If there ever was an argument for the not-so-salutary results of direct democracy, it’s Hillary Clinton’s new campaign song. Phillip Anderson of The Albany Project has a wonderful post on the results of Hillary’s contest for a new campaign theme song. Not only was the result of the popular vote “You and I” by Celine Dion, but for those who don’t remember, the lovely Celine is Canadian (not that there’s anything wrong with that). To make matters worse, the song was composed for an Air Canada advertisement! Anderson has all the details, with video, here. Where is John Adams when you need him? I can hardly wait to listen to this song for the next year.
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If it’s going to be a song used for an airline, why not “Spread a little aloha”?
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I wish the entire country could be a little more like the 50th state and this laid back dity is exactly what we need.
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Give everyone a chance to exhale and ease off the throttle a bit.
They should have just gone with the Journey song from the Sopranos episode
Mike Caulfield, at Blue Hampshire started a lengthy conversation on this topic. His contention is that the song contest proves “Democracy Fatally Flawed, Possible Dangerous.” Hat tips to our neighbors to the north.
The people — Hillary’s people, not us — voted, and did a great job. Put aside a contention that your favorite indie band has more cred than my favorite indie band. Here are some facts:
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Celine Dion is a worldwide phenomenon. She has Two of the top 100 albums of all time, she’s done Disney movies and has a five-year show closing in Vegas. Oh, and one of her songs is estimated as the fourteenth most successful song in world history. Her music is a known quantity.
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When folks go to a rally, you think they want to hear My Cousin Nate’s Armpit and think “wow, groovy obscure music”, or do you think they want to hear music that is safe, upbeat, comfortable, and familiar? “You and I” is a perky ditty, soaring notes — all the stuff of a campaign song. It’s happy and optimistic in lyric, music, and beat.
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And to whom does Celine Dion appeal? Guys in their 20s and 30s? Naw…middle-aged women, the demographic that is the backbone of Hillary’s campaign and of the Democratic Party. Why do you think the music won the litle online poll thingie? Why do you think it’s popular music? Why do you think it’s called popular music? There is nothing about Hillary’s campaign aimed at this audience, and I don’t know why her song would be any different.
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But more urgently, which campaign will make the traditional gaffe of selecting “Born in the USA” as their theme?
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PS: Celine is an American citizen — she was naturalized though naturally she doesn’t talk about it much. Hmm…a multi-millionaire at the peak of the industry who chose to come to the US. Not a bad story. Also, she sang the theme to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, in the Opening Ceremony, so she’s passed muster in hyper-patriotic American environments before. In the end, she and her music are as American as, well, You and I.
Not sure any of the possible choices included My Cousin Nate’s Armpit, though that is a handy name for a band.
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And, yeah, it appeals to middle-aged women, and yeah, they’re the backbone of Hillary’s campaign.
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But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a really, really terrible song.
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PS Siegfried and Roy had a show in Vegas, too. I think they should be campaign icons.
No one who has watched Saturday Night Live can take her seriously. “. . . and now, I will sing the most beautiful song in the world. . ” etc. Maybe they should have Ana Gasteyer sing instead.
Some would say that you only take someone seriously when they’re big enough to be belittled on SNL.
She’s an entertainer playing a character.
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I really do wish that people would stop this “is (this person) or is (this person) not a US citizen.” It really is a juvenile question.
I certainly didn’t mean to start an immigration debate. I may need to tune-up my snark generator. As you might guess from my nom de blog , I’m not personally a big fan of big pop music. I just have the feeling that, like the theme music in Toyota commercials, I’ll be thoroughly sick of “You and I” in very short order. I’m hoping it doesn’t become an ear worm in the way so many catchy songs do (see, e.g., Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, Feelings, and even the immortal Plastic Jesus).
I’ve read and seen enough snering “she’s not even American!” to convince me that people have such litmus tests, yes.
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But another topic, what would other people like to use as a campaign song for a “good Democrat”?
with all due respect bluefolkie, aren’t there matters of substance to ponder? wtf cares were celine dion was born? how many other american citizens, their parents, or their mates were born elsewhere? instead of feeding into the xenophobic republican line, why not celebrate this “people’s choice” as an apt reflection of our combined heritage?