Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 6/18: The Persuasions, “Electric Aunt Jemima”
Unless you’re a right-winger, you probably haven’t thought about Aunt Jemima in years, given that she’s not a real person and all. But when Quaker Oats announced they were retiring the minstrel-show-based mascot after more than 130 years, conservatives suddenly had a black person they cared about. Kill black guys for falling asleep in the […]
Song of the Day 6/16: Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”
Chuck D issued this call to action just over 30 years ago. The track debuted as the theme song to Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” in 1989, the year before it was released on “Fear of a Black Planet,” PE’s most highly lauded LP. Public Enemy was the biggest thing happening in hip-hop in […]
Song of the Day 6/14: The Offspring, “Come Out and Play”
More commonly known as “Keep ‘Em Separated,” this tune became a rock radio classic soon after its 1994 release. Dexter Holland, lead singer of the LA-based punk-pop group, wrote it in response to gang violence, but the chorus fits today’s police riots just as well. The song paved the way for the band’s “Smash” LP […]
Song of the Day 6/13: The Clash, “Know Your Rights”
You have three of them. The lead single from 1982’s “Combat Rock” LP remains as pertinent as when it was written. Mister, we could use a man like Joe Strummer again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lfInFVPkQs
Song of the Day 6/12: Canned Heat, “Sic ‘Em Pigs”
America, having learned nothing from the ’60s, is now repeating them in bits and pieces. Today’s riots over the police mistreatment of African-Americans harks back to yesteryear’s antagonistic relationship between law enforcement personnel, or “pigs,” as they were known among the country’s disaffected youth, and protesters of various stripes. Pre-social media, the nation’s youth used […]
Song of the Day 6/10: The National, “Karen”
There aren’t many songs written for anyone named Karen, and given the events of the past few weeks I wouldn’t expect any flattering ones will get written anytime soon. Matt Berninger of The National is an exception. “‘Karen’ is very much about my wife, whose name is ‘Carin’ — I protected her innocence by changing […]
Song of the Day 6/7: Randy Rainbow, “Bunker Boy”
So much for that image of strength Trump was trying to project by refusing to wear a mask. Between his Fence of Invincibility and his Bunker Inspection Tour, he’s managed to convey the image of a bowl of quivering curds. He’s poutine minus the potatoes. Even Randy Rainbow has noticed.
Song of the Day 6/6: Elton John, “Border Song”
Another sobering reminder that the 1960s never really ended and that the Boomers will fight this out unto the grave. This video of Elton John purports to show him performing the gospel-tinged song that provides the climax of Side 2 of his eponymous second LP in March 1970, a month before it was released as […]
Song of the Day 6/5: Bob Mould, “American Crisis”
Well, now Trump’s done it. He’s gone and pissed off former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman Bob Mould. Granted, that isn’t too hard to do — Mould has made a nearly 40-year career of getting tunefully pissed off — but it was only last year that he released an uncharacteristically optimistic LP, “Sunshine Rock.” The […]
Song of the Day 6/4: Roy Rogers, “Don’t Fence Me In”
Our Big Quivering President is furthering his image as an incompetent banana Republican dictator by installing more fencing around the House Painted White Because It’s Been Torched Before. The optics are terrible for him — the open plains such a foundational part of the American myth that even Cole Porter himself could write a classic […]
Song of the Day 6/3: Nate and Craig Anderson, “Books of the Bible”
This one’s a public service for our Big Phony President, who couldn’t name a book of the Bible to save his shriveled soul. I have no idea who the musicians are, but of the dozens of songs online dedicated to teaching kids the books of the Bible, this turn-of-the-millennium pop-punk production gave them the catchiest […]
Song of the Day 6/2: Sublime, “April 29, 1992”
The title is the date the Rodney King riots broke out in Los Angeles, when the cops who beat him were acquitted of assault — but lead singer and songwriter Bradley Nowell sings it as April 26. Apparently is was just a mistake, but given that Nowell was dead of a heroin overdose by the […]
Song of the Day 6/1: Nick Lowe, “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass”
What started as peaceful protests over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police turned violent, in Wilmington as well as other cities across the country. Lots of people wonder why. I’ma go with the idea that some people just love the sound of breaking glass.
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