Petoskey stones, Detroit soul, the sand dunes along Lake Michigan and the Red Cedar River — all of these Michigan trademarks are featured prominently in class of '82 alum Frank Migliorelli's ode to his time at Michigan State University. 

Frank Migliorelli & The Dirt Nappers released “Michigan” on May 30 as the lead single for their fifth studio album, “Abnormal Conditions.” The track blends country, folk and blues into a rock ballad. 

Four and a half years at MSU were enough to completely enamor the out-of-state New Yorker, although the imagery-driven lyrics of his single could convince a listener that he was born and raised in the Great Lakes State. 

Along with developing such a deep relationship with the place that he now refers to it as home, Migliorelli said he was trying to “grab as much Michigan as [he] could” with these lyrics. 

Throughout the track, he emphasizes this with the lyrics that Michigan sand remains “all over my toes,” and the state is “under my skin” while Detroit soul “let my heart beat strong.”

His alma mater resonated deeply with him, and at 66 years old, he still reminisces on being “a wild ass kid” at university.

Migliorelli’s "wild" time at MSU was drenched in music and performing. After discovering that others on his freshman floor in Armstrong Hall also played guitar, they started a band. They called themselves the “Fender Clones” because everyone had Fender guitars. They went on to play at fraternity and sorority houses, Brody Fest, Battle of the Bands and cafes like Rick's and Dooley's, the latter now known to students as Harper's. 

The great friends that Migliorelli made in East Lansing are referred to in the track as his “band of brothers.” 43 years later, despite now living in New York, Migliorelli remains close to them.

The Fender Clones “run until they die,” as Migliorelli sings in "Michigan."

The band still often hangs out, plans trips together and shows up in each other’s towns.