“It’s All a Setup…”

In a recent interview, rapper DMX talks politics. And I actually think he makes some legitimate points, or at least represents a legitimate and rarely heard (but common) point of view. Seriously.

Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.

You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!

Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!

Barack.
What the f*ck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?

Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?

Yeah.
What the f*ck?! That ain’t no f*ckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that n*gga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the f*ck outta here.

O my pitiful wombat

Here’s something to help us pass the time while we wait for everyone to get over the fact that Obama’s church’s pastor once said a couple of things about how American foreign policy helped lead to the terrorism of 9-11 and that black people have a harder time than white people in this country since white people control most everything and there is a long and deep culture of American mistreatment of black people. (How oh how will Obama ever live such radical ideas down?)

Swiped from Jake’s kitchen counter, Hartford, 2/29/08

Another Spanish Obama Song

“Once”

It was, by all accounts, a great year for movies in 2007. I didn’t see every single well-received film of the year–most notably I missed “Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “2 Months, Three Weeks, and Four Days,” “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” and “The Savages.” But I did catch a bunch of awfully good ones–”The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford,” “Zodiac,” “No Country For Old Men,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Beowulf” (in freaking 3-D!), “Atonement,” “Juno” (which I didn’t like as much as many did), “Ratatouille,” “Michael Clayton,” “I’m Not There,” and “Things We Lost In The Fire” (unfortunately overlooked).

But if you put a gun to my head and asked me which movie of 2007 moved me the most powefully, I’d have to swallow my (intellectual) pride and say, “Once”: that beautifully endearing ode to art and love that (I think) captures how hard it is for us all to find whatever and whoever makes us feel whole and connected to this world; and that when we find that special something, how marvelously joyful it is, but also how fleeting.

So I’m really glad that the film’s stars (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) got to sing at the Oscars last night and that they won for best song. Here’s a quote that captures a bit of what I love so much about this movie, spoken backstage by Hansard shortly after receiving the award (as quoted by the NYTimes Oscar blogger):

“I just got a text from Bono. That is the biggest thing in the world that can happen to an Irishman.”

So Far…So Smooth

Last night my buddy came over with an Israeli friend who turned us on to HaBanot Nechama. Check out the tune “So Far.” Those harmonies, man. Luscious. (Anybody know what they’re saying? Or what HaBanot Nechama means?)

Theme Songs

Have you guys noticed the theme songs for candidates this year? Is Huckabee really using More Than a Feeling?

I think theme songs are very telling. We all remember, of course, Bill Clinton using Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” at the 1992 convention. But did we realize Bill wanted to invoke the sex filled melodrama that accompanied Mac’s rise to the top of the charts? I heard Don’t Stop (lyrics here) on the radio the other day. Bet you forgot about these lines:

All I want is to see you smile,
If it takes just a little while,
I know you dont believe that its true,
I never meant any harm to you

Uh-huh.

More Than a Feeling

Mike Huckabee, Christianist right-wing presidential candidate with a good sense of humor, has been using rock group Boston’s classic song during his campaign, performing it with his band Capital Offense together with former Boston member Barry Goudreau. The thing is that Goudreau doesn’t own the rights to the song nor to the Boston band name (and didn’t even play on that recording). As decided by a lawsuit in the early 1980’s, Boston singer/songwriter and producer Tom Scholz owns the rights to the band’s music and its name. [As well he should. Tom Scholz IS Boston. --Ed.]

And he doesn’t like Huckabee campaigning with his music. Money quote:

“Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate [Huckabee] who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for. By using my song, and my band’s name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I’ve been ripped off, dude!”

And just what does Boston stand for? Well, Scholz says he’s an Obama supporter.

All this begs the question: What does Thunderegg stand for? Apparently, Obama likes to use U2’s “City of Blinding Lights” at his events. But he should really take a look at Thunderegg’s extensive catalogue. Anyone have any suggestions?