The US State Anthems Tier List (PART 1)

🌏 Get exclusive NordVPN deal here ➵ NordVPN.com/althist It’s risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!✌
Did you know that US states have anthems? I didn't until like a month ago. And now its taken over my life. Just like national anthems I went down a rabbit hole. To make up for that wasted time, lets talk about them all, and rank them too.
Twitter: / althistoryhub
Patreon: / alternatehistoryhub
Discord: / discord
State Song Playlist: • State Songs
Rick Pickren Songs: • State Songs (Rick Pick...
Music MIDI by Tyler of Whimsu: / @whimsu
Special Thanks to DN Anthems for collecting these songs. / @dnanthems
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Alabama
02:30 Alaska
03:34 Arizona
04:08 Arkansas
06:11 California
07:10 Colorado
08:00 Connecticut
09:05 Delaware
09:38 Florida
11:17 Georgia
12:22 Hawaii
12:47 Idaho
13:12 Illinois
13:45 Indiana
14:29 Iowa
15:10 Kansas
16:10 Kentucky
16:34 Louisiana
17:35 Maine
18:11 Maryland
19:22 Michigan
21:05 Minnesota
21:39 Mississippi
22:44 Conclusion

[@monodragoon]

I didn't even know we had those. That's so dumb.

[@jimmilton6644]

your dumb

[@death-istic9586]

I agree.

[@deleted-something]

Same

[@tylerhackner9731]

Same lol

[@Waltyworld]

I know 😂😂😂😂

[@HalloweenHalloween-sc4jo]

Sweet home Alabama is the true anthem of Alabama. The state borderline signs literally say so lol

[@panthersherman453]

Time to convince the Alabamians to adapt it through their state government

[@dbackscott]

If that were true, then I’d argue for an “S” tier ranking.

[@Trekkie46]

Not sure how well the "Watergate" part would go over with the politicians. Personally I'd choose the Alabama song, "My Home's In Alabama."

[@khalidshubbar6911]

Yes! That should 100% be their anthem!

[@draum8103]

Yeah, Alabama's official anthem should definitely get an F ranking for NOT being Sweet Home Alabama, which is about 20 times better and catchier...

[@NealOfTaylor44]

the fact that someone wrote THREE ENTIRE VERSES about fucking Delaware is honestly god tier

[@ajtheaggravated6191]

And I'll write a 4th about the river

[@honeycomblord9384]

How did they find 3 paragraphs worth of stuff to write about

[@DominikO8O]

:D

[@wisconsinkraut3445]

How do you write 3 verses about a place that isn't real?

[@HonestObserver]

It's all legal jargon about tax loopholes

[@DeadPerfection]

Hi! I'm one of the twelve Alaskans. I didn't know we had an anthem, let alone one like that. I will never forget this, and I'll make sure to tell the other nine guys, plus our national guard (George) and our governor about it.

[@josephyanish4212]

If you don't know the Alaska anthem, you lose your state residency and PFD.

[@terrancehood5292]

I push a motion with the other 11 alaskans to take away this man's PFD privileges'

[@DeadPerfection]

No, wait, please, I know the anthem now, isn't there a way to redeem myself

[@Dorritosmoothie]

@@DeadPerfection hehehe no

[@Game_Hero]

@@terrancehood5292 wait, you plus 11 alaskans = 12 alaskans, who's the extra alaskan? We've been lied to!

[@ko9563]

New Jersey almost had a song. It was even about to be officially voted on after going from proposal, committee and getting onto the legislative floor. Then some one said let's listen to it. Yep, no one listened to it up to this point. The song was "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen. It's all about how Jersey sucks and needing to escape. Part of the opening lyrics say: "Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap We gotta get out while we're young." New Jersey still does not have a song.

[@EntNatal]

I like the idea of states using more contemporary songs to represent them but man is that hilarious. New Jersey chose one of the greatest songs of all time as a contender for their anthem and it’s a complete diss to NJ. It doesn’t get better than that.

[@aidangordon2713]

Lol. Honestly, at this point, New Jersey's gov should embrace the memes and use the Sopranos theme. If HBO minds, tough fuckin' shit.

[@frozen_ham1558]

i like how a copyright firm can stop an entire state government from using a song and then proceed to never use the song themselves for anything ever

[@tylers1996]

From the brief google search I did, apparently the copyright is set to expire in 2028, so maybe we’ll actually get an official recording.

[@DIEGhostfish]

US Property law is pretty strong, and there's really no grounds to eminent domain a mere song.

[@tylers1996]

@@DIEGhostfishMaybe not but it will enter the public domain. Maybe the government won’t make an official recording, but hopefully SOMEONE can.

[@supErchalo1000]

Expanding on the power of copyright, the 2nd biggest statue in the United States is in Portland, Oregon and most people don't know about it because the sculptor holds the copyright.

[@quickhistory2038]

You don't have a soul if you didn't shed a tear to the Alaskan anthem.

[@panthersherman453]

Amen. Alaska has such a classic yet wonderful tune to the anthem. Honestly the UN and the US must play this at every general meeting just to show the world along with other states how a real national anthem should sound like in terms of melody.

[@waterbears9874]

that last frontier part of the end can make the toughest men cry

[@khalidshubbar6911]

"Ah yes, Alaska. The great white north, home to the second part of the Simpsons movie." - Cody Edit: Thanks for 32 likes!

