political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Monday, March 29, 2010
Think of a Song...
My colleagues at Total Politics have had a great idea to encourage voter turnout. But we need your help.
Can you think of a fairly well known pop song which has lyrics which lend themselves to encouraging people to vote?
The blarney? well it IS there - you just have to register. Got a problem with that?
Me, BTW, I can't be bothered, just as I will not pay to read the Times on line. its going to make it hard to link to it - but I suppose you can link to others wholink to it even if you cannot go there withpout paying.
Songs? How about that catchy little number entitled 'Why vote for the bar-steward who ran up the debt ruined your pensions and encouraged secret mass, job-destroying, immigration - whilst at the same time grossly underfunding our fighting soldiers'
Then again there's always 'It can only get better', but thats been prooved to be a hopeless lie.
Andy, you're a genius!!!! I nearly wet myself laughing the first time I heard that South Park episode. I reckon it would actually catch young people's attention - of course for precisely that reason some bland boring safe PC track will be chosen.
With the odd alteration to the lyrics here and there...... Bob Dylan's "The times they are a changin"....it's catchy and most people will have heard it
I want a love that's right but right is only half of what's wrong, I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long. I'm stepping out this old brown shoe, Baby I'm in love with you [enter name of your prefered candidate]
Let me tell you how it will be; There's one for you, nineteen for me. 'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small, Be thankful I don't take it all. 'Cause Im the taxman, Yeah, Im the taxman.
(if you drive a car, car;) - I'll tax the street; (if you try to sit, sit;) - I'll tax your seat; (if you get too cold, cold;) - I'll tax the heat; (if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.
Taxman!
'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Don't ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Darling) If you don't want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister Osborne) 'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Now my advice for those who die, (taxman) Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman) 'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Not sure about the election song, but from what I read of the Chancellors debate I think it will be Labour supporters singing 'Always Look On the Bright Side Of Life'
Goldfinger He's the man, the man with the Midas touch A spider's touch Such a cold finger Beckons you to enter his web of sin But don't go in
Golden words he will pour in your ear But his lies can't disguise what you fear For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her It's the kiss of death ...
From Mister Goldfinger Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold This heart is cold
Revolution by The Beatles
ReplyDeleteSemi-serious suggestion: "Jilted John" by Jilted John.
ReplyDelete(For obvious reasons, if you know some of the lyrics)
A song by Lily Allen springs to mind...
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a song, but on a different matter, why is Blaney's Blarney still linked to from your blog, as it is now closed to the public?
ReplyDeleteHow's this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Vote-or-Die-lyrics-South-Park/18A9D53C122E19D248256F5700099A4B
My Drug Hell's little known anthem, "Vote for Me".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.myspace.com/mydrughell
'A Change Would Do you Good' by Sheryl Crow?
ReplyDeleteThere are over 40 songs, almost all tweaked to reflect on Labour's misdeeds, to be found here:
ReplyDeleteSong Parodies
Anyone is welcome to re-use, Youtube or otherwise publish any of these to dig at 'Colostomy' Brown.
D
There is a song... I think Darren Hayes, maybe 'spin' with a line "Government elect, nobody votes"
ReplyDeleteSuggest a tune... certainly not.
ReplyDeletePeople who need a pop song to 'encourage' them to vote don't deserve to have the vote.
The Universal by Blur.
ReplyDeleteIt features the lyrics "Yes, the future has been sold" and the chorus has the line "It really, really, really could happen"
Fight for your right (to party) - Beastie Boys
ReplyDelete"Won't Get Fooled Again" The Who. Possibly brought on by "Brown Sugar" and "Hello Darlin'...
ReplyDeleteThe blarney? well it IS there - you just have to register. Got a problem with that?
ReplyDeleteMe, BTW, I can't be bothered, just as I will not pay to read the Times on line. its going to make it hard to link to it - but I suppose you can link to others wholink to it even if you cannot go there withpout paying.
Songs? How about that catchy little number entitled 'Why vote for the bar-steward who ran up the debt ruined your pensions and encouraged secret mass, job-destroying, immigration - whilst at the same time grossly underfunding our fighting soldiers'
Then again there's always 'It can only get better', but thats been prooved to be a hopeless lie.
The tuneful ditty Die You B*****d! by Motorhead. The lyrics definitely suit Neo-Labour.
ReplyDeleteStrawbs - "Part of the Union."
ReplyDeleteI know it's not exactly well known but 'Vote the Bastards Out' by the Spooky Men's Chorale seems rather apt for this election
ReplyDeleteCan only think of:
ReplyDelete- "Get up, Stand up." Bob Marley
= "Final Countdown" Europe
Andy, I can't believe you got to it before me!
ReplyDeletenew model army......vengeance
ReplyDeleteI believe in justice
I believe in vengeance
I believe in getting the bastard
"Ring the Bells" by James
ReplyDeleteKC & the Sunchine Band- Get Down (to the polling booth) tonight
ReplyDeleteDido - White Flag? Play that and everyone will be out of the house.
