“Songs of U.S.,” a video series devoted to exploring the American songbook on the nation’s 250th birthday, will feature ...

To mark America's Semiquincentennial, TIME asked 25 experts to share a song that captures the essence of American life today.

That magic can be found throughout the soundtrack to America's 250 year history, but with a singular expression — a persistent, optimistic energy that has powered this nation forward. The pursuit of ...