As we pointed out last week (our regular reader will remember) The Editor – ever a man to reflect the zeitgeist – has determined that now is the time for the Americana-UK decennial election. For the uninitiated we are a democratic organisation and hold regular elections for those in high office. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pops: Tim McGraw “My Best Friend””
The Editor – a surly cove to some and a man of wealth and taste to others – has determined that it is time for the Great Americana-UK Towers Decennial Electionfest. Much, much, much more to come on that in the coming weeks here on your unfavourite poli-blog but this week we were more concerned with a new report into a certain tragedic happening of note. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pops: Billy Joel “We Didn’t Start The Fire””
If you’re the type of person for whom December is basically the unbearable run up to the 25th then you’ll be delighted to hear that added to that mix there might now be a general election. Imagine getting 5 more years of the BoJo for Christmas. Honestly, you really shouldn’t have. Of course there are other alternatives which would make a much nicer present. Still, there’s a reasonable chance it’s not going to be the season to be jolly.
Ellen DeGeneres is happy to call George Bush a friend as “sometimes you have to be kind to people you don’t agree with.” But what if it’s not so much their beliefs but the things they’ve done? Do you draw a line at anyone? If the answer to that is yes – “I couldn’t have a coffee with Pol Pot” – then where do you draw that line? Is, as Mehdi Hassan put it, “a long litany of crimes, misdeeds, and abuses of power committed during his two bloodstained terms in office” not enough? Sure it’s kind for the powerful – it’s no kindness to the many voiceless victims including the 250,00+ civilians killed in Iraq or the 780 detainees who were held at Guantánamo Bay prison camp. As Ben Harper sang on this track from 2007: “You don’t fight for us; But expect us to die for you; You have no sympathy for us; But still I’d cry for you.” You can be the better person without being their mate FFS.
It’s funny to think that when Quiet Loner recorded this song back in 2013 that we’d have had another two captains by the end of the decade but both essentially steering the same course, and each one in their own way being worse than the last. The lyrics are as pertinent today as ever: “I can see that storm ahead. We’re heading right for the eye. We’re the living and soon-to-be dead. And we’re all in this boat together as it rumbles, rattles and keels. As I cling to this rope I abandon all hope, when I look whose hand’s on the wheel.” You wouldn’t want the current captain’s hands on the wheel of a milk float. God help us all.
This week sees the 70th anniversary of the founding of The People’s Republic of China and we here in The People’s Republic of Liverpudlia thought we would celebrate our fellow People’s Republic’s birthday with lanterns, some dragon costumes and double egg fried rice and sweet and sour sauce all round. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pop: Paul Rodgers “China Blue””
Boris Johnson, holder of the highest political office in the land, is a liar and a lawbreaker. We’d quite like to come up with our usual smart-arse funny stuff but on this occasion we think we’ll just leave that there.
We have a strict hierarchical structure here at Americana-UK Towers (actually we don’t but this is for illustrative purposes). At the top sits The Editor – a surly cove if crossed and a great believer in “do as I say not as I do”. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pops: Suzi Quattro “If You Can’t Give Me Love””
Your regular correspondent has been on a sabbatical of late taking part in something called “The Real World” away from the delights and highlights of the Internet Universe. Trust – it’s a dreadful place. Don’t go there. Continue reading “Pick of the Political Pops: Woody Guthrie “All You Fascists Bound To Lose””
In a week where it seems like there’s almost nothing new under the sun to say about Brexit that hasn’t been said a million times over, in today’s Pops we cast our minds back to the turn of the century. Steve Earle caused considerable outrage by writing a sympathetic song for John Walker Lindh, the infamous lone American member of the Taliban. “Twisted ballad honours Tali-rat,” was the headline in the New York Post, while Steve Gill, a Rush Limbaugh-style radio host, said that the song put Earle “in the same category as Jane Fonda, John Walker and all those people who hate America”. Earle told The Guardian that “I became acutely aware that what happened to him could have happened to my son, and your son, and anybody’s son. Nobody in my country wanted to admit that. It’s one of the most American stories I’ve ever heard.”
