Revolution rock
Historically, Americans don’t need an excuse to party. But bidding a hugely unpopular Commander In Chief goodbye is too good a chance to pass up. As Barack Obama settles into his first night in the White House, liberals have good reason to make merry. With local groups celebrating the transition at three separate parties tonight—Drop City at the Hi-Dive; Effektor at the Walnut Room; and Mollie O’Brien at the Oriental Theater—Decider asked a band from each bill to dedicate one song to Bush and another to Obama.
Chris App of Drop City
For Bush: “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan
CA: It’s a pretty intense song. A master of war, to me, that’s George W. Bush. I think George Bush has talked a little bit about God asking him to be president and God asking him to go to war, but there’s a line in the song that goes, “Jesus would not forgive what you do.” It just hits me with all the senselessness that’s gone on over the last eight years.
For Obama: “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan
CA: The title says it all. The song speaks to everything that we’ve come through recently. It’s a call for change, from everybody from journalists to congressmen to families. It breeds hope. Bob Dylan has that way of speaking the truth.
For Bush: “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan
CA: It’s a pretty intense song. A master of war, to me, that’s George W. Bush. I think George Bush has talked a little bit about God asking him to be president and God asking him to go to war, but there’s a line in the song that goes, “Jesus would not forgive what you do.” It just hits me with all the senselessness that’s gone on over the last eight years.
For Obama: “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan
CA: The title says it all. The song speaks to everything that we’ve come through recently. It’s a call for change, from everybody from journalists to congressmen to families. It breeds hope. Bob Dylan has that way of speaking the truth.
Matt Herzog and Willie Russell of Effektor
For Bush: “We Won’t Submit” by Against All Authority
MH: Against All Authority was really a staple of high school. I’m definitely into the over-the-top punk lyrics of this song. They’re almost comical. And so was Bush—over the top and comical. Plus, the lyrics of the song are basically “Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you.”
For Obama: “Something About Us” by Daft Punk
WR: I’m in the same boat as Matt. We’ve always been very liberal, so obviously I’m unhappy with the way things have been going with Bush in office. It’s been really chaotic. But this song is really smooth and calming, like Obama. We think it’s the way things are going to start going in this country. We’re excited by it.
For Bush: “We Won’t Submit” by Against All Authority
MH: Against All Authority was really a staple of high school. I’m definitely into the over-the-top punk lyrics of this song. They’re almost comical. And so was Bush—over the top and comical. Plus, the lyrics of the song are basically “Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you.”
For Obama: “Something About Us” by Daft Punk
WR: I’m in the same boat as Matt. We’ve always been very liberal, so obviously I’m unhappy with the way things have been going with Bush in office. It’s been really chaotic. But this song is really smooth and calming, like Obama. We think it’s the way things are going to start going in this country. We’re excited by it.
Mollie O’Brien
For Bush: “Big Hat, No Cattle” by Randy Newman
MOB: The song is basically about a guy who lied all his life. He lied to his mother, to his sisters, to his brother, and now he’s lying to his wife. He’s trying to be what he’s not. He’s not an honest guy. Basically, it sounds like Bush to me, all the way through. It’s about a guy who’s slid through life and not had to worry much about anything.
For Obama: “My Land Is A Good Land” by Eric Andersen
MOB: One thing I’ve heard a lot of my friends say is that they’re not embarrassed to fly their American flags anymore now that Obama has been elected. People were disgusted with being Americans for so long. I thought about picking the Woody Guthrie tune “This Land is Your Land,” but there are some angry verses in there. “My Land Is A Good Land” was written in 1964, and it has the same feeling as Guthrie’s song. It’s basically about how this really is a good country and we really are good people. Hopefully that’s been evidenced by who we elected.
For Bush: “Big Hat, No Cattle” by Randy Newman
"Big Hat, No Cattle" by Randy Newman
For Obama: “My Land Is A Good Land” by Eric Andersen
MOB: One thing I’ve heard a lot of my friends say is that they’re not embarrassed to fly their American flags anymore now that Obama has been elected. People were disgusted with being Americans for so long. I thought about picking the Woody Guthrie tune “This Land is Your Land,” but there are some angry verses in there. “My Land Is A Good Land” was written in 1964, and it has the same feeling as Guthrie’s song. It’s basically about how this really is a good country and we really are good people. Hopefully that’s been evidenced by who we elected.
