We asked, you answered: Bridge’s iconic Michigan playlist is bigger and better
- A 25-song playlist of ultimate Michigan music has grown with reader input
- Yes, we missed Simon & Garfunkel and even Kid Rock. We also have relented about Journey and South Detroit
- Stay tuned for more music, fun and engagement. Bridge is just getting started
We asked, and you answered: Michigan, This is your ultimate state playlist!
After a newsroom discussion about music prompted us to compile 25 iconic Michigan songs spanning genre, geography and decades, Bridge Michigan asked readers to help complete the list.
We were absolutely blown away by the response. At least 100 readers sent dozens of suggestions.
I was tasked with compiling the original playlist and growing it. Many admonished me for not including Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.” Fair enough. Michigan always seems like a dream to me, to quote the lyric.
Instead of “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” many would have preferred to hear Gordon Lightfoot’s other famous song about Michigan, “Black Day in July,” about the civil unrest in Detroit in 1967.
Related:
- What are the iconic Michigan songs? Here’s Bridge’s playlist. What’s on yours?
- Listen to the playlist
We’ve got a lot of Bobby Bare fans in this state who strongly advocated for “Detroit City.” And even though there’s technically no such place as “South Detroit” (or if there is, it’s Windsor, Ontario), I was surprised by how many insisted on Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’”
If the people want Journey, they’ll get Journey!
Now, we are pleased to present the mega ultimate Michigan playlist, which is longer and spans more genres. There's more folk, bluegrass, punk, techno and classic rock, as well as a few tracks by newer artists that pay homage to the Great Lakes State.
I appreciated and included several reader suggestions referencing Up North and the Upper Peninsula.
A few readers also made the excellent point that songs featuring Michigan-made cars should be considered: enter Johnny Cash’s “One Piece at a Time,” Ike Turner’s “Rocket 88” (considered by some the first rock n’ roll song) and Prince’s “Little Red Corvette,” among a few others.
To the many, many Bob Seger enthusiasts out there: he has a lot of songs about Michigan, and I am sorry if I didn’t pick your favorite.
The original list included “Mainstreet” for the nods to Ann Arbor (and for that sweet guitar riff). For the followup, it was a tossup between “Night Moves” and “Roll Me Away,” which got the nod for the Mackinaw City reference.
Unfortunately, the limitations of Spotify prevented a few popular requests. Fans of Mike Ridley’s “Michigan Man,” I hear you.
Inexplicably, local favorite Electric Six’s “I Am Detroit” is also not available — I swapped it out for a different song of theirs I know most Michigan residents will appreciate.
A few readers asked me about my favorite Michigan song. That’s a tough one. A playlist of favorite Michigan-born musicians is another playlist altogether (something to look forward to?) and the state’s musical heritage makes it such a special place to live.
I’d be remiss not to mention Hope College alum Sufjan Stevens’ entire “Michigan” album, and Lord Huron’s “Frozen Pines,” whose lead singer is from the Lansing area. One of my favorite bands, The Hold Steady, also has a tongue-in-cheek reference to Bay City in their song “Sweet Payne.”
But for purely sentimental reasons, I’ll offer up “Detroit Has a Skyline” by Superchunk, a 1990s indie rock band I had the privilege to see live at Detroit’s own El Club a couple of years ago.
I hope readers have had as much fun as I did thinking about and revisiting their favorite Michigan songs, and sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the followup playlist.
Please don’t hesitate to email me at lgibbons@bridgemi.com with further musical musings. And stay tuned!
Clearly, we have struck a chord, so stay tuned for an announcement from Bridge soon to hear our favorite songs and share our love of music.
Until then, listen to the Ode to Michigan playlist again (and again and again and again, as Traverse City band The Accidentals would say).
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time!