Vice President Joe Biden joined President Obama in releasing a “summer playlist” to show how cool he is. It includes Sam Smith, Tina Turner, and a showtune from Les Miserables. While Obama made a “friendship bracelet” for Biden earlier this summer, there’s no song that appears on both lists as a sign of their BFF status.
As the White House noted in its release of Obama’s playlist, they did the same last year. The glomming on to pop culture by politicians shouldn’t be so surprising. Products of pop culture are far more popular than products of politics, and unlike politics, you can choose to participate in pop culture or not without the threat of coercion.
Donald Trump joined in to, not with a playlist of his own but with one for Hillary Clinton which he posted to Facebook. It includes Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock,” Eminem’s “Love the Way You Life” and Avicii’s “Liar Liar.”
Jesse Walker noted in 1964 KRAB-FM in Seattle had a playlist sandwiched between speeches by Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater and Democratic incumbent Lyndon Johnson. It featured songs like “Two Pretty Boys” by Lucy Stewart and “Tomorrow is the Question” by Ornette Coleman.
With the unfavorability ratings of both major party candidates at record highs, America’s election playlist could sound a lot different from politicians’. I asked on Twitter what it might sound like. Here’s my entry for America’s election playlist.
“Metal Machine Music” – Lou Reed
“Here Comes the Night Time” – Arcade Fire
“Welcome to the Terrordome” – Public Enemy
“Rich Girl” – Hall & Oates
“Monster Mash” – Bobby Pickett
“Packt Like Sardines in a Tin Can” – Radiohead
“Shot of Love” – Bob Dylan
“Dead Wrong” – Biggie w/ Eminem
“Gimme a Bligh” – Iwer George
“Heartaches of a Fool” – Willie Nelson
Bonus: “Barack Obama” – Cocoa Tea
Add your suggestions below!
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