State Tuned

Some states have as many as eight or nine different state songs; New Jersey doesn't have one; Virginia revoked their song years ago, yet to be replaced; and almost all have had numerous petitions come through their state legislature asking for an updated song. The fervor around selecting a new state song points to the importance of music as a form of expression and identity, but what are the politics of trying to select one song to represent a state’s population? Pride and unity? A voice for marginalized histories? Commentary on the influence of geography and history on art-making?