The songs candidates choose for themselves are rarely the songs I would choose for them. For some candidates, it's easy to find an appropriate song. For years, even before he ran for the presidency, I knew that John Edward's song should be the Chiffon's Sweet Talkin' Guy.
It has been harder for me to find the right song for Barack Obama. Some days I think that it should be Carly Simon's You're So Vain. (Some of us think that two autobiographies are a little excessive for a man of his age and accomplishments.) Other days, when I find out how little he knows about Iowa farms, physics, chemistry, or many other subjects, I think that the best song for Obama would be Sam Cooke's Wonderful World. (That video may not last, but you can find the lyrics here.)
And I am still thinking about songs for Senator McCain, Senator Biden, and Governor Palin. Any suggestions for those three? Or for any other candidates, even the candidate who must not be named? (I'm feeling generous today.)
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
Note to commenters: If you want to comment on this post, begin by giving us a song-candidate pair. Or pairs. (And, if you can, add a link to a video or to the lyrics.) Then, if you like, add some commentary explaining your choice(s).
If you don't have any song-candidate pairs, then don't bother to comment.
Posted by Jim Miller at October 12, 2008 02:35 PM | Email ThisHow about "Running on Empty" for the McCain/Palin ticket? The lyrics don't do much to support the idea (except the whole "running blind" part), but I think you get the point.
Posted by: demo kid on October 12, 2008 04:05 PMThe Obama/Biden ticket: Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good "(for this country, that is)
Posted by: Michele on October 12, 2008 04:33 PMObama: "Build It With Love" -- Londonbeat, from the soundtrack for Virtuosity
Palin: "Bitch" -- Meredith Brooks
Biden: "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" -- Harry Chapin (mostly for the Scranton references)
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Hey, McCain's written two autobiographies, has been in the Senate longer, and has accomplished even less than Obama.
What are McCain's accomplishments? Other than McCain-Feingold which a) hurt Republicans, and b) was passed six years ago. What's he done since then?
Who is the real John McCain?
Why do we know so little about him, after all this time? Other than he was subjected to re-education and indoctrination 24x7 by his communist Vietnamese masters for five-and-a-half years?
Posted by: Laszlo Toth, Jr. on October 12, 2008 06:07 PMOhDrama: Liar - Firefight
Palin: The Mighty Mouse Song
Biden: The Mickey Mouse Song
Pavlov, there's no need for you to lie about the empty-suited, Anti-American racist bigot earmarker you support.
We get that he's an outright liar trying to scam us on a non-existent tax cut; we get that he has accomplished absolutely nothing while he's been in the US Senate. We get that leftists are sheep incapable of introspective thought.
What I DON'T get is your inability to find McCain's accomplishments, starting with, for example, serving his country and putting his ass on the line.
OhDrama won't put his ass on the line for ANYTHING, let alone his country. And you're somehow thinking that this guy has a clue?
Isn't it nice that the Agent of Change felt compelled to blow millions on earmarks? You know, after the dem's promised to reform the practice... much like, come to think of it, they promised to get us out of Iraq if only we would elect them?
Like that?
Sigh.
It makes me wish that Washington State wasn't the most modern version of the Soviet state. That way, our vote might have mattered... but there are far too many morons voting for our state to be a player. I'd almost vote for McCain if it would make any difference.
Posted by: Hinton on October 12, 2008 07:35 PMOhDrama: Liar - Firefight
Palin: The Mighty Mouse Song
Biden: The Mickey Mouse Song
Pavlov, there's no need for you to lie about the empty-suited, Anti-American racist bigot earmarker you support.
We get that he's an outright liar trying to scam us on a non-existent tax cut; we get that he has accomplished absolutely nothing while he's been in the US Senate. We get that leftists are sheep incapable of introspective thought.
What I DON'T get is your inability to find McCain's accomplishments, starting with, for example, serving his country and putting his ass on the line.
OhDrama won't put his ass on the line for ANYTHING, let alone his country. And you're somehow thinking that this guy has a clue?
Isn't it nice that the Agent of Change felt compelled to blow millions on earmarks? You know, after the dem's promised to reform the practice... much like, come to think of it, they promised to get us out of Iraq if only we would elect them?
Like that?
Sigh.
It makes me wish that Washington State was the most modern version of the Soviet state. That way, our vote might have mattered... but there are far too many morons voting for our state to be a player. I'd almost vote for McCain if it would make any difference.
Posted by: Hinton on October 12, 2008 07:37 PMObambi: THE PITS by Rainbow Bright (Paint a Rainbow in your heart)
Nothing like the thrill of black clouds falling in the sky They make us feel so wonderful inside It's a dark and dismal day The perfect holiday This could be the start of something grayJust look on the dark side
The worst is yet to come
We'll show you how to have some fun
We'll paint you with a frown
And always cheer you downWe'll grab you with our grimy mitts and take you to the gray and gloomy dark and dingy grody grungy gross and greasy downright seeping Pits.
We'll capture your colors
Soak them up in gray
Wash every bit of sparkle away
No smiles on anyone
Just faces that are glum
And people who do nothing but complainAccentuate the negative and be a pessimist
No better place for griping than the Pits
If your full of misery
You're in good companyWe'll grab you with our grimy mitts and take you to the gray and gloomy dark and dingy grody grungy gross and greasy downright seeping Pits.
It's gloomy and it's grand
Colors here are banned
And on your birthday every year it rains
Smog and smoke fill the air
Smelly fumes everywhere
We promise you that you'll be glad you came
Here's an open invitation to our vacation spot
Enjoy the scenic filth, decay and rot
You'll be basking in the mist
Of the dark and grungy Pits
Just relax and have a gray old timeWe'll grab you with out grimy mitts and take you to the gray and gloomy dark and dingy grody grungy gross and greasy downright seeping.. Honey it ain't nothin' like the Ritz...sublimely slimy grody greasy marty martious gosh it's greasy Pits...This is the Pits!
Biden: IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN (Wizard of Oz)
McCain: THE BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM
Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys Rally once again, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom! We will rally from the hillside We'll gather from the plains, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!We are springing to the call
For three hundred thousand more,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we'll fill the vacant ranks
Of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And although they may be poor
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
McCain: ALL AMERICAN BADASS by Mad Caddies
Palin: ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I CAN DO BETTER(Annie, Get Your Gun)
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on October 12, 2008 08:06 PMOhbummer/Biden ticket would be Simon and Garfunkel's "Slip,sliding away"
McCain Palin ticket, Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold"
Posted by: Rick D. on October 13, 2008 06:12 AM