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

In this 250th anniversary year of the United States, pianist Lara Downes is traveling the country collecting conversations with scholars, searching for our history through songs. Her first stop is a ...

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 ...