Things can only get better (2010 remix)
ReplyDeleteThe song remains the same.
The times they are a changin'
I am voting
ReplyDeleteI am voting
I am voting, as you see
[To the tune of Rod Stewart's 'I am sailing.'
Andy, you're a genius!!!! I nearly wet myself laughing the first time I heard that South Park episode. I reckon it would actually catch young people's attention - of course for precisely that reason some bland boring safe PC track will be chosen.
ReplyDeleteLink to youtube:possibly NSFW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCF4NJS-gBw
With the odd alteration to the lyrics here and there...... Bob Dylan's "The times they are a changin"....it's catchy and most people will have heard it
ReplyDeleteRoy Orbison's "Anything You Want" seems appropriate to electioneering (unfortunately)
ReplyDeleteMoney, money, money.
ReplyDeleteFrom Cabaret, sung by Joel Grey.
I like it Dominic! "Gordon is a moron..."
ReplyDeleteHow about Wasted Years by Iron Maiden?
"Tramp the Dirt Down" by Elvis Costello,
ReplyDelete1. The Final Countdown.
ReplyDelete2. First I Look at the Purse by The J. Geils Band
There's 'Elected' by Alice Cooper.
ReplyDeleteRory Galagher wrote something called Elected, too.
Don't Stop Believin'
ReplyDeleteeither by Journey or The Glee Cast!
Great track to put anyone is a hopeful mood!
"Elected" by Alice Cooper
ReplyDeleteor,
"I'm busy doing nothing" from the film A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court.
Bowie's Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes (we hope!)
ReplyDeleteJohn Farnham - You're The Voice
ReplyDelete"Democracy" by Leonard Cohen?
ReplyDelete"Democracy" by Leonard Cohen...
ReplyDelete"I Know A Song That Will Get On Your Nerves" by Joe Pasquale.
ReplyDelete'Here come the girls', seems appropriate to match the all women PPC decisions.
ReplyDelete"I'll do anything for love (but I won't do that)". Meatloaf
ReplyDeleteI want a love that's right but right is only half of what's wrong,
ReplyDeleteI want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.
I'm stepping out this old brown shoe,
Baby I'm in love with you [enter name of your prefered candidate]
"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" - Stephen Stills
ReplyDeleteMr Eugenides suggested a Lily Allen governmental anthem.
ReplyDeleteFor those unaware of its title - it's "F@ck You"
Let me tell you how it will be;
ReplyDeleteThere's one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause Im the taxman,
Yeah, Im the taxman.
(if you drive a car, car;) - I'll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I'll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I'll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.
Taxman!
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Don't ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Darling)
If you don't want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister Osborne)
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.
And you're working for no one but me.
Taxman!
Meatloaf, Leonard Cohen. Rod Stewart and the "The Final Countdown".
ReplyDeleteAre you 'avin' a larf!
Your age must be larger than your waist sizes.
I thought that Iain wanted a track to encourage voting; not alienate everyone under 40.
Here are another 20 for you...
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2009/05/things-can-only-get-better-now-for-a-new-labour-tune/
Three from the eighties:
ReplyDelete'Road To Nowhere' by Talking Heads
'Beat(en) Generation' by The The
'Never Take Me Alive' by Spear Of Destiny
Hmm, none too optimistic there, so how about 'Brazil' for all Terry Gilliam fans...
@Thatsnews:
ReplyDeleteI think the Rory Gallagher song you're thinking of might be 'Smear Campaign'
Great song by the most exciting guitar player I ever heard! And very apt for the coming campaign I imagine.
Fight for your right to Party?
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the election song, but from what I read of the Chancellors debate I think it will be Labour supporters singing 'Always Look On the Bright Side Of Life'
ReplyDelete"Sister Morphine" by The Stones
ReplyDeleteThere are the top 10 US election songs here
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.ez-tracks.com/public/item/how-springsteen-accidentally-won-the-presidential-election-for-reagan-top-10-campaign-songs
My vote goes for Fleetwood Mac - 'Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow'.
For Gordon - Goldfinger (sung satirically)
ReplyDeleteGoldfinger
He's the man, the man with the Midas touch
A spider's touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don't go in
Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...
From Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold
This heart is cold
What about those good old Country and western songs like
ReplyDeleteHow Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life?
I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones
I Flushed You From The Toilet Of My Heart.
I Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Bed Crying On My Pillow Over You.
If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets, He'd Have a Ball in Mine
Waitin' In Your Welfare Line
@Patrick
ReplyDeleteIf people under 40 cannot appreciate music outside of their narrow interest then their opinion is worth what exactly?
I put forward Meatloaf but I am no fan of the song or artist as such, but it is appropriate to the question put by Iain.
Obviously the wrong crowd here, but:
ReplyDelete'The Worker's Song' by The Dropkick Murphys
'The Man Who Sold The World' by David Bowie, or the Nirvana acoustic version. Makes me think of that grinning tw@t Blair popping up again.
ReplyDeleteOr
'Killing in the Name' by Rage Against the Machine. Say no more.....