[@copperpolice9650]

I shed a tear for the Mississippi's Anthem

[@shawnlam3109]

Oh no, I've been dry since last month

[@johnkittoiv2572]

Okay i am JEALOUS of whoever came up with the Alaskan songs rhyme at the end. That legit came out of nowhere and SLAYED

[@zheng7636]

My face usually freezes so neutral while listening to videos during work, but I cracked a smile when the word "Last" was sung and you just knew what the perfect next word would be.

[@detleffleischer9418]

I swear to fucking god that line about the Last Frontier wrung out a few tears from me, I love it so much

[@aidankotsch1568]

I NEED part two of this video, for whatever reason these types of videos ranking different parts of state symbols and what not are so interesting to me.

[@oliversherman2414]

As a Brit, I never even knew the American states have their own anthems. But Mississippi's anthem is my new official spirit song (spirit animal but for songs)

[@mikebane2866]

Did you say “spirit” by chance? Because boy if you’re into spirit then do I have a state anthem for you…

[@oliversherman2414]

@@mikebane2866 what's that?

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

I mean, every constituent country of the UK + Isle of Mann (except England) has either an official anthem or an anthem they don't have on the books but predominantly use anyway. So I'm surprised its that odd. England technically has like 5 or so they that use depending on the occasion. - Scotland has Flower of Scotland - Wales has Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers) - Northern Ireland usually uses Londonderry Air, the tune of Danny Boy, as their tune for the Commonwealth Games. - The Isle of Mann uses O Land of Our Birth - England uses any of either There'll Always Be an England, Jerusalem, Rose of England, I Vow to Thee, My Country or Land of Hope and Glory when God Save the King isn't being used

[@CYBERUS212]

American for 21 years and I had no clue either, but I shouldn't be surprised since we have an official state everything else you can imagine

[@march.royalharness4848]

I can say as an American I had no idea this existed.

[@rgm96x49]

22:34 As a non-American who struggled to spell Mississippi for years where was this song when I needed it

[@mahderahman278]

Is the weirdest song in the world at least if people were to ask me what's the weirdest song at least I know what to answer

[@Sara3346]

@@mahderahman278 Really? Have you heard The Most Unwanted Song yet?

[@cactase]

It’s cause they need help remembering how to spell it too 😭

[@DakotaofRaptors]

Is that the girl from My Teen RomCom?

[@ThyMightyBanHammer]

4:42 i love how he is not even facing the side with the keys

[@triplecastsleep1924]

20:48 The state anthem being trapped in limbo because of a copyright fight is just...so uniquely American.

[@peterlyon367]

"The Song of Iowa" was written by Major S. H. M. Byers. He fought for the Union in the American Civil War but was captured by the Confederacy in 1863. While he was in jail in Richmond, Virginia, he was inspired to write "The Song of Iowa" after hearing the Confederate bands playing "Maryland, My Maryland" outside his prison cell.

[@TheGamingMexican69]

As an Iowan the story seems wild for a Christmas song remake.

[@levitschetter5288]

At least this time when we stole a state symbol it wasn't Fr*nch

[@joshuaburke9516]

I have to think though, its too bad Meredith Wilson didn't get a shot at it. Unless we just adopt the U of I fight song? (I say that as an ISU graduate)

[@TheGamingMexican69]

Can we make a remix of the Team america world police theme song called "IOWAAA , F YEAH"

[@notchuckproductions5029]

@@joshuaburke9516 I think Iowas state song should be either be "All I Owe Ioway " or "The Iowa Waltz"

[@cappincurt6215]

Ngl, Alaska’s intro gave me chills, and the outro vocals actually made me a little misty. Good job, Alaska

[@josephyanish4212]

Thanks :)

[@davisdf3064]

I know right, it's genuinely a beautiful song

[@block_smasher]

@@davisdf3064frrrr. I love listening to it

[@meanbean_supporter1234]

We all love it up here (they pay us to live here, WE GET MONEY FOR JUST LIVING HERE,) We perfect everything cause it's beautiful up here like you haven't lived if you haven't just sat there and listened to nature and watch the sights while hunting moose or bear

[@christianbryan6961]

16:48 I can never hear “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine” without thinking of my Mom. I remember she used to sing me to sleep with all the various lullabies like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “Rock a Bye Baby” but Sunshine was our special song. We would whisper extra lines to each other in the midst of the song. “You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray (or purple, or blue, or green, or orange). You’ll never know, Christian, how much Mommy loves you (I love you. I love you too.), so please don’t take my Sunshine away…” If you can’t tell by my talk of sweet childhood nostalgia, I’m a Hoosier. And a Mama’s boy.

[@joshuaevans6295]

I've spent literally years researching state songs (getting drunk and digging through all the news stories / legislative archives I could get by abusing my university logins, then tweeting about it) and I'm absolutely thrilled to see a big name finally get into this topic

[@notaspy1227]

I actually sang “I Love You California”, for extra credit in Civics back in HS.

[@TwistedAlphonso1]

There's a city called after Honda?

[@FishwicksREAL]

hate this comment

[@riazortho]

​@@FishwicksREAL?

