The U.S. is turning 250. These songs unexpectedly changed American history.

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  This is In Conversation for Apple News.

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  I'm David Greene, in for Shumita Basu.

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  Today, the music that changed America.

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  This summer marks the 250th anniversary of the United States,

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  and many of us are taking time to reflect on our history

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  and the forces that have made America what it is today.

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  As I was reflecting on how to mark this milestone,

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  I thought about an art form that unites us, brings us joy,

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  and has the ability to affect great change: music.

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  "I wanted to see the power that music can have in our political world."

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  That's Anna Howell Celenza, a musicology professor at Johns Hopkins University

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  and the author of the book On the Record: Music That Changed America.

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  Her book tells the story of a range of musical works,

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  from the Star-Spangled Banner all the way to Hamilton,

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  that whether the artist intended to or not,

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  changed how Americans think about the issues that define us,

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  and sometimes even motivated lawmakers to act.

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  I sat down with Anna to explore her four favorite examples from the book,

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  how they show up in our lives today,

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  and why music is at the heart of America's story.

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