SING THE STATES #03: New Jersey

When I was looking for a postcard image for New Jersey, my favorite was probably one that said "It hurts our feelings when you make fun of us." Isn't that true? No matter where your from, I think we can all relate. So I propose that we all resolve to stop making fun of people for their state of origin. Because really, every state has a lot to offer. Like New Jersey, for example:

Has the highest population density of any state in the United States.

It's the site of the first officially recorded baseball game in history (at Elysian Field, Hoboken, NJ).

It's actually the only state without an official state song (although 'I'm From New Jersey' is often incorrectly cited as one).

Music from the Garden State is eclectic and influential. Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Lauryn Hill, Parliament-Funkadelic, and The Bouncing Souls all hail from NJ (just to name a few).

So there you go, lots of reasons to not bag on Jersey. And since we represented Pennsylvania with New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, we thought we'd return the favor by representing NJ with the white-boy blues rapper from Philly, G. Love. This song's off his 2006 album for Brushfire Records, Lemonade - and although it's about not going back to Jersey, there's no direct sucker-punches to the state - so this still keeps our goal of not making fun of any states. I've always had a thing for G. Love, probably because I think he's one of the best blues-harmonica players around. This is a fun song, but if I had to recommend a G. Love album I'd probably lean more toward his earlier records with his backing band, Special Sauce - probably Philadelphonic or their self-titled. But there's some great tracks on his 2004 solo debut, The Hustle, as well. So there you go.

Also considered: Red House Painters - New Jersey; Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City; Less Than Jake - Never Going Back To Jersey

G. Love - Can't Go Back To Jersey
from the album Lemonade (Amazon/iTunes)


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