Welcome to Part 2 of 50 of our American Musical Tour, today focusing on the great state of Alaska. Also known as The Last Frontier, Alaska was the 49th state admitted into the Union in January 1959. Let's check out a quick fact dump about this state:
-Capital City: Juneau
-Area: 663,268 square miles (America's largest state, with 13.77% water area)
-Population: 736,081 as of 2020 (48th most populous state)
-Big 4 Major League Professional Sports Teams (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey): 0/4
-Named College: University of Alaska (est. 1917, Fairbanks, AK)
-State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan
-State Flower: Forget-Me-Not
-State Butterfly: n/a
-State Tree: Sitka Spruce
-State Gemstone: Jade
-State Dog: Alaskan Malamute (don't worry, I didn't forget on the last one, Alabama doesn't have a state dog as sad as that is)
-State Quarter: Released August 2008 (features a Grizzly Bear, of which Alaska its home to 98% of the American population of the species)
Like last time, we'll be looking at artists that were born and bands that were established in Alaska. This is obviously not all of them, but it's a good sampling to get ya'll some fun music to listen to. Let's dive in!
Educated Man by Ken Peltier Band (composer unknown)
The Ken Peltier Band is an Alaskan country/Americana rock/blues band that formed in 1996. While not widely known throughout the rest of the US, he's become a staple in his home state of Alaska and is a constant fixture at the Alaskan State Fair and the Arctic Man race. Educated Man is Peltier's most popular song and was released as a single in 2016. I wasn't able to find a good transcript of the lyrics, but I highly recommend giving it a listen. Peltier has a very satisfying, pleasant voice and is clearly a gifted songwriter.
How Could Anyone by Libby Roderick (written by E. Roderick)
Elizabeth "Libby" Roderick was born in Anchorage, Alabama (848 miles northwest of Juneau) in 1958. The Alaskan singer-songwriter/poet/activist/teacher is proficient on vocals and guitar and primarily sings and writes folk music. Throughout her thirty-eight year career, Roderick has released seven studio albums. How Could Anyone, her most popular song, was originally featured on her 1990 album If You See A Dream and has been featured on programs on major news networks such as CNN & CBS, and referenced in the Associated Press. Roderick has a very peaceful, pleasant voice that gives off mega singer-songwriter vibes, and this song, while repetitive, is beautiful to listen to.
How could anyone ever tell you you were anything less than beautiful/How could anyone ever tell you you were less than whole/How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle/How deeply you’re connected to my soul
Alaska's Flag by Matt Hammer (written by M. Drake, E. Dusenbury)
Alaska's Flag (sometimes known as Beyond Your Dreams Within Your Reach) is the state song of Alaska, and was adopted back in January 1959 when the territory was granted statehood. With music by composer Elinor Dusenbury and lyrics by social worker and educational administrator Marie Drake, this anthem shows its state pride by referencing the symbolism of Alaska's flag, which is golden stars in the shape of the constellation Ursa Major on a field of navy blue.
Eight stars of gold on a field of blue/Alaska's flag, may it mean to you/The blue of the sea, the evening sky/The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby/The gold of the early sourdough's dreams/The precious gold of the hills and streams/The brilliant stars in the northern sky/The "Bear," the "Dipper," and, shining high/The great North Star with its steady light/O'er land and sea a beacon bright/Alaska's flag to Alaskans dear/The simple flag of a last frontier
Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man (written by R. Bateman, Z. Carothers, F. Gorman, J. Gourley, J. Hill, B. Holland, E. Howk, K. O'Quin, J. Sechrist, A. Taccone)
Portugal. The Man was formed in Wasilla, Alaska (816 miles northwest of Juneau) in 2004. This alt rock/psychedelic rock/psychedelic punk/experimental rock/indie rock group has released nine studio albums since 2006 and picked up the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for this very song in 2018. The band's current lineup includes John Baldwin Gourley (vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keys, drum machine), Zachary Scott Carothers (bass guitar, percussion, vocals), Kyle O'Quin (keys, guitar, vocals), Zoe Manville (vocals, percussion), and Eric Howk (guitar, vocals). Feel It Still was originally featured on their 2017 album Woodstock and is hands down the group's signature song. Despite this song being every-freaking-where a few years ago, I never realized it had a sample from Please Mr. Postman in it, which is pretty cool. This song is definitely less annoying to me now than it used to be, and it's absolutely a great bop to dance along to.
Can't keep my hands to myself/Think I'll dust 'em off, put 'em back up on the shelf/In case my little baby girl is in need/Am I coming out of left field/Ooh woo, I'm a rebel just for kicks now/I been feeling it since 1966 now/Might be over now, but I feel it still/Ooh woo, I'm a rebel just for kicks now/Let me kick it like it's 1986 now/Might be over now, but I feel it still
67 (Winchester) by Reyna Roberts (written by R. Roberts)
Reyna Roberts was born in Anchorage in August 1997 and was raised in Alabama and California. One of the younger faces of country music, Roberts is a singer, songwriter, and pianist who came on the scene in 2018. In addition to opening for country stars like Jamey Johnson, she's also an advocate for veterans and active military service members. Her song 67 (Winchester) was released as a single in 2019 and is based on the character Dean Winchester, portrayed for fifteen season by Jensen Ackles on the popular show Supernatural. I love Supernatural so this song was an automatic win for me, but Roberts's voice is so good even on its own. She's a really fun songwriter and I look forward to seeing what she does next.
He's pretty as a lie, but he got the devil in his eyes/I wanna know your name and tell me the secrets you hide/And God is my witness, you gon' get me in trouble/But I guess I like it, ain't no point in fightin’/He got them blue-jean covered thighs/Leather jacket collar high/Texas tailored eyes and the maple whiskey sighs/I’m gone/I like your '67 Chevy ride/Tell me, will you let me drive it all night/Or sit me on the passenger side/Damn, what a sight/‘Cause you're as sexy as that '67/And I'm lookin' for a ride
Bad Habits by The Rebel Blues Band (composer unknown)
The Rebel Blues Band is a rock/blues/funk band that formed in Anchorage. Another more local act, they play a lot of gigs throughout Alaska and seem to have a fun, old-school vibe about them. Bad Habits was originally featured on the band's 2010 album Well Life's Been... I wasn't able to find a good transcript of these lyrics either, but I really enjoyed the song a lot during its almost seven minute duration. Their lead singer has a voice suited wonderfully for a mixture of blues and funk, and the instrumentalists are clearly very talented as well.
Bloodwork by 36 Crazyfists (written by B. Lindow, M. Whitney, S. Holt, T. Noonan)
36 Crazyfists was formed in Anchorage in 1994. This metalcore/alt metal/post-hardcore/nu metal group released eight studio albums before they went on an unconfirmed hiatus/possible disbandment in 2021. Prior to their break, the band's lineup included Brock Lindlow (vocals), Steve Holt (guitar, vocals), Mick Whitney (bass guitar), and Kyle Baltus (drums). Bloodwork was originally featured on their 2003 album A Snow Capped Romance and is one of the group's most popular songs. Ya'll know by now my husband is the metalhead in this relationship, but I've listened to enough by now to recognize that they're not half bad.
Here is your broken character, the one left of heaven/Scissors cut him from the page, example/Continue to read, not to retrace the steps, touch me/The hemorrhaging has ceased, has ceased/And I swallow these capsules/To regain my grip/And I swallowed myself sick/And I inherited my health/And I inherited my health
I hope you found some cool new music to check out from our biggest state. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
Comments