[@noremfor]

​@@TwistedAlphonso1best joke ever

[@flazzorb]

The only thing that could make this funnier if you weren't even in California.

[@A_HumanIsMe]

As a proud Texan I must admit "I love you California" is a banger

[@1C3CR34M]

Beautiful Ohio

[@catdragons]

I sang it several times at my old elementary school during events and stuff, we were oddly patriotic there. Never did anything later on career wise with music though, even if music and singing had been a big part of my younger years.

[@user-qy5fh5bx2y]

As a proud Texan this is our state anthem kzbin.info/www/bejne/nomTknxrf99rn5osi=AJqkQY_xRkevCEpH

[@biohaken]

Alaskan here. I LOVE my state, my flag, and my state song! I hate it that I don’t live there anymore. Glad it got an A ranking.

[@hobbytunez2519]

22:05 this short bit of animation with the music is way funnier than it has any right to be.

[@JarrodFrates]

"You Are My Sunshine" is about at best unrequited love and at worst about love for someone who has left the singer for another. This verse in particular makes that clear: "I've always loved you and made you happy/And nothing else could come between/But now you've left me, to love another/You have shattered all of my dreams." It doesn't work as a state song, and *really* doesn't work as a nursery rhyme or lullaby for children.

[@orangecat504]

Funny enough we did sing it though. when i was in 3rd grade sometimes even at an school assembly

[@juanatethejetdryer7580]

Same here

[@ffnovice7]

My girlfriend actually loves this song. I wonder if she's telling me something

[@jamesofficial6829]

I sang it to my greatest love of all time that I lost Brittany Lynn Abernathy. I will always love her forever. She will never know how much I love her. She was my sunshine and I lost her forever and now my life is in forever darkness. She was all that I had in my life that made me so happy. I will treasure all of my memories I had of her till the day I die. May we be together again in the next life.😭💔

[@rya3190]

My dad sang this for his great aunt at her funeral...kinda fit there.

[@comfyMer]

9:50 "Oh, it couldn't be that bad" 10:20 "Uhoh..."

[@jasonhatt4295]

6:54 Lol, after what you just said about the NCR, and then showing the picture of that guy right here- I just had to salute at this part!

[@thegerb5417]

The New Vegas reference was on point. NCR would definitely use that song for their anthem.

[@Milkman132]

In the words of a great man, “FUCK THE NCR!”

[@enclavehere.2281]

I swear I heard that in lore the anthem of the NCR is "California Dreaming" its probably not, but I swear I saw it in a lore video.

[@thegerb5417]

@@enclavehere.2281 To be honest, I love the game, but I have no idea what the anthem is, but its a pretty cool idea that any group in that game would have an anthem.

[@purplefloyd273]

​@@enclavehere.2281california dreamin was used by oxhorn on his nv lore videos about the ncr story line

[@cowerdnerddespacito9518]

I came here from a video that played the California anthem while showing images of the NCR lol

[@curtisworley7762]

As an Arkansan I can tell you "Arkansas you run deep in me" is the one and only state anthem anyone from Arkansas has ever heard. And thank fuck for that.

[@mini_chimp_in_a_suit]

I figured it would be Arkansas traveler.

[@Poopenheiner]

As far as state anthems go we could do a lot worse

[@NorseGraphic]

“Run deep in me” sounds like something from the bedroom….

[@chippie_von_poiznan]

as another Arkansan, I agree completely

[@alreadyblack3341]

Oh, Arkansas can run deep in me!

[@piercewilliams6284]

Yesss! Thank you for doing a video on these! Totally underrated.

[@DancingCrickets04]

One of 12 Alaskans here, it makes me weirdly happy that you appreciate our state symbols. Fun Fact, in the Anchorage airport, they have a little booth with the history of the flag on it, and you can stand inside it to listen to the anthem.

[@Nikkidafox]

There are many things wrong with Mississippi. Its anthem is not one of them. It's amazing. It's the Maryland flag of state anthems.

[@TheRealVenusian]

that is such a fitting analogy hahah

[@Abby_Liu]

it's so silly and goofy I'm just like the Mississippi anthem fr

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Um...yeah, about that. Mississippi actually DUMPED that song and got a new one in the last couple years, for good reason. It was written in the early 1960s and based on the election campaign theme of Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, "Roll with Ross". For those who have never heard of the man, he was a segregationist governor so racist that even George Wallace shied away from his tactics. When President John F. Kennedy and his Justice Department tried to integrate Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) in 1962, Barnett incited a riot of thousands against the federal officials that required the UNITED STATES ARMY to intervene. Unbelievably, he never spent a day in prison and completed his elected term. Yep, I'd say if Mississippi can change their flag, they can ABSOLUTELY do better than that song. They have plenty of musical history to be proud of and share.

[@bartender.official]

@@hawkeyeten2450Dont care. Song is good.

[@longiusaescius2537]

@hawkeyeten2450 old flag was better mald

[@UndeadBrett]

Tennessee has eleven state anthems, but you'll likely hear "Rocky Top Tennessee" the most because it is played at every UT sporting event and come football season it is as inescapable as the plague.

