Will The Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner" or Aerosmith's "Dream On" Be Massachussetts' Next Official State Rock Song?

Massachusetts has a war brewing and that’s not just some lame Boston Tea Party joke. Last week, some well-meaning state representative filed a bill that would make the Modern Lovers’ late night driving anthem “Roadrunner” the state Commonwealth’s official rock song. It’s hard to argue with the choice (although Dropkick Murphys’ "Skinheads on the M.B.T.A." would have been worked as well), but it being Massachusetts – a state that has earned its own Mass-hole epithet – of course someone is fighting the bill. This week, two Boston area reps filed their own bill to make Aerosmith’s "Dream On" the official state rock song. I mean, I guess if you want Aerosmith representing your state that’s a tolerable choice. Why not make Steven Tyler the state bird while you’re at it?

Choosing official state rock songs, as opposed to state songs or state folk songs or state polka songs (really Massachusetts?) is great in concept. There’s no reason to skip rock 'n' roll’s contributions to a state’s cultural history. Unfortunately most states who have trailblazed this path have bad taste, which is why Massachusetts will probably opt for Aerosmith over Modern Lovers. For example, Washington State’s “unofficial rock song” is “Louie, Louie,” a song by a band who's actually from Oregon. Oklahoma opted to make the Flaming Lips “Do You Realize?” their official state rock song, which is a far better choice than Ohio. You see Ohio who was the first state to declare an official state rock song, opted for "Hang On Sloopy," by The McCoys. This from the state that produced The Cramps, Rocket From The Tombs, Pere Ubu, and Devo. Come on, if you’re going to go to all the effort of choosing an official state rock song, choose a real rock song. We have a few suggestions for potential official state rock songs that strike the right tone for states. Disagree? Make your own suggestions in the comments.

Arizona

Meat Puppets - “Up On The Sun”

Arkansas

The Gossip - “Standing In The Way Of Control”

California

Dead Kennedys - “California Uber Alles”

Connecticut

Hatebreed - “Destroy Everything”

Florida

T-Pain “I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)

Georgia

Young Jeezy - “My Hood”

Illinois

Chief Keef - “Hate Being Sober”

Indiana

The Gizmos - “The Midwest Can Be Alright”

Maryland

The Obsessed - “Concrete Cancer”

Michigan

Death - "Where Do We Go from Here???"

Minnesota

The Replacements “Shiftless When Idle”

Nevada

The Mapes - “I Gotta Get Drunk”

North Carolina

Archers of Loaf - "The Worst Has Yet to Come"

Ohio

The Cramps - “Garbageman”

Oregon

The Wipers - “Doom Town”

Pennsylvania

Dead Milkmen - “Bitchin’ Camaro”

Texas

Butthole Surfers - “U.S.S.A.”

Utah

The Used - "Liar Liar (Burn in Hell)"

Virginia

GWAR - “Sex Cow”

Washington

The Melvins - “A History Of Bad Men”

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