Canvey Island cds, tape and vinyl: US Election Special
To mark the US Presidential Election we’re inviting Barack Obama (in the interest of impartiality we won’t say ‘Yay!’) and Mitt Romney (in the interest of impartiality we won’t say ‘Boo!’) aboard The Bifurcated Train, as members of our Canvey Island Family share some of the political songs that mean the most to them.
The conductor has been restrained by security guards after he threatened to give Mitt Romney a massive wedgie (so much for objectivity!)!
There was only one train waiting to depart, there was only one destination…
Canvey Island!
At the other end they were politely shoved in the direction of the derelict car park and the now familiar car boot sale, run this time by someone who looked the double of Manchester United and England player Wayne Rooney (he insisted on being put on the rota for this one – just in case he got asked to cast the deciding vote?!)!
As is now the recognised format for this oddity the stallholder has a message, “Welcome to Canvey Island cds, tapes and vinyl. I’ve got to shift all these for a friend of a friend, after a misunderstanding over some missing polling cards *YIKES*, anyhow, won’t bore you with the detail, it’s only going to get covered up by “the man”! … The Canvey Island family have picked their favourite political songs of all time for you – so sit back and relax before the vote count starts!”
… And this is what some members of the Canvey Island Family picked and why (in their own words) …
(Contains some strong language)
Adam Pinfold
(I Want To Be) Elected by Mr Bean and Smear Campaign featuring Bruce Dickinson
“My fave election song was one of the first CDs we owned as a family and Mr Bean (coupled with the lead singer from Iron Maiden) seemed like the perfect way to test out this new fandangled digital recording technology! It’s just a shame that ol’ Bean wasn’t really up for election that year and that John ‘Nice peas, dear’ Major got the gig instead. Actually, has anyone seen them in the same room together?”
Greg Theoharis
Waiting For The Great Leap Forward by Billy Bragg
“Ok, before I change my mind, it’s got to be Waiting For The Great Leap Forward by Billy Bragg simply for the line “if you’ve got a blacklist, I want to be on it” – Great mix of the optimism and futility of being politically engaged.”
Jay Goolaup
Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan
“It’s just the rebellious poetry from a very young and outrageously talented Bob Dylan. It also contains the great line “you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows” and an absolute classic of a music video.”
Liz Worsley
“‘Mass Destruction’ was released in 2004, sandwiched between two major events that are etched in my memory – 9/11 and the 7/7 London bombings. Different causes of mass destruction are mentioned including suicide attacks, racism, missiles, propaganda (with a sly mention of the BBC, which is quite relevant at the moment), poor leadership, fear, oil, greed, poverty, globalisation etc… But woven into the song is also a story about a father leaving his son, presumably to fight in a war (possibly the controversial invasion of Iraq in 2003), and the physical and psychological impact it has on him. You’re given the impression the boy is being persecuted by other kids because his father is off fighting, and perhaps other families disagree with the reason for his dad going to war. The boy talks of “friction” which leads to scraps with other kids when he stands up and defends his father, wanting to make his old man proud as most lads do. “Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction” is repeated throughout and by doing nothing, I guess many political problems are inherited by the next generation, and the next, and the next…. This is summed up with the powerful message: “There’s only now, do it right. ‘Cos I don’t want your daddy, leaving home tonight“”
Paul Ansorge
A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke
“Sam Cooke had the 20th century’s finest singing voice. A Change is Gonna Come was written after Sam heard Bob Dylan singing How Many Roads and decided that he should probably stop only singing love songs and sing something of substance. And for a first attempt at a protest song, he did a pretty, pretty good job.”
Steph Doehler
The Innocent by Good Charlotte, Goldfinger and Mest
“The song I’ve chosen is “The Innocent” a collaboration between Good Charlotte, Goldfinger and Mest – three bands I was into in the early 00s. It was written in tribute to 9/11 and whilst obviously a song aimed towards America I think it’s one of the world tragedies that will always remain prevalent for people of a certain age. We all remember where we were when we heard about it (incidentally I was at after school hockey training). And I’ve always loved the song as it kinda hits the nail on the head – we will probably never know the full goings on of that day, conspiracy theories ongoing, but ultimately it was the innocent who suffered. Cracking tune.”
Tom Pattison
Thatcher f**ked the kids by Frank Turner
“Lots of great 60s America protest songs to choose from but as Our Dear Leader Simon Cowell would say ‘let’s keep things current and British.’ My choice then is a searing, articulate dissection of the Iron Lady’s legacy; ‘Thatcher f**ked the kids’ by Frank Turner. The lesson is that what seems like a good idea in the short term can have catastrophic consequences; wise words if Romney/Ryan tempts you.”
(Contains strong language)
Our very own David Abbott
Do Re Mi by Woody Guthrie
(‘Silent Partner’ David- being the enigma that he is – didn’t give any reason for his choice. Or maybe you can argue, “the song speaks for itself”.)
Our very Own Brett Atkinson
Levi Johnston’s Blues by Ben Folds and Nick Hornby
“The more I tried to whittle my shortlist down, the more songs I remembered, so I decided it was easier to pick something relatively current and most relevant to the US Election. This semi-biographical song is based on the events surrounding staunch Republican Sarah Palin’s announcement that her daughter Bristol would be marrying her then boyfriend Levi Johnston, after it was discovered she was underage and pregnant. When the political machine behind career politicians kicks into action, those who have the misfortune to find themselves in it’s path will find the course of their lives changed forever. The chorus is lifted straight from Levi Johnston’s actual Facebook bio at the time.”
(Contains strong language)
And that was that. We then dropped them both off, and wished them luck. Obama: good, and Mitt: bad.
Remember, to see the actual musical picks from any of the members of the Canvey Island Family simply click on their names.