[@monsieurcharcutier4490]

You have said the truth

[@kermitisal8825]

Oh I hope he talks about the Tennessee bicentennial rap 😂

[@motivationallizard6644]

As a Tennessean I would support a measure to make our singular anthem rocky top, to if nothing else piss off the rest of the south. It’s also kinda unique to the rest of the state national anthems with a really fast and upbeat toon, plus you can play it with a banjo. Aside from that I’d probably choose Dixieland delight by the band Alabama. It’s a song about Tennessee but because of the bands name the university of Alabama likes to use it as their version of rocky top. Of course Tennesseans don’t like this since the song is about Tennessee and it’s overall just a good southern style song. Plus it would piss off Alabama and that’s always a plus.

[@Gala-yp8nx]

Ah yes, brain damage season.

[@dreadon8264]

The Vols might not win every time, but got got a cool theme song

[@analoguegeek]

bahahahaha i KNEW you were gonna be all about 'I love you California' simply due to your love of Fall Out and that's amazing...

[@theeseus7582]

No Massachusetts? Can't believe we're ducking Arlo Guthrie like this. :(

[@Signedcentaur]

I think Mass, New Hampshire, and Tennessee are getting their own videos because all of them have like... more than 5 official state songs

[@aidangordon2713]

A bit more than that, in recent years. Let's be honest, Mass will probably add a few Dropkick Murphy's tunes to the list sooner or later.

[@sitchreapotere1073]

@@Signedcentaur Tennessee has ten. Ten. State. Songs. ((At least we have Dolly Parton to thank for, like, three of them))

[@lackedpuppet9022]

​@@aidangordon2713 I propose that we just make the official song be a 5 minute audio recording of two guys arguing in traffic and honking at each other while the dulcet tones of a half asleep high schooler taking orders at the Dunkin' drive thru across the street are heard in the background.

[@Sasha.Sanguine]

It's extremely commonplace for anthems to reuse melodies from older songs. That's why "O Christmas Tree" shows up in state anthems. National anthems did it, too. "The Star-Spangled Banner" uses the same melody as a British song named "To Anacreon in Heaven," which was popular at the time. The reason for this is pretty simple: copyright protections are a relatively modern invention. Back then, songs reused melodies all the time, because nobody was considered to legally "own" a song.

[@warlordofbritannia]

Yeah, this came up with the country anthems. Half of Europe is riffing on “God Save the King”

[@ctradio4416]

Important to note that To Anacreon in Heaven was noted as a drinking song in that era, so the national anthem should be sung only after chugging a beer

[@genghiskhan5701]

The tune of O Christmas Tree is currently used to the Filipino presidential theme song lol

[@joetrela8408]

About 10 years ago Jeep ran a series of commercials in California with their cars driving around various Golden State landmarks while "I Love You, California" played.

[@ccproductions5262]

I'm from Michigan and I had no idea about the bungling of us not owning the anthem? This is the most embarrassing my state has been in a while

[@SamnissArandeen]

Three words! Flint water supply.

[@natethegreat7204]

I sat through this and was rewarded with many laughs and much knowledge, 10/10, can't wait for part 2! ^^ Also, cheers from Georgia and the S-tier though Alaska got me shedding a tear! :D

[@Kamerad_Matto]

As a Kansan I guess the song "Home on the Range" did always make me think of Kansas specifically. I do recall hearing the song frequently growing up, but had forgotten that it was the "State Song" or anthem.

[@jameswoods8843]

when i was younger and found out most other places treat it as a general west song and not a kansas specific one i was disappointed. cant keep any distinctive imagery besides wizard of oz 😔

[@SiPakRubah]

I actually didn't know that song is supposed to be a Kansas state song, it's always being used as a nursery rhymes

[@Awesoman66]

I never forgot, but yeah it isn't played that often.

[@Awesoman66]

@@jameswoods8843 And WoO isn't even very good, and it doesn't flatter Kansas very well.

[@Potato-yd3hv]

Same here. As a Kansan, I'm mad at our placement. Home on the Range immediately makes me think of our state.

[@lovehawks2814]

What makes Connecticut's choice of Yankee Doodle worse is that it was written across the river from New York's capital, Albany. It was at Fort Carilo in Rennselaer. They are quite proud of that.

[@warlordofbritannia]

East of the Hudson is basically New England, close enough

[@walrus3071]

I used to live in Rensselaer. Yes we were strangely proud of it lol

[@seronymus]

​@@walrus3071and it's a Dutch family

[@donaldreynolds6857]

Oklahoma's state song was written in Manhattan by a pair of native New Yorkers who had never actually been to Oklahoma. We still love it to pieces.

[@seronymus]

@@donaldreynolds6857 is that true

[@dwarfgh]

You got great stuff! Looking forward to Part 2!!!!!

[@rowlet_risotto]

I need a 2nd part! I need to see which PA song you choose. (All of them are amazing!)

[@FatherTime89]

You Are My Sunshine is actually kind of dark, especially for a nursery rhyme. It's sung from the perspective of someone whose girlfriend/wife broke up with them, and they're begging her to come back because she's the sole source of sunshine in their life. Check out The Dead South's cover of the song where they do the darkness justice (and it's also just a really good cover).

[@faerylnhiikira1053]

Wait, really? How have I never realized that before?!

[@ianchapman2870]

It’s about governor jimmy Davis’s horse named Sunshine

[@Hypogean7]

I always thought it was about a mom being sad about her child growing up/dying.

