SURE CANDIDATES LIKE MUSIC TOO-- EVEN REPUBLICANS

Bush may groove out to the ultimate mainstream plasticity of The Knack's "My Sharona" when he's on his iPod and treadmill, but the menagerie of Democrats who wish to replace him in the White House have a more diverse musical universe-- and they shared it at the DNC Winter Meeting this week.

Some candidates requested two songs, one that blared as they approached the stage and another that played as they left the podium.
The selections:


-John Edwards: "This Is Our Country" by John Mellencamp.
-Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut: "Get Ready (Cause Here I Come)" by the Temptations and "Reach Out," also by the Temptations.
-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York: "Right Here, Right Now," by Jesus Jones and "Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
-Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio: "America the Beautiful"
-Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois decided against using any music in keeping with the somber tone he sought to convey.
-Wesley Clark, who hasn't indicated whether he will run, entered to Johnny Cash's "I Won't Back Down."

Johnny Cash did a great Rick Rubin-produced version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down," originally recorded by the Traveling Wilburys (seen on this rarish video with Ringo). Either version works well for the essence of Wes Clark's role in American public life.

Someone asked me what about Biden. I was surprised anyone cared. Although I like the original by The Temptations and covers by the Red Rockers and by Love and Rockets more, the Anthrax version of "Ball of Confusion" is a perfect theme song for Biden. ("We Shall Cleanse the World" would work too but, somehow, I get the impression Biden is more an Anthrax kind of guy than a Revolting Cocks fan.)

As for the Republicans... well, they don't encourage individuality so candidates won't get a chance to pick their own songs. (Maybe they'll make an exception for Tom Tancredo to use "Horst Wessel Lied" since it's so short... and so perfect for him-- and, at heart, the whole party.) But the rest of the candidates all get to march to only one drummer, one that that old hipster Karl Rove picked out for them.