Sing Along With Hillary

Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...

Mo Rocca Feed

Posted May 17th 2007 12:12PM by Ben Greenman
Filed under: Elections, Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton's Website wants you to vote on a campaign theme song for the former First Lady. Her husband, memorably, used Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop." Hillary's options, almost certainly selected by an intern, include U2's "City of Blinding Lights" and "Beautiful Day," the Temptations' "Get Ready," and the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There." Because this is probably the archetypal lazy-humorist assignment, we have come up with some other options, and we invite you to do the same.

-- Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill." Combines her name and the act of running and alludes to Capitol Hill. Also vaguely annoying, like the candidate.

-- Eric B. and Rakim, "Follow the Leader." A better song than anything on her list. Plus, when she has a running mate, she can rap and the running mate can work the turntables in an embarrassing, MC Rove-like display.

-- Bruce Springsteen, "Born to Run." Ronald Reagan chose "Born in the U.S.A." in 1984, upsetting Springsteen. Would he be happier with this?

-- Arcadia, "Election Day." Remember when some of Duran Duran left to form Power Station and some others stayed behind to form Arcadia? Well, okay, maybe you don't remember, but it happened, and they even have this hit to prove it. The lyrics are a little, uh, impressionistic, if by "impressionistic" I mean "nonsensical": "Wild kind of look to the day / Opening eyes impale neon flickers." On the other hand, there's a spoken-word interlude by Grace Jones, and Hillary might be able to get Arcadia to play the song live at a bunch of events.

-- Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)." Hillary Clinton was born in 1947, the same year that Jerry Wexler, then a Billboard writer, coined the term "rhythm and blues." That year, the R&B charts were dominated by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, and while this song is from the previous year, the sentiment pertains. The campaign might have to update the lyrics slightly so that they don't come off as sexist -- maybe the same intern that made her list is available.

-- R.E.M., "World Leader Pretend." Too much of a downer? Also, the lyrics -- "I demand a rematch / I decree a stalemate / I divine my deeper motives / I recognize the weapons" -- might be better for Al Gore.

Permalink
Email this
Linking Blogs
Comments [82]
Share this
- Add this post to...
- Netscape
- Digg
- Del.icio.us

Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 6)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Elton John's "The Bitch is back"

jeremy at 2:08PM on May 17th 2007

2. Rollingstones - Sympathy For The Devil

Ruben at 2:23PM on May 17th 2007

3. Something by ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS would be very appropriate. The "bitch" has jowls like a chipmunk with a nut in each cheek. (Don't ask me where the dick is). She probably bites. America and you New Yorkers in particular, send the fat ass lesbo back to Arkansas with the rest of the ugly ass razorbacks.

Walter Foster at 4:16PM on May 19th 2007

4. Since I enjoyed having a balanced budget without leaving anyone on their own with nowhere to turn; since I liked our country being loved by the world; since I loved the first welfare program that actually worked; since I want national healthcare (even though I myself have insurance - I just can't forget about the working poor or those who are not disabled but ineligible for coverage who now number 45 million (they only numbered 9 million in 2000) and they die at a rate of 12,000 a year; since I want someone brilliant who graduated from a top notch law school and has a brilliant husband to boot; and since I want a woman who can take charge the minute she gets elected - I went to the website and picked "Get Ready" by the Temptations. However, I think we should save "Happy Days Are Here Again" for HIllary's inaugaral (sp?) ball! Anyone who doesn't like the Clintons must not want Americns to have a better life. Go Hillary!!!

Phil at 3:23PM on May 17th 2007

5. I hope her song is EVE OF DESTRUCTION

tom at 4:57PM on May 17th 2007

6. THIS IS A MANS WORLD by James Brown! Or IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP by AC/DC. Or AIN'T TO PROUD TO BEG by the Temptations.

monty at 5:04PM on May 17th 2007

7. Jeremy, Ruben, Walterand Tom... oh... never mind, you are just not worth waisting one's time!!!

Phil I keep reading the stuff you post and I have to tell you, I look forward to it!!!!! I don't know yet if I will vote for her. I want to learn more about Obama, so far I like what I see in him. However, I have always been a fan of her and her strenght. I think she will make a GREAT PRESIDENT!

