Monday, September 13, 2004

The Song Remains The Same

One of the more awkward challenges facing political campaigns is finding the right song for the right candidate. Remember the main theme from Star Wars for John McCain's 2000 presidential bid? How about when "La Bamba" was played as the balloons dropped at the end of the Republican convention in 1992? Or when Hillary Clinton's announcement she would run for the Senate was followed by Billy Joel's one-hander, "Captain Jack"? Sure, there have been some good ones: Clinton/Gore's "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" may be the most effective campaign song since "I'm Just Wild About Harry." But for John Kerry, it always seemed ironic that his theme was U2's "Beautiful Day." Despite the title, the actual lyrics stressed the need to be optimistic even though your world is falling apart--an ironic twist while Kerry was cruising through the primaries. But now that the senator finds himself floundering amid the latest polls, it seems the song is quite appropriate. Here are just a few of the lyrics:

…The traffic is stuck
And you’re not moving anywhere…
…You’re on the road
But you’ve got no destination
You’re in the mud…
…You love this town
Even if that doesn’t ring true
You’ve been all over
And it’s been all over you…
…I know I’m not a hopeless case…


No word as to whether the Kerry camp plans on changing their tune any time soon.

1 comment:

Dean Barnett said...

My personal favorite intro song at either convention was Tom Daschle's "theme music" of "Mr. Big Stuff (Who Do You Think You Are?)"

Yes! Tom Daschle IS Mr. Big Stuff!