[@warlordofbritannia]

Meanwhile, Ring-Around-a-Rosey…

[@knighthunter1791]

TipToe Through the Tulips

[@anthonymignogna4703]

Cody’s analysis of Colorado is completely accurate because I clicked on this video thinking “I’ve never heard the Colorado anthem” then he gets to it and I remember I learned it in my 4th grade Colorado history class and have forgotten it completely since then

[@LILCHEESE99]

Rocky Mountain High and Rocky Mountain Way were the 2 that I thought better represented the state better than the Columbine song

[@anthonymignogna4703]

@@LILCHEESE99 no because Rocky Mountain High perfectly sums up what it’s like to look out west every single morning

[@requiem4ameme2]

Rocky Mountain High is indeed a fantastic song, and truly does capture that feeling you mentioned. But, uh, I think there may be another reason why we don’t sing the one about Columbines anymore…

[@tamorag9635]

there's a reason they made Rocky Mountain High our official anthem, also we dont really talk about columbines anymore, used to be a big state symbol, but certain events have rendered it nearly extinct.

[@Nathandelange]

I just went through a low point and this made me smile. Thank you so much:)

[@AlexBaz143]

Loved this video, please PART 2

[@kamikazeviking3053]

You may think that the Hawaii state anthem may be one of the forgotten ones, especially considering that it uses a language most people even in Hawaii no longer speaks. Instead, if you grew up in Hawaii, you probably know song by heart. And yes, in Hawaiian. Also the 2nd and 3rd verse are forgotten by most.

[@Animenite97]

I actually heard of this song before this video, which is more than I can say about my actual home state of Michigan.

[@stacyyyowo]

The anthem is sung at games here in Hawai’i

[@beagle_uah]

Amen, brother. Well said.

[@superchar4592]

Yea, grew up singing it everyday before school. Can still sing every verse

[@Bassman6363]

From a statistical point-of-view, it should be re-translated & sung in Japanese. 🎊 Just sayin'.

[@liamcallahan9693]

I scrubbed thru all the chapters at the bottom. I saw he stopped at M. I watched the entire video, feeling entirely confident that I wasn't going to hear New York's disco state anthem. And then he said "Don't worry we got a lot more jolly tunes to get to" at 22:58 and I felt a feeling that could only be described as "the split second of impending realization right before a car crash"

[@thehammurabichode7994]

One of the best YT comments ever made

[@thewaffle3602]

this actually made me "lol"

[@AlwaysWatchingYouTube]

this man is a genius to invent a channel like this and the monotone voice is just perfect for the sarcastic expression and best of all it is all either facts or based off of amazingly weird facts that alot of people have never really studied! Keep up the amazing job!

[@MaximumNerd-bg9ho]

I always love it when Althistoryhub does stuff like this.

[@santib9039]

As a Floridian, I'll add some further context: The guy (Stephen Foster) who wrote the original Minstrel Song never stepped foot in Florida. He used the name of a river in Florida (The Suwanee) to fit his tune that he wrote. That's all the connection to the state is. Yet they still adopted it, baggage and all in the 30s. Yet as you said, somehow it is still better than the Focus Group energy song they cooked up in 2008.

[@mr.fahrenheit7009]

I like old folks at home definitely better the the 2008 one

[@user-hk7ud8bq3g]

We either need Suanee River, OR Margaritaville

[@glitchtastic759]

As a Texan, our anthem is The Yellow Rose of Texas and I won’t accept anything different.

[@loganleutwyler]

It's" Texas, our Texas," which isn't bad but disappointing considering all of the other songs available.

[@riazortho]

No. Texas, our Texas is better than The Yellow Rose of Texas

[@mandalorian_guy]

It's "God Bless Texas" by Little Texas and I won't even consider any alternatives.

[@hornet370]

Texas Our Texas is the official state anthem, even the governor confirmed it

[@cubefreak123]

@@hornet370 You do know everyone else here is making a joke?

[@hebl47]

Combining this video and CGP Grey's states flags was such a blast to watch back-to-back.

[@ClaireRichards-Roper]

looking forward to a part 2!

[@Doyoulikeadacheese]

As a proud son of California, "I Love You, California" is an absolutely wonderful anthem that encapsulates why California is so great. However, it doesn't have to be the only one. I've always considered "California, Here I Come" to be the state's unofficial secondary anthem. It's arguably more famous and is a bit more energetic. On the flip side, even though it's a much more modern and melancholic song, I honestly that "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers could be considered a state anthem as well.

[@aurenkleige]

Californication definitely captures the solemn mood of the collapse of your state, that's for sure.

[@SamnissArandeen]

California Dreamin' by The Mamas and the Papas, and Tupac's California Love.

[@KS-bo5bg]

Californication and Hotel California are y'alls two UNOFFICIAL official state anthems according to anyone outside as far as I'm concerned.

[@NathanPa-xo3zj]

The Legion can count on that

[@Oliver-ld3ei]

CALIFORNIAAAA Knows how to party

[@josephanderson530]

Mississippi: Please don't be Dixie, please don't be Dixie. Oh thank God.

[@Kaarl_Mills]

It can be Union Dixie however, that's always allowed

[@AndyMcGehee]

Amen to that, Joseph.

