden (Kaytranada remix) — Jill Scott

Frontal Lobe Muzik — Daniel Caesar (ft. Pharrell Williams)

Aja Beech, poet, journalist, essayist and Generocity member:

“I’d have to say always on my 4th of July playlist is Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John. I’m a Philly girl at heart. So for me the 4th is very intricately tied to our city and i am so proud of that. The song is very interesting too, it was written for the Philadelphia Freedoms, a World Team Tennis organization, a mixed gender world tennis organization that was the first to have gender equity for their players. While they were around for only one season, the Philadelphia Freedoms had the best regular season of any WTT team that year.”

Philadelphia Freedom — Elton John

Miguel Andrade, communications manager, Juntos:

The Hamilton Mixtape: Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)

Freedom – Beyoncé (ft. Kendrick Lamar)

Tiffany Tavarez, vice president of community relations, Wells Fargo:

Blues March — Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

American Boy — Estelle (ft. Kanye West)

Ellen Grill, vice president for development and communications, The Foundation for Delaware County:

Sandy — Bruce Springsteen

https://youtu.be/XqdrTiYLOlc

Born in the U.S.A. — Bruce Springsteen

America — Simon & Garfunkel

American Woman — Lenny Kravitz

This Land is Your Land — Woody Guthrie

Jane Roh, communications director, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office:

Before I Let Go — Beyoncé

https://youtu.be/TEBlP5M9wnc

Juice — Lizzo

Kelly Herrenkohl, vice president of communications and engagement at Natural Lands:

“America by Simon and Garfunkel (reminders of listening to ’70s soft rock in my parents’ den….ahhh, those mellow harmonies….).”

And “the ultimate day-off song…”

No Hurry by Zac Brown Band 

Brian James Kirk, cofounder of Technically Media:

“Right now my choice would be…”

There’s No Surf in Cleveland – Euclid Beach Band 

And, exerting my privilege as the compiler of this playlist (and Generocity’s editor), we’ll end with my choice:

American Oxygen — Rihanna