Imagine if every state had an official song that perfectly captured its essence and spirit. Well, New Jersey, the Garden State, is the only holdout in the nation without one! But a passionate professor, Dr. Rich Lee, is on a mission to change that, and his choice might just surprise you.
Dr. Lee, a journalism professor at St. Bonaventure University, has a soft spot for the Boss, Bruce Springsteen, and his iconic song 'Born to Run'. This isn't just a random pick; it's a well-thought-out decision backed by years of research and personal experience.
You see, Dr. Lee's journey with 'Born to Run' began way back in the 1980s when he was a young journalist covering the rock and roll scene in New Jersey. It was during this time that he first proposed the idea of making 'Born to Run' the state anthem.
In 1980, he wrote an op-ed for The New York Times, titled 'In Support of a Proposal for a State Anthem'. In it, he argued that the joke turned serious when disc jockey Carol Miller introduced the song as the 'New Jersey state anthem'. This light-hearted moment sparked a movement, with letters of support flooding in and even an Assemblyman, Richard F. Visotcky, proposing a bill to make it official.
Fast forward to today, and Dr. Lee believes the time is right to revive this campaign. He's conducted extensive research and interviewed key figures like Carol Miller and Robert Visotcky, the son of the original Assemblyman.
On Friday, at the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture conference in Philadelphia, Dr. Lee will present his findings. He'll be joined by Conor Amendola, a Media Studies major at St. Bonaventure, who has assisted with the research.
The question now is, will the New Jersey legislature finally listen and adopt 'Born to Run' as their official song? With Dr. Lee's passion and dedication, New Jersey might just find its voice and a song that truly represents its unique identity and culture.
So, what do you think? Should 'Born to Run' become New Jersey's official anthem? Let's discuss in the comments and share your thoughts on this intriguing proposal!