[@jagerdergroe8604]

Fuck you Dixie is a great song.

[@khalidshubbar6911]

​@@Kaarl_Mills "Oh way down south in the land of traitors...!"

[@The_whales]

@@Kaarl_Millspiss of any southerner with that statement

[@r3iwu]

This is my favorite video on youtube in awhile. The animations and tone just perfectly fit the subject mater.

[@rileybriggs5494]

9:04 that is the exact second that you can hear my heart just tear into pieces

[@HSMiyamoto]

The Minnesota state song, "Hail, Minnesota!" was originally written by students at the University of Minnesota for a skit mocking university president Cyrus Northrup in 1904. Then somehow this song stuck around until the state legislature designated it the state song in 1945. So it was intended to be a comic song, but it just sounded so sincere when taken out of context. The writer was someone named Truman Rickard, which isn't a Scandinavian name.

[@Saga_Studios]

Please tell me we arnt actually changing our flag????

[@HSMiyamoto]

@Saga_Studios The flag and seal should be changed. The new design looks like it's for corporation. However, the MN flag should not show a pioneer with a gun plowing a field as an Indian rides out of the state.

[@okay8646]

​@HSMiyamoto No the flag should not change, because on how horrible the new one looks.

[@thaumargaming3646]

@@okay8646 How about neither. They're both terrible.

[@okay8646]

@@thaumargaming3646 the old one or new one I'm guessing the new ones are terrible

[@Hunk3yMunk3y]

The Mississippi Delta is the home of Blues Music, McComb Mississippi is the birth place of Bo Diddley, and that polka disaster is our anthem. Not only is the song bad, we never play it, but also Mississippi, has very few people of German Descent(possibly the lowest amount per capita in the US) (most people here are of Scottish, Welsh, English, Irish, African American, and/or French descent).

[@swyjix]

Were the birthplace of America’s music, and we’ll be the grave of it too.

[@McBearGrylls]

It is awful but damn does it have a wonderful energy to it. Personally I think Roll on Mississippi would be an amazing state song.

[@HayTatsuko]

And Jimmie Rodgers, the father of country music, was from Meridian, so score another point for Mississippi music.

[@TheTC]

Woulda made more sense for Texas cuz of Tejano. Just Czechxicans cut loose roaming the land with kolaches.

[@Unb3arablePain]

Well Gluckstadt has some people of German descent but they're the exception not the rule.

[@NoPegs]

More tierlists! This is awesome!

[@fisherman501]

I'm amazed at Arkansas' ability to play the piano sideways at 4:45

[@Acyclingfan]

As a Hoosier , our state anthem should be Back Home Again in Indiana which they sing every year at the Indy 500. Now that's a banger.

[@Theindianapatriot]

As an extreme radical Hoosier myself I can agree. But I like the depressing vibe of the one we have

[@DarthHoosier3038]

On the Banks of the Wabash has a particular charm to it. But I do see the possibility.

[@shadywyvern]

I was hoping he'd mention that, much better song

[@tavi_knight]

God damnit he should have mentioned that one.

[@williameckerle4113]

I'm glad I'm not the only Hoosier that

[@cgallegos2106]

God California has some of the best “state anthem” type songs. “Here California here I come” is a pretty good marching song, “I love you California” is of course the official and best, and even some of the modern stuff from the 1990s.

[@Spongebrain97]

I grew up in California and didn't really know much about the "anthem songs" but I always liked just songs that people made in the state itself. Like every region and many big cities have appropriate sounds that fit their vibes

[@tommymolina9155]

California love - Tupac California dreaming - Mamas and Papas California girls - Beach boys (also Katy Perry)

[@jasonsantos3037]

Nowadays California is just a complete shit hole.

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

If you broaden the range that much it's not even fair because the Red Hot Chili Peppers exist and are still at large.

[@ZachBlackforest]

@@tommymolina9155 Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[@NCR2189]

6:31 this anthem is my alarm and ringtone, but still. As a NCR fan. This anthem brings me hope for the NCR🥹

[@salacommander2674]

Where's part 2?

[@Sisyphus599]

So we’re not making part 2. Alright.

[@genericbearsounds5899]

As one of the 12 people born and raised in alaska, I can say that at least here, a lot more people are familiar with our state song than you might think. The final bars especially were used in advertising and events a LOT growing up. The song and the flag it represents are very popular pieces Alaskana. And being forced to take up indoor activities in the winter has definitely made alaska the most consistently artistic state I've ever been to. Every small village and town has art galleries, musicians, and festivals and they're all actually pretty good. Anyway send help, it was -45 a couple weeks ago and my doorknob started frosting.

[@thaumargaming3646]

good god, -45?!?!?! And I thought it got cold here in western NY with all the lake effect snow and polar winds

[@potatoman9155]

@@thaumargaming3646 It only gets that cold in the central and northern parts of the state. It rarely gets below -5 most winters in the southern/coastal areas where most of the population is.

[@thaumargaming3646]

@@potatoman9155 ah, that makes more sense. -45 doesn't seem like a very hospitable temperature.

[@greatnorthernadventures570]

@@potatoman9155the majority of Alaska’s population is in Southcentral not the Panhandle. Southcentral routinely gets into the -30’s and -40’s.

