BK Public Library Is Looking For The Song Of The Summer

BROOKLYN, NY — It's time for a new great national tune, and two New York institutions are determined to find it by summer.

The Brooklyn Public Library and Lincoln Center have set out to find a new contemporary great to add to the "national canon," among likes of "America the Beautiful," "We Shall Overcome," and "My Country Tis Of Thee."

And they want to find it by this summer.

Song submissions will be accepted through Feb. 6, 2024 from artists of any age, both in the U.S. and not — and a select 160 submissions will be workshopped alongside industry professionals and prepped for the finale performance.

Three finalists will finally face a panel of judges and perform their triumphant pieces on July 6 at Lincoln Center's Summer for the City Festival.

The song comes just in time for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding — and music is a powerful way to reflect on national identity and experience, according to organizers.

"Music and the written word have always had the power to help us face challenging realities, celebrate moments of triumph and, in the best cases, art fosters unity in the face of divisions," said László Jakab Orsós, Vice President of Arts and Culture at Brooklyn Public Library.

"[This is a] landmark program that explores and pays homage to the unique genre of the anthem, delves into the current essence of our nation, and offers participants invaluable mentorship opportunities.”