So Long Dubya!

There is a new man in the White House and we have finally come to the end of the George W. Bush era.

Thank fuck!

I hope Dubya doesn't become one of those presidents who remains present and involved post-office like Bill Clinton because honestly, I'm looking forward to a good long break from this idiot. Go the Nixon route and just disappear into oblivion.

Regardless of what he does, he's not doing it from the White House and that alone is enough to put a smile on my face.

Peace Out Dubya...

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Soundtrack of My Life

Song: Dear Mr. President
Artist: P!nk
Album: I'm Not Dead (2006)

It's no secret that I love P!nk. Love her. Insanely. She's forever awesome in my eyes.

Songs like this are a big reason why.

While mainstream radio blares catchy, funny tracks like "Stupid Girls" and "So What?" - both songs I find entertaining but tire of fairly quickly - not many people seem to realize that the spunky girl with the sometimes pink hair has some very important things to say in her songs from time to time.

While this track is pointed straight for George W. Bush, there are aspects of it that can use questions that should resonate with all of us. Though most of us haven't "come a long way from whiskey and cocaine," there are loads of issues brought up in this song that each and every one of us can spend a little time thinking about.

War, homosexuality, abortion / reproductive rights and homelessness all come up in the song, all with thought-provoking questions attached to them.

Part of why I chose this song today stems from a link my man Deuce sent me yesterday. It was of Jon Stewart interviewing former Arkansas Governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee and discussing same sex marriages.

My feelings on this issue have been stated a couple times in the past here at iBlog, so without getting to far into it, it just baffles me that there are still people who have these cast-iron beliefs and views about poignant issues like this and the ones P!nk addresses in this song.

I'm not saying we all have to have the same views and they have to be the ones that I believe, but I think we're at a stage in our existence as a people that being close-minded and so stringently opposed to issues like these is ridiculous.

Now that I'm off my soapbox, click the link, listen to the song and enjoy.

I promise, next week will be some harmlessly fun Hip Hop track with very little soapbox preaching from me...

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Soundtrack of My Life

Song: Times Like These
Artist: Foo Fighters
Album: One by One (2002)

I absolutely hated Nirvana. I was one of those people who just didn't get it. In fact, I think I still don't. I can understand the cultural impact of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" but the song was named after a woman's deodorant and the band as a whole was wholly overrated in my books. That's why I had it in for Foo Fighters when they first appeared on the scene. Doesn't it feel like forever ago now?

Understandably, they were billed as that band Nirvana's old drummer is fronting and that made me a little leery. What no one knew, myself included, was that Dave Grohl was and still is totally awesome. We all knew he could pound the skins with the best of them, but who knew all the other talents that lay behind that boyish face and long hair?

While I enjoyed the first couple albums and the singles that everyone now knows, I didn't really really like the Foos until this album with a lot of credit for that belonging to this song.

I love that there are two versions of this track. The featured in the link above - the rock version - is trademark Foo Fighters rock without any of the silliness of a track like "Learn to Fly" and the acoustic version - find it yourself! - well, you know how I feel about really great acoustic tracks already.

Another of the things that really draws me to the song is the overall message and idea that it presents. Simply put, the chorus is a reminder of what can come from hard times, however they take shape in your life.

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again

Then there is the irony of one of the uses of this song.

Back in 2004 when George W. Bush was running for re-election, he used this song in his campaign... without the consent of the band.

Note: that right there should tell you how dangerous it was having this guy in charge for eight years...
Once Grohl found out, it served as a call to be more politically aware and active for him and his bandmates and they took up the cause... of Democratic Candidate John Kerry.

With the political connection this song has and the fact that we're moving into a time right now of incredible change and opportunity, this song only seemed fitting.

Besides, the Foo Fighters kick ass and you can never have enough kick ass music in your life!

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Soundtrack of My Life

Song: Not Ready To Make Nice
Artist: Dixie Chicks
Album: Taking The Long Way

I love this goddamn song!

Quick back story: I grew up around a bunch of cowboys. Actually, they're horsemen, but it's nearly the same thing. Both groups listen to non-stop country music, so needless to say, I heard a whole lot of The Chicks on the odd day that I showed up to a barn to do an honest days work. I liked'em - nice harmonies, played their own instruments which won points with me and the lead singer seemed kinda spunky. I liked that.

By now, I'm assuming everyone knows about the whole backlash thing that happened with the Dixie Chicks at the start of the "War" in Iraq. That spunky lead singer - Natalie Maines - was standing on stage at Shepard's Bush Empire in London and said she was ashamed George Bush was from Texas, their home state. Some folks didn't like that very much and boycotted the Dixie Chicks. And by some people, I mean a large portion of the people who helped make them who they were and country radio throughout the States. You can get the whole story - from beginning to end, both of which took place at Shepard's Bush Empire - on the terrific DVD Shut Up and Sing.

So basically, the girls took a bunch of time off following the backlash, eventually got back in the studio (with super producer Rick Rubin of all people) and made Taking The Long Way, a terrific album from top to bottom, though no other song comes near this one.

I like people who stick to their convictions.
I like people who are willing to look their detractors in the eye and give them the middle finger.
I like when people set that middle finger to music and express themselves lyrically.
Dammit I like this song!

Chances are you know the chorus to this song, since Canada never really turned their collective backs on the Dixie Chicks following the whole Bush thing and radio here played the hell outta this song - for good reason. The lyric that I have always loved the most though is this one:

I made my bed, and I sleep like a baby,
With no regrets and I don't mind saying,
It's a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

There is so much truth in those words that I don't know where to start. First - there is no remorse with Maines, the chief lyricist for the group. It's strictly "I said what I said and I still stand by it." Then comes the sad, sad truth. This isn't hyperbole either; they really did receive death threats simply because they didn't agree with what George Bush was doing and voiced that opinion. This is why I get so fired up over things like the Kelly Tilghman situation from earlier this year... People can put way too much stock into one simple word.

Anyway - this song resonated with me from the first time I heard it and it still sends chills up my spine when it gets to the building crescendo noted lyrically above. It picks up and picks up and picks up and.... (strings erupt)

This is what music should be - messages, opinions, stances. Not this bubble gum bullshit "Piece of Me" crap that saturates the airwaves.

Oh yeah: it could also be that this is exactly how I feel whenever some family member I have barely spoken to in the last eight years tells me it's time for me to make up with my father. That might have a little to do with it too...

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