[@greatnorthernadventures570]

C’mon, we all know Alaska’s unofficial song is “Pussycow pussycow pussycow!”

[@alexandermuto467]

Hawai'i's State anthem IS THE BEST. Sung at every important religious ceremony, sporting event, and graduation; people even sing it at weddings. It's a homage to a conquered nation and a song that unites everyone in the state. Most people know it by heart. It is sung atop crashing waves as we battle the might of the Pacific in our paddling regatta, and sung from the tops of volcanoes! It can bring an entire crowd to tiers when singing it. For people from Hawai'i, like myself, it is more than just a song, it is a representation of our fighting spirit, history, and soul of the state.

[@Game_Hero]

the soul of a proud hawaiian nation.

[@kuo8088]

Gone, but never forgotten

[@fredloftonab]

Yeah, I’m gonna have to say no to that. Oklahoma has the best state song of all time. Even non-residents know it. I don’t remember Rogers and Hammerstein writing an entire musical about Hawaii.

[@peyton7786]

And I thought Hawaii’s state song was aloha oe for some reason

[@cofftps67yago94]

Cool! Part 2 please

[@Reality_Suks]

I'm from Alaska ( no we dont live in igloos), I was genuinely surprised to hear what he had to say about us, and everything he said was pretty mutch true 😂

[@mario7886]

I've always held in my head "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot as the anthem of Michigan. It makes me vibrantly nostalgic for my childhood spent in Michigan evertime I listen to it

[@Tupacem]

As a Michigander I can respect this I love that song and Gordon Lightfoot (R.I.P) though I don't know if a song about a sunken ship is the best song for an anthem lol

[@ChrisDreher]

I think of Minnesota for the same song, but that probably only for folks who grew up near Lake Superior. Michigan also makes a lot of sense.

[@LadyTylerBioRodriguez]

I thought that was the Wisconsin anthem, so many friends from Milwaukee love that song. If it was a state anthem it would be the best one not even a second thought.

[@ChrisDreher]

Considering the Edmund Fitzgerald departed from Superior, WI (which is next to Duluth, MN), Wisconsin gets a decent share of the song as well.

[@Matty2Tone]

It's really the unofficial anthem of the whole Midwest.

[@Itsjustacorpse]

6:30 FOR THE REPUBLIC!!

[@utahraptor700]

Just waitin on part 2

[@madisonfriesen2543]

Im hyped for next video!

[@mestre12]

I had quick skip to Mississipi part. When you posted on twitter, Cody, i really had to see your reaction to it.

[@majormax13]

Maine's official state song may be a drag, BUT their official state *ballad* kicks ass. It's a tribute to the 20th Maine, the troops that defended Little Round Top at Gettysburg, written and performed by folk band The Ghost of Paul Revere. "And then appeared our lion, he was roaring bayonets And we charged on down the mountain with what forces we had left 'Cause we're as steadfast as Katahdin, We're as hard as winter's rain Go straight to hell with your rebel yell We are the boys of Maine!"

[@rtpoe]

The U. of Maine official school song is pretty cool, too - it's a DRINKING SONG! Fill your steins to dear old Maine! Shout 'til the rafters ring! Stand, and drink a toast once again, Let ev'ry loyal Maine man sing!

[@someoneelsedoit8706]

There's also the Dirigo March, the official March of the Maine National Guard, which is really good. But yeah, we are REALLY proud of our actions in the American Civil War with the 20th Maine.

[@thearmchairjacobite2765]

I just left a comment saying the same thing, i was afraid it would just get buried in the other comments, good to see someone else saying so!

[@yetimen29]

great editing :)

[@scharnhorst_42]

Seeing the titles I thought it was gonna be a CGP Grey video and was ready to skip it, but glad its you!

[@DrIndy2]

As a Hoosier, and I think many will agree on this, while “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” might be our official state song, it really is “Back Home Again in Indiana” that we most think of. It’s really similar, like shares enough musically that there were some legal issues, and the themes hit similar notes, nostalgia for home and childhood, but lacks the more depressing notes. I mean, its the song that been chosen to represent the state at the Indy 500 since 1946. The performance by both Nabors and Cornelison always gives me chills.

[@tammynordhoff9199]

I'm a Hoosier

[@SweetReed17]

I scrolled down to make sure someone mentioned how Back Home Again in Indiana is really the unofficial song. lol Thank you for representing us Hoosiers in the comments

[@hdhstarwars2723]

Back Home Again in Indiana really should be our state song.

[@girlbuu9403]

Wait, Hoosier? I thought that was a Canadian insult it is what you call people from Indiana?!

[@hdhstarwars2723]

@girlbuu9403 people from Indiana are hoosiers the Canadian insult is hoser

[@miscellaneoussarnian5282]

Cody You forgot about Massachusetts (tbh All Hail To Massachusetts is bop to me)

[@mateusz73]

I was wondering where Massachusetts was too

[@MrJodrick]

HE FORGOT ABOUT US

[@warlordofbritannia]

For forgetting the great Commonweal of Massachusetts I denounce thee, Goodman Hub! Thou art a wretched sinner, utterly unworthy of God’s love. A fountain of pollution is deep within thy nature; thou livest as a winter tree, unprofitable, fit only to be hewed down and burned. Steep thy life in prayer and hope that God may see fit to show mercy upon thy corrupted soul...

