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Entries associated with the tag "Barack Obama":August 7th - 3:13 p.m.
I would have pegged Jon Langford as too deep-dyed a Red (in the old sense, not as in "red state") to have much enthusiasm for the relatively centrist Barack Obama, but in this essay at Largehearted Boy, he makes his case. As an expatriate Brit he's often found himself in the unenviable position of having to defend his adopted country while making no defense of its indefensible recent policies. Obama's potential to change the U.S.'s self-image as well as its image abroad warms Langford's cockles. Mine too. I'm also glad that the debut album from the KatJon Band (Langford's collaboration with drummer-singer Katherina of the Ex), who made such a good impression at the Hideout/Touch and Go party two years ago, will finally see the light of day soon.
March 4th - 4:15 p.m.
Last week Andrew Bird and Dianogah played an Obama fund-raiser at the Hideout. Tickets started at $100, but in return for their donation concertgoers got to go home with one of 236 screenprinted show posters by local artist Kathleen Judge. The few that weren't given away are now up for auction (click on the "posters" link), and the proceeds will go straight to Barry's campaign. Because of the political-donation angle, there are limits on who can bid--foreigners, corporations, PACs, banks, and other organizations that want to show love for violin-based art-pop and Kennedy-esque politicians will have to look elsewhere. The Hideout's schedule is heavy on the good-deeds-doing at the moment. Zebo, the Gutter Butter DJs, and a few other people are spinning a dance party on Thursday to benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Saturday is the bar's annual send-off party for Chicago bands heading down to SXSW, with 12 hours of live music by and for acts bound for the festival--the artists will get some cash and supplies to help them on the trip down to Texas. February 6th - 7:04 p.m.
You may remember that back in December, when Barack Obama's rapidly engorging Presidential ambitions were nothing but a very badly kept secret, I sent out a call for suggestions for possibly the single most important asset a campaign can have (at least as far as music geeks are concerned): a proper campaign song.
A few of you rallied, and there were suggestions, from the ridiculous to the sublime (plus "I Whipped Batman's Ass" by Wesley Willis, which is both). But the improbably named Nedra Pickler reported for the AP on candidates' song choices for the DNC meeting this past weekend, and among the less surprising surprises (really--Hillary's a Jesus Jones fan? And John Edwards picks a song already indelibly associated with Chevy?) was one stark omission: "Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois decided against using any music in keeping with the somber tone he sought to convey." Yikes. Clearly the need is even more urgent than I thought. So, round two. Keep in mind: "somber tone." December 6th - 3:59 p.m.
My family is politically involved and as yellow as Democratic dogs get, mostly because there aren’t very many out-and-out reds running for office in southwestern Virginia. (That’s “red” as in “menace,” not “red” as in “state.”) So at the age when I was supposed to be oblivious, I wasn’t, and one of the things that sticks in my mind about the 1984 Presidential election was Ronald Reagan’s hamhanded misappropriation of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” which everyone who actually listened to the song spotted a mile off and either cringed at or reveled in the schadenfreude depending upon leanings. The Boss, I gather, was pissed. Pissed enough that 20 years later he not only let John Kerry use “No Surrender,” he showed up at some rallies and played it personally. Just so there’d be no misunderstanding this time.
That song’s always going to be associated with a terrible What Could’ve Been now, I’m afraid. Just like Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” is always associated with the grinning Clintons, a perfect juxtaposition because the song and the Big Dawg are irresistible in much the same way. They're both glossy but a little wonky, probably in good part insincere but so charismatic and smart you just don’t care. Much. It’s easier for Democrats to pick a theme song—the liberal talent pool is a lot deeper and broader, and Republicans tend to misstep when they stray too far away from patriotic chestnuts and country music. (Even then there are pitfalls—see the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, etc.). G-Dub himself infamously misstepped in ’04 by nicking “Still the One,” that 70s hit by Orleans, to songwriter John Hall’s eloquent displeasure, which makes it even more delightful that Hall’s now a Congressman—a Democrat, of course. What does all this have to do with Chicago music? Well, with the amusing spectacle of one of our senators very publicly nagging the other to run for President (seriously, he sounds like my mother: “You’re so talented! You can do anything! Why aren’t you President yet? Don’t waste it, you slacker!”), we might well have a hometown representative in the ’08 race. Our pride is at stake—we can’t send him off without a decent campaign song! I bet he’s not even thinking about this crucial issue yet—too busy meeting with people concerned with trivial things like money and strategy—so we have to step up and brainstorm. Give me your best suggestions here, and I swear I’ll forward ‘em to Senator (at the moment) Obama. But be sure to keep the right vibe in mind, and remember that sadly, Brooks & Dunn are off limits—they’re Bush fans. |
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