Why do Republicans have such a hard time finding good songs written by people who agree with their politics? On Songfacts, we talk to a lot of songwriters and get a pretty good idea of what makes them tick. We have a few ideas.
Tom Scholz of the band Boston recently blasted Mike Huckabee for using "More Than A Feeling" at his campaign rallies. McCain took heat from John Mellencamp for using "Our Country." Romney played it safe and used an Elvis song. Meanwhile, songwriters and musicians lined up for Obama and produced a song and video on his behalf - "Yes We Can." What's up with this songwriter disconnect?
Woody Guthrie was a brilliant songwriter who loved his country. He was also a communist, which sounds really bad until you look deeper and understand that he empathized with the poor and working class, and felt that we should work together as a society for the good of all. The guy did live on a commune.
Guthrie became Bob Dylan, who became Bruce Springsteen. Uniquely American songwriters with a strong voice who feel that speaking out against injustice is part of loving your country. It's not the blind-faith patriotism of Toby Keith, it's something much deeper.
Liking a song does not mean you like the songwriter, so I feel no guilt when I get my groove on to Ike Turner and James Brown, but in politics, authenticity is a big deal, so it's best if the songs that define your campaign were written by people who support your beliefs.
It's not just the Republican candidates either. Rush Limbaugh uses "My City Was Gone," which we can't imagine Chrissie Hynde appreciates. Sean Hannity uses "Independence Day," which the song's author Gretchen Peters doesn't appreciate - we know because we asked her.
For more check out the article on Songfacts: Republicans vs. Songwriters.