By Terry Manning
Of all the recent demonstrations of the worsening mental state of the Republican candidate for president, the most alarming to me was when he stopped a rally to share songs from his personal musical playlist.
“God Bless America” … no problem there. “Ave Maria” … OK. “Time to Say Goodbye” … uh, OK again. “YMCA!” … this is where I have to ask, who vets this stuff? Sure enough, it’s a disco classic, but … never mind, I’ll let you Google it.
“Hallelujah” … oy. “Nothing Compares 2 U” … where is the Prince estate’s legal team? “An American Trilogy” … hokey, but I’ll allow it.
“Rich Men North of Richmond” is laugh-out-loud funny, because the MAGA-sphere adopted it as an anthem before the song’s writer clarified he intended it as a criticism of both of the major political parties in this country.
“November Rain” … I’m sure it was the album version. “Memory” … Lord, have mercy.
He subjected his supporters to 30 minutes of this? We all have favorite songs that mean something to us, so here are my picks for songs I’d hand the former president for a better American mixtape.
Neil Diamond, “America”
I am always surprised people opt for Lee Greenwood’s treacly “God Bless the U.S.A.” over this song. There’s nothing wrong with Greenwood’s song per se, but this one has so much right going for it. Its Aaron Copland-esque overture dissolves into a propulsive celebration of the hope and dreams borne by the nation’s immigrants.
Helen Reddy, “I Am Woman”
Another song it feels like people have forgotten. The aspiring feminist said she was looking for an anthem when, “I realized that the song I was looking for didn’t exist, and I was going to have to write it myself.” A classic any oppressed group can look to for inspiration.
West Side Story, “America”
I seem to recall seeing the 1961 movie on one of those Saturday night network broadcasts in the late 1970s. I was floored by the rawness of the emotions displayed by the characters, the beauty of Natalie Wood’s Maria, and the violence of the tragic arc at the movie’s heart.
This track is a showcase for Rita Moreno’s Anita and George Chakiris’ Bernardo, who take turns extolling the virtues of America while pointing out the challenges faced by its Puerto Rican immigrants. “Life is alright in America/If you’re all White in America” is still relatable.
The Impressions, “Keep on Pushing”
When it came to the Civil Rights Movement, Curtis Mayfield wrote the message and made it plain: “I’ve got my strength/And it don’t make sense/Not to keep on pushin’”
Woody Guthrie, “This Land is Your Land”
The original working-class song: “There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me / Sign was painted said private property / But on the back side it didn’t day nothin’ / This land was made for you and me.”
The Who, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
The British power group warns about the dangers of life after the revolution, when the usurper becomes the power holder. The narrator cautions us to be careful calling for an uprising lest the new leaders become a new version of the old leaders.
James Brown, “Living in America”
No way am I going to make an America-themed playlist and leave out this song by the Godfather of Soul.
Stevie Wonder, “You Haven’t Done Nothin’”
The musical genius that was Stevland Morris penned this diss track for then-President Richard Nixon. “we are sick and tired of hearing your song / Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong / ‘Cause if you really want to hear our views / ‘You haven’t done nothin’!’”
Prince and the Revolution, “America”
We don’t usually think of His Royal Badness as a patriot, but he is clearly expressing concern about a nation of Jimmy Nothings who think they are too cool to care about the country. Underrated song (and there’s a killer 22-minute version!)
Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”
No one who saw the opening credits of director Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” will ever forget this bombastic call for action in the face of racial and economic inequality.
Guns N’ Roses, “Civil War”
Let’s look to the second disc of the classic Use Your Illusion double album for this anti-war gem. Lead singer Axl Rose wails, “Look at the hate we’re breeding / Look at the fear we’re feeding / Look at the lives we’re leading / The way we’ve always done before” before stating, clearly, “I don’t need your civil war / It feeds the rich, while it buries the poor.”
Bonus track: Todd Rundgren’s “Tin Foil Hat (featuring Donald Fagan)”
Use your favorite music service to find this song written specifically about Donald Trump.
There are probably a dozen more songs that could be added to this list. But this is my playlist. Take it with you to the polls.
See you on the other side.
Terry E. Manning is a Clemson graduate and worked for 20 years as a journalist. He can be reached at teemanning@gmail.com.
