New List Of The Best Songs About Texas Is Missing An El Paso Music Superstar
Austin360 came out with their list of the 20 best songs about Texas and there are some legendary Texans on the list showing their love to the Lone Star State. Writer Michael Barnes of Austin-American Statesman and Austin 360 is no stranger to upsetting Texans who have passionate opinions on what they like. Barnes came out with a list of the "53 Best Books About Texas" and the "Best Movies About Texas" and the list gathered quite a few opinions on his decisions. Readers responded on what books they felt deserved to be on the list, which should have been left off, and many questioned why James Michener's "Texas" wasn't included.
Now Barnes has released his list of the "20 Best Songs About Texas" and it includes some of the Texas staples like "Miles and Miles of Texas" and "Deep in the Heart of Texas" plus newer personal favorites like Khruangbin & Leon Bridges' "Texas Sun," which I listen to on repeat more often than I'd like to admit. Also powerful tunes like Gary Clarke Jr.'s Grammy Award-winning "This Land," made Barnes list and for the most part, I can agree with the songs on the list. But there is one young Texan who shines a light on his love of the Lone Star State often, specifically the Sun City his adopted hometown.
Khalid may not have been born and raised in El Paso, but the 915 is his home. His entire first album was a tribute to his time in high school here, and he frequently in interviews spoke about the positive impact Texas and El Paso specifically had on him. The first time I saw Khalid perform was for his Location Tour on February 4th, 2017 at the local venue Tricky Falls On the stage next to him was a small green road sign that said "Welcome To El Paso."
The next concert was for his 915 Hometown Show held on September 15th, 2018, the date of 9-15. Since then, Khalid also held a benefit concert to assist the shooting victims from the El Paso Walmart shooting. He's also continued to pay homage to El Paso through his EP Suncity and his mixtape Scenic Drive. His song "American Teen" even proclaims:
"From the city of the 915
Where all the girls are pretty
And they're down for the hype
All my boys are with me
Going up for the night"
The song talks about his friends and growing up in El Paso. Whether or not you think his songs are influential, they are. Khalid's debut album was certified platinum four times, and he's had multiple top ten hits on the Billboard charts. Even if you didn't put one of Khalid's many hits on the list, he should have been an honorable mention.
Even without the inclusion of Khalid on the list, there are some great, thought-provoking songs that were included on this list of Texas songs. Songs that sing the praise of the Lone Star State, and others that show the rough underbelly that is sometimes glossed over. As a whole, this list shows the multifaceted way Texas should be looked at.
You can read the entire list of what songs did make the list on the Austin 360 website.
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