Martina McBride's Day of Reckoning
Martina McBride has one of the most powerful voices that’s ever graced the country charts, and thankfully, she’s frequently matched that voice with equally potent material. Sunday (Jan. 20) marks 15 years since she set the standard for her career by recording “Independence Day.”
The song, of course, is a dramatic portrait of a battered woman who gets revenge by burning down the house in which she’s been abused. It’s never clear in the end whether she survives or takes herself out in the process, and that mystery is one of the most engaging points of the song. Martina delivered it with such ferocity that it was ranked among the 500 greatest country singles in history in the Country Music Foundation book Heartaches by the Number, and Martina’s visual representation was significant enough that “Independence Day” came in at No. 1 among CMT’s 100 Greatest Music Videos in 2004. Unlike many other hits of its time, it still gets played on current country stations.
Amazingly, radio was a little hesitant about the song originally. Though it got great listener response in the places where it played, some broadcasters held out for months, fearful that a song about domestic violence wasn’t happy enough for morning drive. Most stations are programmed by men; whether or not that influenced the thinking has never been definitively proven. And those stations eventually were forced to come on board.
Written by Gretchen Peters, the song was significant not only to Martina’s career, but also to the people who heard it. Many fans have told Martina that “Independence Day” gave them the strength to leave bad relationships. Her performance moved one young girl so much that she eventually did a version of it on a national TV show as she established her own blockbuster career. That would be Carrie Underwood, who sang “Independence Day” on American Idol.
The impact of “Independence Day” is a testament to the power of music, and a reminder to many in the music industry why they got involved in the business in the first place: Music really is a way to have a positive impact on the world in which we live.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
shelley b says:
That song is the best one ever and the whole reason i got into country music at all. With all the battered wives out there, even 15 years ago, I cant believe radio was not gonna play it. Wives get abused all the time, even if its not the black and blue kind. (go see other blog about Ashton S new song). I agree that music like this has power, and if Martina moved even one girl to leave an abusive man then there’s a special place in heaven for her.
Heather says:
The song is the reason I bought her cd and became of fan many yeas ago. It a wonderful song and so truthful, everyone can relate whether they have been in a similar situation or not. They feel the pain of the woman and the little girl. Martina delivers it beautifully as she does with every song she sings. This is a testament to country music and the way it changes peoples lives for the better. This defined some of the things artists are aloud to sing about today. Martina is extraordinary and the best singer in Nashville, she always has that special way of pulling you in and making you feel what she is trying to say. She’s wonderful!!
Helen says:
I think that Mrs. Martina McBride is one of the most amazing female vocalist out there in country music these days. Every time I hear Independence Day come on the radio I can not help but listen to it. With every note and every lyric that comes from her, each one shows a close to home meaning, and so many women can relate to her music. I was just 8 years old, I grew up listening to her music. I will become so disappointed if she does not receive and nomination for Female Vocalist of the year and most importantly receive the award. She has made her voice in country music and she most certainly deserves and award like this. I know she has won this in the past and I believe she has won it three times. Over all Martina McBride has been making music for years and years and she continues to make us fans proud, there is nothing that she can’t do. GOD BLESS YOU! keep up all the amazing and touching work that you have been doing. You are def. a BLESSING!!!
Michelle Murphy says:
Martina McBride is definately the greatest country singer out there. She is so real in everything she does. I just love her. She has the most wonderful voice and the fact that she sings the kind of music she does makes her all the more powerful with me. Supporting those who have been on the other side of the fence, the abused.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You do give us the strength to do what we have to do. To read, to write and to run. God bless you for being the wonderful woman and artist that you are.
You have touched my heart a million times a day and I thank GOD for the people like you who want to make a difference.
Love to you. Keep blessing us with that golden voice. You are forever in my heart and my stereo….
Michelle
What’s your favorite song based on the album samples? - Page 3 - Kellie Pickler Fans says:
[...] Wild Ponies is one of the best songs and had one of the best positive anti-abuse messages since Martina’s Independence Day, yet unfortunately WP wasn’t released. And now Jessica Simpson is talking about abuse and releasing [...]