Political Nanny

Rock Star to McCain: Quit Playing My Songs

 

Rock 'n' roller John Mellencamp told John McCain to unplug the "Pink Houses" and find his own damn songs. Well, not exactly. But probably pretty close.

 

Indiana's most famous native son, a lifelong Democrat, said he didn't want the Republican presidential frontrunner to use "Pink Houses" and "Our Country" at his campaign events anymore. The rocker said that he was distressed to hear the popular songs about a decaying American landscape were being played without his permission at McCain's big rallies. Mellencamp producers have asked that the songs no longer be used.

 

But you can't have a rally without music. McCain's Beach Boys performance back-fired, so to speak. What's left for the GOP candidates when you take away social commentary rock? Morrissey?


+ DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US
Published Feb 12 2008, 01:12 PM by Madeline Holler
Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Comments

 

Vernon James said:

Having a mediocre song played in commercials for foreign oil guzzling Chevy trucks and suburban assault vehicles is okay for John Cougar Melonbutt, but he suddenly gets all principled when McCain wants to use his songs. I can't imagine that has anything to do with (what I imagine is likely) his getting paid for the former but not the latter. Interesting.

I'm no Johnny Cougar expert, but from having the "Our Country" song mercilessly drilled into my head by countless playings of Chevy truck commercials during NFL broadcasts, I have the distinct impression that the lyrics of that song ("Pink Houses", too, I think) are pretty seriously anti-Republican, anyway. That reminds me of how Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" almost became the NJ state song, until someone actually realized that the lyrics don't exactly flatter the state.

February 12, 2008 5:33 PM
 

Madeline Holler said:

Hmmmm, Mr. James. It appears you don't like John Mellencamp. We can accept that. But we can't accept a candidate without an appropriately pandering campaign theme song. Care to make a suggestion for Senator McCain?

February 12, 2008 11:15 PM
 

Gned said:

Same thing happened with Bush and Tom Petty, I believe.  You'd think these politicians would ask before they used the song.

February 13, 2008 10:26 PM

in

About the Blogger

Mates of State

Madeline Holler

Madeline Holler is a writer and mother of two. She lives in Long Beach.

GROUP BLOGS

  • Strollerderby

    The smartest, funniest, most exhaustive parenting blog in the blogosphere.

  • Droolicious

    Modern design for modern parents.

  • FameCrawler

    Your daily baby celebrity fix.
back to blog homepage