Obamarama music suggestions, please! (also - booze!)

[tzikeh]

My friends J&P's annual Last Meal of 2008 is in the planning stages, and once again I am in charge of the music. This year's theme (big surprise!) is Barack Obama.

"The menu will feature cuisine from Kenya, Hawaii, Indonesia, and Chicago, with possible appetizers from Kansas, nibbles from New York, or side dishes from Delaware."

(I'm trying to convince them to add Boston (Harvard), because I like baked beans, and hasty pudding *g*).

And so, my fellow Americans, I come to you for your input. I believe that the process of creating playlists should be entirely transparent. Suggestions for any songs from those places, about those places, or in any way tangentially related to the theme of the evening are greatly appreciated. Unless it's completely obvious, please tell me why you are suggesting a particular song!

Also, suggestions for bad joke- or pun-based drinks (and their ingredients) are welcome; I will pass them on to the evening's bartender. You can make up a drink, or you can suggest a known drink and give it a stupid, election-related name. (Example from cereta: Silvio Berlusconi's Black and Tan.)

Yes we can comment!

Comments

[tinylegacies.livejournal.com]

I downloaded a few Obama fanmixes... when I get home, I'll look at them and see what's on them.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Rock on!

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

I support your campaign for Boston!

Song-wise, I'd suggest "Dirty Water" by the Standells, "Tessie" by the Dropkick Murphys, or "Dream On" by Aerosmith.

Drink-wise, every bottle of Sam Adams says "Brewer and Patriot" on it (in that order), which I honestly can't think of how to make more politically funny. *g*

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I get "Dream On", but why the other two?

[kageygirl.livejournal.com]

Dirty Water (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_water) is explicitly about Boston, and is the first song played at Fenway Park when the Red Sox win a home game. Tessie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessie) was covered by the Dropkick Murphys in 2004 to inspire the Red Sox--and the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. (And it's the second song played after a home win, the third being "Joy to the World.") I can't think of more "Yes We Can" songs about Boston. *g*

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Ahhh - well, since they aren't (as of yet) including Boston, I should probably concentrate on the other places first. But I'll keep these on deck!

[bentleywg.livejournal.com]

Lame suggestion: Can anything be done with The Road to Bali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_to_Bali)?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Not lame!

If there's a theme song, and I can find it, then I'll absolutely include it.

[greywingnut.livejournal.com]

For the Hawaiian connection, how about Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World"?

I made pineappletinis for his nomination acceptance speech. 3 parts vodka, 2 parts pineapple juice, 1 part pineapple rum, and a splash of triple sec. Yummy.

And if you win the Battle of Boston... everybody loves a Boston Cream Pie.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

On the off chance you have not seen it:

Barack Obama says "pie" fifteen times in one minute and forty seconds.

[greywingnut.livejournal.com]

I had *not* seen that before! Thanks - my life is that much better now.

Also, pie.

[deaver.livejournal.com]

I second the IZ suggestion. Almost anything from any of his CDs would be good Hawaiian music (though "Somewhere Over..." is certainly one of the best)

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Judging from the songs they were playing at campaign rallies, either "The Rising" or "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen, Clapton or the Blues Brothers' cover of "Sweet Home Chicago", or Dylan's "The Times, They Are a-Changing" would be my suggestion.

As for drinks, can I pimp your question over at rahmbamarama? I don't doubt that that gang can come up with some good ones.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

oh, please do pimp the question!

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Can I link people to this post? I would completely understand if you'd rather not open your journal up to the raging capslocky crazy that is rahmbamarama.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

mmmm - if they can stay ON TOPIC -- i.e. naming and concocting drinks, or suggesting songs that fit the post, then that's fine. So make that very clear. :D

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

No problem. I'll make that clear in my post.

You can send your minions after me if anyone misbehaves. Or, you know, just send me a dead fish.

[thefannishwaldo.livejournal.com]

Schoolhouse Rock: Three Ring Circus

[thecomfychair.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine made something called Obamarama for election night, and it was pretty darn tasty. She got the recipe from here.

[lunaris1013.livejournal.com]

Elvis - Blue Hawaii
Anything by Don Ho
ZZ Top - Jesus Just Left Chicago
Chicago - Take Me Back To Chicago

And the obvious, Sweet Home Chicago


Has anyone even written a song about Kansas?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Has anyone even written a song about Kansas?

Dunno, but there was a band called Kansas, so I could use that. :D

Also - OMG ICON WHERE HOW?

[lunaris1013.livejournal.com]

Some time in the past month that picture was used as an illustration in a Slate video. I don't even remember which one. I just knew that it was screaming out to be an icon, so I screencapped it!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Is it shareable, with credit of course?

[lunaris1013.livejournal.com]

I usually don't share my icons, but since you asked nicely (and all I really did was cap & crop), have at! Credit not necessary.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

Well, there is "Everything's Up To Date in Kansas City" from "Oklahoma"

Other songs about Kansas City:
http://ask.metafilter.com/92732/Looking-for-songs-about-Kansas-City-for-a-roadtrip-please-help

Other songs referencing the state of Kansas:
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/listoftheday/84165/five-songs-for-kansas/

[sarken.livejournal.com]

Has anyone even written a song about Kansas?

Jo Dee Messina has a song called "You're Not in Kansas Anymore."

[(Anonymous)]

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man" because Obama is of the Hawaiian and is of the Super Man

Sam Cooke: "Change is Gonna Come" because it has, and because both Sam and Barack are Chi-town boys

Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers: "Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox" because (in what is his one tragic flaw) Obama is a White Sox fan

Bill Withers: "Lean On Me" because that seems in keeping with Obama's "the buck stops here, I make the policy" message

EK

[very-improbable.livejournal.com]

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Estelle - American Boy (I don't know, this song just feels like it should be on an Obama mix, because he's making it cool to be an American again)

Tom Lehrer - Fight Fiercely, Harvard

For Kenya...um...how about that song from the "Kenya" flash animation? :) Or, hey, if you can get ahold of any of the songs from the Obama musical that they're staging in Kenya right now, that'd be neat.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

... there's a musical about Obama being stage in Kenya?

...

...

THAT IS SO COOL!

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

"There's No One As Irish As Barack Obama".

I hope someone is making spam musubi!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Oh I LOVE that song! Yes!

[shirozora.livejournal.com]

...that is all.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Ner?

[shirozora.livejournal.com]

Song suggestion?

That and "Dare" by Stan Bush. Sure it's an 80's song but it's really about how we Dems kicked ass in the elections.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

But this song is all about how the world is shit and it's coming to an end...

[shirozora.livejournal.com]

It's about how the world is coming to an end so let's look at all the great things we've done. If the world is coming to an end tomorrow, look at the fact that we voted in a black man as the President, look at all of our greatest achievements through the ages, and smile because we've done so much for our kind.

...I'm just very optimistic.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

What Obama listens to

Songs played at Obama Rallies

And a couple of song recs:

Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come (youtube)

The Times, They Are A Changin' (youtube links)

Bob Dylan Version
The Byrds (surREAL video)
Tracy Chapman - I like this one

[yasaman.livejournal.com]

Here via rahmbamarama with a music suggestion: The National's "Mr. November." The lyrics don't have too much to do with politics/Obama, but The National were involved in Obama's campaign and made shirts with Obama and "Mr. November" on them. There's also their song "Fake Empires" which was used in the "Signs of Hope and Change" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcRA2AZsR2Q) video that played at Grant Park.