Now this would be a fine anthem, that ‘God’ part and all

Kate Smith did it right.

Happy Fourth. And don’t forget to say thank you to Irving Berlin.

(Check out 4:20 in!)

Too old to even be retro

But an iconic moment for this country – Kate Smith, introducing the radio audience to Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. He wrote it in the ’30′s, but it wasn’t widely heard until this performance. The video is a classic example of the WWII propaganda short (and catch the bit player toward the end!!)