Musical Thought Experiment

News Type: Event — Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:22 PM EDT

entertainment, music, election, election-2008, ipod, 2008-election, rock, bands, mp3-player

iarnuocon

By way of The DCeiver, via Matthew Yglesias over at Atlantic.com, comes this little gem of an experiment--

Take out your mp3 player
Press shuffle songs.
Answer the following:
- How many songs before you come to one that would absolutely disqualify you from being President?
- What is that song?

Leave your answers.

It'd also be nice if you leave your reasons for why you think that song "disqualifies" you to be President...

15 Votes
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4.7

2.8

0.7

{"commentId":2112964,"authorDomain":"iarnuocon"}

iarnuocon

22 songs in, I hit AC/DC's the Honey Roll. I'm pretty sure in the prudish world of politics, the electorate might have a problem with the overtly sexual nature of the song... Feminists would say I was a misogynist, fundamentalists would question my morals-- it'd be a real PR nightmare.

Honey roll over, and lettuce on top
Strap you to the bed, and make you rock
Run it up the flag, send it on home
Push you to the wall, and make you moan

She's mine, take what I want
Get what I need, don't take it all
[So] Don't you hide, gonna blow my mind
C'mon taste it honey cause she feel fine
She turn it on, Upside down
She turn me on, Inside out
She turn it on, all around
She turn me on, She turn it on

And that might be confirmed nine songs later, when Bob & Tom's Mr Obvious came up.

But around song number 60, when Rage Against the Machine starts hammering on Bulls on Parade, I don't think there would be any doubt that I am not Presidential material.

{"commentId":2112964,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"iarnuocon"}

3 votes

#1 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2113036,"authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}

Brad Leclerc

6, "@!$%# The Creationists" by MC Hawking. I'd bet that would disqualify me for a number of reasons, but the title alone would probably do it....good little tune though ;)

{"commentId":2113036,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}

3 votes

#2 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":2113094,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Steve Mock

31 songs in. Pills I Took, Hank III

I've lied an' I've stole an' I ain't @!$%#in' jokin':
It must've been them pills I took.
Yeah, the mirrors are all busted an' someone's cryin':
It must've been them pills I took.

That's pretty self-explanatory, no?

{"commentId":2113094,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"mock"}

2 votes

#3 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":2113291,"authorDomain":"babin"}

babin

6 songs

AMEN: "COMA AMERICA"

Amen is a progressive punk, very anti-america band. Not to good to be affiliated with for politics.

Wiki

{"commentId":2113291,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"babin"}

#4 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":2113481,"authorDomain":"Andimia"}

Andimia

first song, Marylin Manson - The Dope Show
followed by Poe - Angry Johnny I wanna kill you... I wanna blow you... away

{"commentId":2113481,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"Andimia"}

#5 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":2114162,"authorDomain":"justforkicks"}

JustForKicks

3rd song in disqualifies me.

Song: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Reason: America has issues!

{"commentId":2114162,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"justforkicks"}

2 votes

#6 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 7:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":2114614,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

First song: Closer by Nine Inch Nails.

{"commentId":2114614,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

#7 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 8:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":2114702,"authorDomain":"Andimia"}

Andimia

I used to play that song really loud just to annoy my ultra-religious conservative roommate. My lesbian roommate thought it was hilarious.

{"commentId":2114702,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"Andimia"}

#7.1 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 8:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":2116123,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

Heheheheh. Awesome. :D

{"commentId":2116123,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

#7.2 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 1:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":2114693,"authorDomain":"prompt"}

prompt

Third song: I Feel Like Dying by Lil Wayne

I can mingle with the stars & throw a party on Mars
I am a prisoner locked up behind Xanax bars
I have just boarded a plane without a pilot
And violets are blue,
Roses are red
Daisies are yellow,
The flowers are dead
Wish I can give you this feeling that I feel like buying
And if my dealer don't have no more, then I feel like dying

{"commentId":2114693,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"prompt"}

1 vote

#8 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 8:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":2114896,"authorDomain":"angela593"}

angela593

The president should listen to all music so he can understand his citizens. Research and listen to be in tune with peoples deeply valued beliefs. Louder please.

