the winner of all that's important
"because LiveJournal should be fun!"
Selected songs from Radiohead's 1997 masterwork "OK Computer," examined as an allegory for the 2008 American Presidential election:
Airbag:
The "next World War" is our current War on Terrorism, and the unpopularity of the Iraq Invasion has led America to look for a 'jack knifed juggernaut,' a leader who stood up against the war even before it was unpopular. And so, "in an interstellar burst," Barack Obama is here to save the Universe--or at least America.
In the deep, political ignorant sleep of the innocent--college students--Barack Obama is born again. Riding a fast bandwagon to success, he's amazed that he's still alive: an inexperienced minority senator running for the most powerful job in the world.
Paranoid Android:
"Please could you stop the noise," Hillary Clinton is "trying to get some rest." All these unborn chicken voices--"Yes We Can"--keep ringing in her head. When she is President, everyone who's opposed her will go "against the wall." Republican opposers of her Universal Heath Care plan, their opinions "are of no consequence at all."
"You don't remember--you don't remember--why don't you remember my name?" asks Hillary, unable to comprehend why name recognition isn't giving her more success--she screams at the DNC "off with his head!"--until she realizes that Barack has been able to turn her record against her: "I guess he does."
Now, Hillary needs anti-Barack sentiment to "rain down, rain down" in a steady stream. It won't come from the grassroots, but from her position of power, she believes she can force it to come "from a great height, from a great height."
"That's it," Barack. "You're leaving." American values--"the crackle of pig skins", soccer moms networking about Barack's supposed Muslim heritage, the panic, and the vomit--who will be there at 3 AM to pick up the phone at the White House? In desperation, Hillary cries out, "God loves his children!"
Karma Police:
High on 80% approval ratings after 9/11, George Bush commands the Karma/Anti-Terror Police: "Arrest this man" for picking up a copy of "The Anarchist's Cookbook" at a local library. "He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio." He just LOOKS like a terrorist, throw him in Gitmo. And who's that with him? She looks like a terrorist--"her Hitler hairdo, it's making me feel ill." It looks like we've crashed an entire terrorist party. "This is what you get when you mess with me"--you're either with us or you're against us.
Four years later, he's "given all I can," but "it's not enough." His approval ratings in the low twenties, Bush is worn out. "I've given all I can," but until 2009, he's "still on the payroll." Worried about his legacy, he stays the course. "This is what you get when you mess with us!" he screams. Fighting to control his press, he travels to Africa, where he has arguably done a lot of good. A stunned populace wonders when he had time to fix Africa, but Bush just smiles in relief. "Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself."
Electioneering:
John McCain will "stop at nothing" to become President. Seemingly unable to appeal to both Moderates and Conservatives, McCain has begun electioneering. He says "the right things," and hopes he can "rely on your vote." In an impassioned plea, he promises to "go forwards," if his supporters will only "go backwards," and somewhere, in a mystical equilibrium that would secure 50.1% of the vote, "we will meet."
"Riot shields, voodoo economics," all the policies of McCain's past, you need just ignore all that. It's history. He's against abortion! "I trust I can rely on your vote." He supported the surge! "I trust I can rely on your vote." He's a war hero! "I trust I can rely on your vote."
Airbag:
The "next World War" is our current War on Terrorism, and the unpopularity of the Iraq Invasion has led America to look for a 'jack knifed juggernaut,' a leader who stood up against the war even before it was unpopular. And so, "in an interstellar burst," Barack Obama is here to save the Universe--or at least America.
In the deep, political ignorant sleep of the innocent--college students--Barack Obama is born again. Riding a fast bandwagon to success, he's amazed that he's still alive: an inexperienced minority senator running for the most powerful job in the world.
Paranoid Android:
"Please could you stop the noise," Hillary Clinton is "trying to get some rest." All these unborn chicken voices--"Yes We Can"--keep ringing in her head. When she is President, everyone who's opposed her will go "against the wall." Republican opposers of her Universal Heath Care plan, their opinions "are of no consequence at all."
"You don't remember--you don't remember--why don't you remember my name?" asks Hillary, unable to comprehend why name recognition isn't giving her more success--she screams at the DNC "off with his head!"--until she realizes that Barack has been able to turn her record against her: "I guess he does."
Now, Hillary needs anti-Barack sentiment to "rain down, rain down" in a steady stream. It won't come from the grassroots, but from her position of power, she believes she can force it to come "from a great height, from a great height."
"That's it," Barack. "You're leaving." American values--"the crackle of pig skins", soccer moms networking about Barack's supposed Muslim heritage, the panic, and the vomit--who will be there at 3 AM to pick up the phone at the White House? In desperation, Hillary cries out, "God loves his children!"
Karma Police:
High on 80% approval ratings after 9/11, George Bush commands the Karma/Anti-Terror Police: "Arrest this man" for picking up a copy of "The Anarchist's Cookbook" at a local library. "He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio." He just LOOKS like a terrorist, throw him in Gitmo. And who's that with him? She looks like a terrorist--"her Hitler hairdo, it's making me feel ill." It looks like we've crashed an entire terrorist party. "This is what you get when you mess with me"--you're either with us or you're against us.
Four years later, he's "given all I can," but "it's not enough." His approval ratings in the low twenties, Bush is worn out. "I've given all I can," but until 2009, he's "still on the payroll." Worried about his legacy, he stays the course. "This is what you get when you mess with us!" he screams. Fighting to control his press, he travels to Africa, where he has arguably done a lot of good. A stunned populace wonders when he had time to fix Africa, but Bush just smiles in relief. "Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself."
Electioneering:
John McCain will "stop at nothing" to become President. Seemingly unable to appeal to both Moderates and Conservatives, McCain has begun electioneering. He says "the right things," and hopes he can "rely on your vote." In an impassioned plea, he promises to "go forwards," if his supporters will only "go backwards," and somewhere, in a mystical equilibrium that would secure 50.1% of the vote, "we will meet."
"Riot shields, voodoo economics," all the policies of McCain's past, you need just ignore all that. It's history. He's against abortion! "I trust I can rely on your vote." He supported the surge! "I trust I can rely on your vote." He's a war hero! "I trust I can rely on your vote."
Inspired by JoCo mentioning on Twit that he's recorded everything on a Mac Mini, I sprung into recording action today, choosing for my attempting Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová's glorious, Oscar-winning 'Falling Slowly.'
My version falls short of theirs on every level, but at least I finally recorded a song with guitar, voice, bass, and piano. Much more an experiment than something meant for enjoyment, I put this online mainly for criticism and posterity.
Falling Slowly (lyrics and music by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, instruments and voice by Gregory Harbin/Johannes)
My version falls short of theirs on every level, but at least I finally recorded a song with guitar, voice, bass, and piano. Much more an experiment than something meant for enjoyment, I put this online mainly for criticism and posterity.
Falling Slowly (lyrics and music by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, instruments and voice by Gregory Harbin/Johannes)