Campaign Songs
Published January 12, 2004
For the love of God, why would anyone voluntarily subject themselves to campaign music? What was the last tune that any of you can remember were for an election that were even vaguely good? FDR's "Happy Days Are Here Again" is cutesy enough, and that's the only one I can even begin to remember without going into convulsions (if you happen to remember Nixon's wonderful election song "Buckle Down With Nixon", then you and I probably shared a nurse over at the institute). Well, apparently there are hosts of people who are writing campaign songs (particularly for Howard Dean). If you must suffer through any of these, um, songs, I would suggest you only listen on an empty stomach in a well venilated room.
- Campaign Songs
- Published: January 12, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: Casper
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Clinton's "Don't Stop" was kind of refreshing in that it was topical without being painfully obvious, and was a pretty good song.
Clinton did use "Don't Stop", but it was an adaptation of an existing pop song. Cheesy, but that's something I can survive. The truly atrocious songs are the ones that were specifically written for a campaign.
Not that it was a campaign song, but "Jimmy Carter Says Yes!" on Bar-None's American Song-Poem Anthology is the GREATEST political song I've EVER heard.
"Can our government be competent?
Jimmy Carter says, yes!
Can our government be honest?
Jimmy Carter says yes!
Can our goverment be decent and open?
As our thirty-ninth president, he has spoken, yes,
Jimmy Carter says yes!"
I recommend you stop at nothing to obtain the recording for yourself.
Ah, I see - yes, original songs for campaign purposes opens up a whole new world of pain.
Here's a list of possible theme songs for this year's candidates.
Unpronounceably named bogger dude, excellent! Perhaps a post of its own?
Oscar Brand is an American treasure. Check out some of his older works like Bawdy Songs or Tell It To the Marines. The old albums are mostly out of print but cassette versions are still available from his website.
How wrong you can be.
Just check out the latest song for Dean.
"Stand up and be counted".
A hit tune if ever I heard one.
How wrong you can be.
Just check out the latest song for Dean.
"Stand up and be counted".
A hit tune if ever I heard one.
Perhaps it is the exception that proves the rule, but dig on "Every Man a King." It was Huey Long's campaign song, for which he was at least nominally credited as co-writer. Randy Newman covered it on the classic Good Ol' Boys album. It ROCKS.
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i seem to remember Sammy Davis Jr. singing "Nixon Now" (or something like that) way back when at the republican convention.
why i was watching this back in sixth grade is beyond me.