{"commentId":2114896,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"angela593"}

1 vote

#9 - Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2116294,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

Robert Blevins - AB of Seattle

The remake of 'Last Kiss' by Pearl Jam.

Reason: Accidentally killing your girlfriend in a car accident is a definite millstone around your neck, if you have Presidential aspirations. Do I have to fill in the blanks? I think not.

{"commentId":2116294,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

1 vote

#10 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:13 AM EDT

{"commentId":2116937,"authorDomain":"iarnuocon"}

iarnuocon

I was thinking more along the lines that the presence of the song itself on your iPod would be what was so objectionable that someone couldn't be President. I hadn't considered the possibility that the song would be considered autobiographical. But then, some folks think Obama is a Muslim.

{"commentId":2116937,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"iarnuocon"}

2 votes

#10.1 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 9:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":2118525,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

Well, at least you'd still be allowed in the Senate... ;-)

{"commentId":2118525,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

3 votes

#10.2 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 2:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":2119128,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

Robert Blevins - AB of Seattle

Oh, Adam...now THAT was the funniest comment I've heard on Newsvine in weeks. No kidding, man. :)

(big laugh)

{"commentId":2119128,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

2 votes

#10.3 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 4:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":2116385,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}

Djehuty

I was thinking it would be "Hashish Poem" by Bill Laswell and Nicole Blackman, but actually it's more likely to be "In Den Kasernen" by Marlene Dietrich which would in fact disqualify me.

In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
In den Kasernen, da schult man sie.
So war es immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie.

Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie
Die schönen Mädchen verlassen sie
So ist es immer, und endet nie.
Von schönen Mädchen, da träumen sie.

Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.
Ob sie auch wollen, das fragt man nie.
So war es immer, das wissen sie.
Kommt man sie holen, dann gehen sie.

Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.
Und Menschen Brüder befehlen sie.
So war 's schon immer, und endet nie
Auf Menschen Brüder, da schießen sie.

Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, wer denkt an sie.
So war es immer, begreift man nie.
Kreuz unter Kreuzen, so enden sie.

In den Kasernen, da warten sie.
Neue Kasernen, baut man für sie
Es ist wie immer, und endet nie.
In den Kasernen, da warten sie

Because sadly it's an integral part of US foreign policy and opposition to it could never be allowed to stand. Just look at Obama walking away from a tough line right now.

{"commentId":2116385,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"djehuty"}

2 votes

#11 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 4:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":2116642,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

6, "T Baggin'" by Ludacris. Because:

If you woke up with a hangover and a pair of hairy balls on your forehead, press 7.
[Beep]
You've just pressed 7.
You've been victimized and introduced to a moral crime known as t baggin'.
We suggest you probably hang up the phone, beat the ass of any white guys you hung out with
last night, and find and destroy all photos before they appear on the Internet. Thank you for
calling.

And it's not even a song. For @!$%# sake.

{"commentId":2116642,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

3 votes

#12 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 7:18 AM EDT

{"commentId":2117378,"authorDomain":"Worldlywoman"}

Worldly Woman

I don't think that songs should necessarily disqualify a person from being president...

{"commentId":2117378,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"Worldlywoman"}

1 vote

#13 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 10:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2117648,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

Second song, "Violently Happy" by Björk because someone would accuse me of being reckless and suicidal (she talks about driving to fast with ecstatic music on and jumping off roofs) followed by the second song "Sometimes" by Cee-Lo for it's drug references and counter-culturalism.

{"commentId":2117648,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

2 votes

#14 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 11:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":2118541,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

None, I'll run on the platform of quality music ;-)

Besides, if politicians can use songs like "Born in the USA" as theme music for their campaign, it's pretty clear that no one is actually listening to the lyrics...

{"commentId":2118541,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

2 votes

#15 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 2:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":2119447,"authorDomain":"fugitive247"}

fugitive247

First track: Killer Queen by Queen

This song would likely disqualify me from presidency on several counts. Two of the largest factors are its overall tone in conjunction with being an individualist on my own non-negotiable terms, and it represents my stance on choosing to control my level of public transparency.

{"commentId":2119447,"threadId":"305609","contentId":"1636348","authorDomain":"fugitive247"}

#16 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 5:21 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"305609","isPrivate":false}

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Musical Thought Experiment

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