The Final Countdown

[October 29th, 2008]

Let’s face it: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Or just a really good soundtrack. As the world awaits the results of the most important presidential election in, oh, 40 years, we’ve put together a playlist with song selections from some of PDX’s finest musicians of tracks to listen to on Election Tuesday. The music industry, for their part, is treating the big vote as a competing retail holiday, pushing back the release of Fall Out Boy’s Folie A Deux from Nov. 4 to mid-December to avoid losing headlines and plastering big-budget discs for blue-collar hard rock band Hinder with petty “Vote for Hinder!” stickers. Since we like to keep things local, four musicians shared the songs they’ll be spinning come next week, with one simple question: What song do you want to hear should Barack Obama or John McCain win the electoral vote? An informal poll suggested that finding a McCain supporter among the ranks of the music community might be difficult, but a few minutes prowling around the Web tells a different story. New Hope, Pa.-based Rockanomics.com is, according to founder and director Rob Stanley, the definitive “pro-American, pro-military, conservative online rock journal” that looks to unite classic rockers with people who don’t believe in global warming. Stanley didn’t return WW’s emails, but judging from his theme song, “Morning in America” (key lyric: “Wake up the rest of the world/ it’s always morning in America/ shake up the rest of the world/ it’s always morning in America”), you can be sure he won’t be bumping Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” anytime soon.

Andy Furgeson, Bark Hide and Horn: All I’m going to be listening to on Election Day, no matter what happens, is Bob Dylan. Obviously. He’s the modern Walt Whitman, the American bard for a new, screwed-up America. Even if his American epics were written from the vantage point of the 1960s, they could have been written in the 1860s, they could have been written today. Dylan’s a time-warper, a shape-shifter. And that, above all, is what makes him a political singer-songwriter. Because just like any politician, any American hero, he’s a self-made myth. When our hero Obama wins, I’m going to be spinning The Times They Are A-Changin’, the whole album, connecting with the Civil Rights-era dream that’s finally becoming a reality. Then I’m going to listen to Live ’66, when Dylan showed Manchester what “change” really means—you know, “Play f***in’ LOUD”; then a version of “Like a Rolling Stone” so powerful that Sarah Palin could have heard it from her front porch.

If the unthinkable happens, I’m going to hole up in my apartment and listen to The Basement Tapes for four years—“Tears of Rage,” to be precise. I’ll try to figure out how Dylan and the Band managed to escape the heaviness of the late ’60s and then I’ll do the same. Of course, that’s not going to happen.

Charlie Salas-Humara, Panther: If Obama wins, “Living in America” by James Brown, because that song rules and it has an epic, uplifting vibe. If McCain wins, then “We’re Coming to America” by Neil Diamond because it has an epic but kind of sinister vibe, and you could reinterpret the lyrics as Republican imperialism.

Manny Reyes, Atole: Me and my life partner, Tim Ferrell (programmer-keyboardist of Atole), chose a few songs. For obvious reasons, Tim says we should listen to Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” if the unthinkable happens. I think John Cage’s silent “4’33’’” should be played to give people time to chill, breathe, pray or develop new conspiracy theories, because no matter who wins we’re in for a wild ride. And Missy Elliot’s “Work It” needs to be bumped loud if Obama wins because homie is seriously gonna have to just work it out, and Tim and I will need a serious floor-burner to dance all night to.

Matt Sheehy, singer songwriter : If (when) Obama wins: “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. The lyrics say, “I’m feeling good,” but the intense chord progression and rhythm section say, “And it’s because I’m finally getting away from this cold-hearted bastard.” If the unthinkable happens: “Fucking Hostile” by Pantera. If you can’t beat them, join them. Right?