It’s impossible to celebrate America’s 250th birthday without acknowledging the importance of art, culture, and storytelling. As part of Breitbart’s special ongoing coverage for the 250, we reached out to some of Nashville’s most talented songwriters and artists and asked them to write original songs that reflect how they feel about America. The acoustic performance you will see marks the first time anyone has heard these songs and the first time they have been performed by their respective writer-artists. We’re proud to present our readers with what we call the American Soundtrack.
Several months ago, we were so impressed by a song that we featured it on Breitbart News: when the kingdom comes By Lee Brice. Bryce talked to us in an exclusive interview about the writing process, but more specifically he talked to us about one of the co-writers, Billy Montana. “A faith teacher and a poet,” is how Bryce described him. In fact, so many people in Nashville characterize the New York native, who moved to Nashville in 1989 to focus on songwriting. That focus turned into five #1 singles, including Garth Brooks’ more than a memoryLee Brice’s hard to love And memory i don’t mess withSara Evan’s foam in a bucketAnd Joe D. Messina’s bring rain…And what’s more, Montana’s songs have been recorded by Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Rogers, Sister Hazel, and many others.
billy montana Photo: Chase Lauer
for breitbart american soundtrackMontana teamed up with another amazing songwriter, David Tolliver, a crazy talented singer and half of the country-rock duo Halfway to Hazard, who was nominated for “Duo of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music, earning them touring slots with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Jason Aldean. As a writer, Tolliver’s songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, Jerrod Neiman, Wynonna Judd, and Edwin McCain. Tolliver and Lee Brice join forces in the recently released Miyagi, a truly epic musical tribute to the American story: the Karate Kid. We highly recommend you listen to it.
Co-author David Tolliver Courtesy of David Tolliver
Speaking about American Stories, Montana explained how he and Tolliver developed their original song. feels like america To honor America’s 250th. Montana, who lives in Nolensville, Tennessee, took inspiration from the entire community that gathers every year on the 4th of July to celebrate in small town America: “With this song, we wanted to do that dystopic thing on sounds. Of America, but also ‘Man, it feels like Like America.”
From the first bar, Montana is playing his harmonica while strumming his guitar, the listener can hear and feel small-town America and all its characters.
there is no question about it feels like america That’s all it does…it feels like America.
billy montana Courtesy of Redlight Management/Chase Lawyer
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feels like america
Billy Montana, written by David Tolliver
Presented by Billy Montana
blanket on the ground
summer night
the whole city around
4th July
The sky explodes in red, white and blue
The high school band sang a song
We all know the words so we all sing along
God bless you
truth moves forward
feels like america
Looks like it should be
feels like america
It feels like America to me
It’s doing what’s right
it’s lending a hand
It’s like taking a stranger and making a friend
This land is my land and this is your land
feels like america
Looks like it should be
feels like america
It feels like America to me
18 wheeler highway roar
Church bells ring across the green corn fields
deserts and valleys glass and steel
The eagle flies and will always fly
feels like america
Looks like it should be
feels like america
It feels like America to me
