Like a vampire, the McCain campaign tries to live off the creative force of others. He doesn't inspire creativity, he steals it. It's a BIG difference between the two campaigns. It's true that Gretchen Wilson (Redneck Woman) is on his team. And half of the Bigg & Rich duo (the other one being a Dem). Plus Charlie Daniels. But that's about it. These days, even Toby Keith (!!!!) is declaring himself a Democrat.
At any rate, sometimes I get tired of the crap on the news. And since I've been working on voter rolls (and did in 2004 before I ever discovered dK), sometimes music lifts my spirits while I do that work. Helps me keep working a little longer. So - below the fold find some music from "our team". Plus some of some of the artists that have told John McCain "Thanks, but no thanks" about playing their music at his campaign events.
There's some history to musicians telling Republicans to quit using their music at campaign events. Starting with Springsteen objecting to Ronald Reagan using this one a generation ago. (And which the Reagan folks clearly didn't understand...)
Dubya used Tom Petty's Won't Back Down in his 2000 campaign. Until Petty tossed a "cease and desist" at him. Then, suddenly, the Republicans did back down. FWIW, Wes Clark has apparently not gotten a similar letter for using the same song.
This one? McCain used it - but it's hard to imagine he got permission. And he doesn't seem to be using it anymore!
Because this guy joined Springsteen on the road to campaign for John Kerry in 2004. They performed his Fortunate Son together, too:
I've never been a huge ABBA fan, but I like them better since I found out they're one of John McCain's favorite bands but they don't want him to use their Take a Chance on Me. Ditto on another 70s era hit, Barracuda from the fierce Wilson sisters of Heart.
Meanwhile, Stevie Wonder, whose Signed, Sealed, Delivered ushered Obama off the stage throughout primary season, showed up to play it in person at the Convention in Denver. Dave Matthews did a free concert for Obama before the Indiana Primary. Arguably won it for him, because the ticket to get in was that you had to register to vote. I keep thinking there should be ways to use similar tactics this year - early voting receipts good for concert admission, or some such:
John Mellenkamp was for Edwards in the primaries, doing live performances and all. Lord knows why John McCain thought it would be cool to use his Little Pink Houses, or This is Our Country. Those Republicans wish they could be the kind of American that Mellenkamp is - so they grabbed his creative property to try and claim it as their own.
Mellenkamp was part of that tour Springsteen organized in 2004, too. So were the Dixie Chicks. They ain't ready to make nice, and no Republican in their right might would try and use their music these days. This with one of the usual suspect activist regulars from the music world:
Speaking of the old guard, how about John Hall - now a Democratic Congressman from New York! How did the McCain campaign think they could get away with using Still the One from Hall's old band Orleans? The answer is, of course, that they went by that old saw about that it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Or rather, pay the fines, and thumb your nose at the negative publicity. Heckuva "maverick", Johnny. Speaking of which, Chuck Berry's a declared Obama supporter.
Deep down in Louisiana, close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods, among the evergreens
...
He never ever learned to read or write too well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Always makes me think of Katrina - that birthday cake on the tarmac, and Dubya posturing with a guitar while the home of some great music was getting inundated. Johnny B. Not-so-good, since Chuck Berry doesn't like McCain snitching his creativity either.
And then there was Jackson Browne's Running on Empty, and Franki Valli got his singing pulled from an anti-Obama ad. Van Halen objected to their Right Now being used by McCain, too. Also the copyright holders for the Theme from Rocky did a "cease and desist". Not to denigrate Oldies, but McCain doesn't seem to have been inspired by (or to have inspired) much in the way of contemporary music.
It's a wonder he didn't try to steal Frank Sinatra's High Hopes, which JFK used. Nevermind that he doesn't exactly stand for the same things as the Kennedys, the song is perhaps a tad bit too dated - not very many voters would remember it! Though I do like the Obama slide show that goes with this. (It is however, in need of an update for the general election.)
And just to be a little international - when Angela Merkel used this one, the Rolling Stones objected, too. Weird choice of a campaign song. Do these "conservatives" ever pay attention to the message of a song?
YES. WE. CAN.
So, everybody, buck up. We've got work to do. And we CAN do it. We must. There's just plain too much at stake not to. Just keep your eyes on the prize. And keep the sound track alive. It was good during the primary; but it's faded from the forefront since the convention. Not good.
YES. WE. CAN.
VIVA OBAMA! We are the ones we have been waiting for. So, some Saturday night music. But back to work again soon!