Rock and Roll Fantasy

Presidential
Campaigns Search for the Perfect Tunes

With todays Presidential campaigns turned into glorified media circuses,
the selection of a theme song for each of them has become a question
of key importance and strategic implications.  An article in today’s
Boston Globe details the currect preferences of the main Democratic contenders
and how they were chosen. As usual, I have a few suggestions of my own.

John Kerry, desperate to ride a populist baby
boom into office, was soliciting ideas on his campaign web site.
Suggestions included "For What It’s Worth," the dirge from
the Vietnam days, "Walk This Way," by Aerosmith, to play up
his Boston roots, Steppenwolf’s "Born to Be Wild," befitting
a Harley-riding man, and "Mama Said Knock You Out," by rapper
L. L. Cool J

I would suggest "Mama Told Me Not to Come," by Three Dog Night.

Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri launched his campaign
with Tina Turner’s "The Best," said spokesman Erik Smith —
in part because Ike and Tina Turner played at one of Gephardt’s high
school dances. Lately, the campaign has been using "Let the Day
Begin," by The Call, after a Teamsters organizer played it at some
rallies.

Let me suggest "Days of Future Past" by the Moody Blues.

The staff of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut chose Sister
Sledge’s "We Are Family," spokesman Jano Cabrera said, hoping
to remind voters that "all Democrats share a core set of values."

How about Adam Sandler’s "Chanuka Song"?

Senator John Edwards of North Carolina has lately used Smashmouth’s
cover of "I’m a Believer," the Monkees hit penned by Neil Diamond.

Why not use "Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy," or anything else by the
real Jonathan Edwards?

Al Sharpton campaigns to Bob Marley and Peter Tosh’s "Get Up, Stand
Up."

Because he doesn’t have the guts to use "Legalize It" and anyway, isn’t
"Get up, Stand Up" a Bob Marley tune?

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean tends to enter rooms to "Little
Less Conversation," as performed by Elvis Presley and remixed by
Junkie XL.

Junkie XL? I would prefer a few bars of the R&B classic "I Don’t Need
no Doctor"