Patty at 5:16PM on May 17th 2007

8. Song should be, "Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road".

Larry Wallis at 7:32PM on May 17th 2007

9. Ray Charles...Born To Lose

Poncho at 5:19PM on May 17th 2007

10. Hillary is out of her cotton picking mind, Sing Alon With Her? i don't think so. We have a war in Iraq, fires, illegal aliens, terroists, economy, and she promotes this.I knew her mental condition should be examined. What picture is she trying to paint? MS goody two-shoes. This idiot is what is running for president? Please America wake up to what this woman represents. ALL BAD AND EVIL

jane at 5:21PM on May 17th 2007

11. He's a whore AC/DC

politicians=crooks at 5:28PM on May 17th 2007

12. I will vote for her and if she loses I will vote for any other democrat. I have my hand out all the time guy and the demo's will fill it with free stuff and the GOP won't. I hate them! The Demo's will also give amnesty to the illegals and the GOP won't. I hate them again.

Poncho at 5:28PM on May 17th 2007

13. Patty writes: "Phil I keep reading the stuff you post and I have to tell you, I look forward to it!!!!! I don't know yet if I will vote for her. I want to learn more about Obama, so far I like what I see in him. However, I have always been a fan of her and her strenght. I think she will make a GREAT PRESIDENT!"

Patty thank you! Its nice to have a comforting word in the middle of all the Republicans that hate my guts. All three of our major candidates would make fine Presidents, and get this country back to the compassionate powerful land it used to be before 2000. I'm in with Hillary for the primary - I'm TOTALLY in with whoever wins the (D) primary.

Patty

Phil at 5:37PM on May 17th 2007

14. Here's a song that is perfect for Hill's campaign:

The Internationale (L'Internationale in French) is the most famous socialist (also anarchist, communist and social democratic) song in the world.

American version
First stanza
Arise, ye workers from your slumber,
Arise, ye prisoners of want.
For reason in revolt now thunders,
and at last ends the age of cant!
Away with all your superstitions,
Servile masses, arise, arise!
We'll change henceforth the old tradition,
And spurn the dust to win the prize!
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
Stand up, all victims of oppression,
For the tyrants fear your might!
Don't cling so hard to your possessions,
For you have nothing if you have no rights!
Let racist ignorance be ended,
For respect makes the empires fall!
Freedom is merely privilege extended,
Unless enjoyed by one and all.
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

Arise, you prisoners of starvation!
Arise, you wretched of the earth!
For justice thunders condemnation:
A better world's in birth!
No more tradition's chains shall bind us,
Arise you slaves, no more in thrall!
The earth shall rise on new foundations:
We have been nought, we shall be all!
'Tis the final conflict,
Let each stand in his place.
The international soviet
Shall be the human race
'Tis the final conflict,
Let each stand in his place.
The international working class
Shall be the human race

Second stanza
No more deluded by reaction,
On tyrants only we'll make war!
The soldiers too will take strike action,
They'll break ranks and fight no more!
And if those cannibals keep trying,
To sacrifice us to their pride,
They soon shall hear the bullets flying,
We'll shoot the generals on our own side.
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
Let no one build walls to divide us,
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone.
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us,
We'll live together or we'll die alone.
In our world poisoned by exploitation,
Those who have taken, now they must give!
And end the vanity of nations,
We've but one Earth on which to live.
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

We want no condescending saviors
To rule us from their judgment hall,
We workers ask not for their favors
Let us consult for all:
To make the thief disgorge his booty
To free the spirit from its cell,
We must ourselves decide our duty,
We must decide, and do it well.
'Tis the final conflict,
Let each stand in his place.
The international soviet
Shall be the human race
'Tis the final conflict,
Let each stand in his place.
The international working class
Shall be the human race

Third stanza
No saviour from on high delivers,
No faith have we in prince or peer.
Our own right hand the chains must shiver,
Chains of hatred, greed and fear.
E'er the thieves will out with their booty,
And to all give a happier lot.
Each at his forge must do their duty,
And we'll strike the iron while it's hot.
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
And so begins the final drama,
In the streets and in the fields.
We stand unbowed before their armour,
We defy their guns and shields!
When we fight, provoked by their aggression,
Let us be inspired by life and love.
For though they offer us concessions,
Change will not come from above!
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

Cats57 at 5:59PM on May 17th 2007

15. Hey everyone. AOL won't post the name of the song I thought best suited Hillary. Why? Because it is a socialist/anarchist/Communist song.

Talk about censorship!

Cats57 at 6:08PM on May 17th 2007

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

Mo's Video

The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...
Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...

Coming Soon

Most Commented On

Coming Soon

Mo's Bio

Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.