Day 10 – It’s Time I’ve Had Some Time Alone
The continuing adventures of “Eric’s Trip Around the Sun”. One final trip with the iPod.
When I was conceiving this idea for writing everyday I realized that before that I ever started that I might run into a dry patch every now and then and that I might have to go off topic from time to time to bring something else into the mix. Today was actually one of those days.
There wasn’t anything that just stood out and jumped out at me until after dinner when I had found out that there was an event with Donald Trump that played ‘It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).
Michael Stipe said it best: “Go fuck yourselves”.
Beyond this, it actually reminded me of some of the weird shit that I was thinking about earlier last week when writing about Wilco’s ‘Airline To Heaven.’ There is another Wilco/Woody Guthrie song titled ‘Christ For President’ and I thought, it would be pretty cool if I was that guy who was in control of the music and during the intros for one of these Republican Presidential Candidates to play the aforementioned song. Some of the lyrics, of course, do not exactly match up with those that have been playing in some of the conservative circles…
Oh it’s Jesus Christ our President
God above our king
With a job and pension for young and old
We will make hallelujah ring
Every year we waste enough
To feed the ones who starve
We build our civilization up
And we shoot it down with wars
It’s become commonplace that Republican candidates often get the squeeze when playing popular hits during their campaign stump speeches particularly due to the fact that many musicians and artists tend to either sway to the left or prefer that their music is not divisive and we are seeing that play out in the political arena.
Back to R.E.M. – It’s telling that in 2004 when George W. Bush was reelected president for a second term that R.E.M. opened with this song in Madison Square Garden.
Beyond the progressive nature of the band, I think that the true irony is the song actually being played, which in itself which is a stream-of-consciousness reflection of the world today. Yes, in 2004 it was not just the idea of Bush being elected but this overwhelming media grab of an event that focuses more on style and very little on substance.
It’s Time I’ve Had Some Time Alone
Beyond the music and the videos and the whirling dervish lead singer on stage, there was always a band that reminded the audience to educate yourself, to learn, to be aware. To stop by the tables set up outside the venue that promoted issues in our world today.
• The Pixies – Allison
• Yo La Tengo – Alrock’s Bells
• Panda Bear – Alsatian Darn
• The Radio Dept. – Always A Relief