[@warlordofbritannia]

F’r thif Crime ag’nft ye Commonweal, I denounce thee, Goodman Hub! Thou art a wretch’d finner, utterlay un-worthee o' God'f Love. A founten o' polution if deep with’n thy nayturr, and thou liveft af a wintrr tree; un-profitable, fit only to be hune doun an’ Burned. Fteep thy lyfe in praer, an’ hoope that God feef fit to fhow mercee up’n thy corrupt’d foul.

[@tsirtosky1439]

You did a really great job with this! I can tell you put in a lot of time and effort, and the animations work SO well. I definitely got some chuckles throughout. Bravo. But a note on Indiana: Our (I haven't lived there since 2002, but once a Hoosier, always a Hoosier) official anthem is basically like Michigan's. It's basically never sung by anyone not in a school choir, and nobody knows the melody. But most Hoosiers know the "sequel" song, which essentially is an excellent, masterful rewrite of the original, by a different author, about longing and dreaming for home, but also the happy return. Not only was "Back Home Again in Indiana" a global jazz hit standard (I've heard jazz bands in Europe play it), it's a melody that's used for many state-centered things such as theme music for radio and tv stations, ads for local attractions, etc. And its used as the unofficial anthem for just about every Indiana- themed event . Back Home Again is actually really catchy and I honestly can get a little choked up when I really reflect on the words. "Back home again in Indiana; and it seems that I can see the gleaming candle light still shining bright through the sycamores for me. The new mown hay sends all its fragrance through the fields I used to roam, and when I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash, then I long for my Indiana home." Those smells and sights are literal, iconic memories of my youth. One last note about the official anthem, "On the Banks of the Wabash" while I do enjoy your style of humor, the clip you played is from one of the "unsung" verses. Even a lot or most of sheet music and choral arrangements only include the first verse. I've never heard a recording of the verse you used, and I only recall reading those lyrics once... and reacting like "wow, this is not good."

[@Tux551]

Please make part 2 of this

[@saltshaker1118]

My favourite part of this is the little state specific figures bopping out to their respective state songs in the corner

[@DeesDNP]

As a Georgian I'm proud that my state finally got a high tier in any tierlist video. I also thank Ray Charles for giving us a banger of a State Song.

[@firestarsfan]

We finally got something right!

[@WeepingNoor]

Yeah!! :D

[@warriormasterdeath7093]

Cheers for that, finally a highest tier worth celebrating.

[@shyartistry]

I remember having to go to the state capital in 6th grade to sing the state song for Utah haha, still is kinda in my head to this day like 6 or so years later

[@tomahawkm4687]

21:57 Funny, i never heard him cuss so he's serious that this anthem has a slide whistle

[@Mwraf]

*Kazoo intensified*

[@Max_Ivanov_Pro]

I had no idea states had anthems, let alone multiple ones. The more you know!

[@JimmyM1975]

Probably a Hacked Account

[@woah99]

@@JimmyM1975definitely hacked

[@The_whales]

I’m on the same boat as all of you

[@calvinmann5773]

I feel like this account is hacked as well

[@lordwarDXCIII]

yea probably hacked

[@vxxnsan]

As someone who went to a California elementary school, my school LOVED our anthem and used to sing it on cross-state field trips! It’s a school tradition for the fourth graders to sing the anthem around admission day in front of the rest of the thousand students :)

[@matthewg.kazmierzak373]

Sat through this video waiting for Wisconsin to show up, not realizing it was a part 1 smh. I'm excited for part two

[@hollow8730]

I didn’t know know about this but I love this ❤😂

[@SnakeHistorian]

As someone who grew up and lives in CA you hear the CA Anthem in the Jeep Grand Cherokee commercial 11 years ago. That old radio style is ingrained in my head as it played so much

[@idontknow14672]

The god damn slide whistle in mississippi's song actually cracked me up when I heard it

[@LangBuildsMc]

16:48 My glorious King Lebron James.

[@yourmomisveryobese4418]

Le bombojames

[@nightdragonx123]

We need a part 2

[@theshenpartei]

We need an anthem for alternate history hub. Make it awesome.

[@razzlejazzled]

Fun fact, "Here we have Idaho" is also the Alma Mater (School Song) of the University of Idaho, with only a couple of slight lyrical changes ("Singing of Idaho" becomes "Alma Mater our Idaho" for example).

[@garion742]

Been a while so I'll just say I'm really hoping for part 2. Some good laughs and the odd gem

[@Childtherorist]

We need a part two right now

[@gunterxvoices4101]

Ah yes, America. The county, but not really. Time for Michigan Song.

[@Sigma_Male_Anti_Female]

It's not really a county.

[@McBigPicklez]

America is my favorite county

[@bathamsteryt]

Michigan is my favorite country

[@gunterxvoices4101]

Same@@bathamsteryt

[@Space_Bones]

Idk about other states, but Hawai’i Pono’i is sung relatively often. Like pretty much every time the American National Anthem is sung, there is a decent chance Hawai’i Pono’i follows right behind it.

[@HonestObserver]

Cody won't be so dismissive about the song once the islands finally secede and it becomes a national anthem.

[@songjunw8981]

6:12 The GOAT

[@landongraham5631]

We need a part 2 please