Last night, Barack Obama’s exit music at the close of his historic Democratic convention acceptance speech was “Only in America,” a song by country’s foremost multiplatinum duo. Meanwhile, rival John McCain has been traveling the country blasting another stirring hit by the same act, “That’s What It’s All About.” At last, it’s become clear what this election is really about: a battle for the hearts and souls of Brooks & Dunn!
Forget the audacity of hope, for a moment. How about the audacity of the Democrats stealing the Republicans’ favorite song? If you’re not aware of the history of the GOP using “Only in America,” a refresher is in order: Brooks & Dunn played it at the Bush inauguration in 2000. At the 2004 GOP convention, Dick Cheney used it as his exit music after his speech. And President Bush frequently used it on the campaign trail four years ago, even asking Brooks & Dunn to come out and play it live at rallies in the final week of the race. So you have to think its sudden repurposing served two purposes for the Democrats. Number one, it told millions of Americans that Obama is heartland-friendly enough to use a country smash rather than a Will.i.am ditty to cap off perhaps the most critical moment of his career to date. And number two, for anyone aware of the tune’s political history, it was also a subtle, funny, knowing tweak — too benign to really count as an old-school dirty trick, but almost in that risible spirit. Click through past the jump for the full analysis:
I wrote about the partisan use of "Only in America" by the Republicans in a book I penned shortly after the 2004 election called Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music.Here’s how I described it then: "…Bush’s recorded intro and exitmusic — along with an occasional live rendition straight from thehorsemen’s mouths — was Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Only in America,’ theunofficial Bush theme song. Funnily enough, that number was cowrittenby a buddy of theirs, Don Cook, who went on to found a fledglingorganization called Music Row Democrats. Having ‘Only in America’drafted as the new ‘Hail to the Chief’ wasn’t really what Democraticactivist Cook had in mind for his song (which isn’t even that gung-ho — listen closely, and there’s an ambivalence about the Americandream to be found in the lyrics). But in Nashville, even of you’re onthe other side of the aisle, sometimes it’s hard not to give at theoffice."
I got Don Cook, the cowriter and Democratic stalwart, on the phonetoday to talk about the tune… and about how Brooks & Dunnthemselves reacted to Obama’s use of it. Since Cook was a little takenaback when the GOP adopted it, does this feel like turnabout is fairplay? “That’s exactly what Kix Brooks said to me when he called,” saidCook. “He said, ‘You had to endure George Bush using it, so it’s onlyfair that I would have to endure Barack Obama using it.’ But he said itin a real light-hearted way. For us as writers and them as performers,truthfully, we’re proud when anybody uses our song for something that’ssubstantial. Even if you’re diametrically opposed politically to theperson who’s using your song, the fact that they like it well enough touse it at an important place in their life, you have to love that.” Butnot everybody necessarily feels the same way. Cook related to me astory about John Rich, the one country star who’s been a strongcampaigner for John McCain already. “John Rich sent an angry textmessage to Kix last night, saying why did Kix allow that song to beused? And Kix said ‘I had nothing to do with it — that was their right.’I sent John a text message today saying ‘If you enjoyed last night,you’re gonna love Kix’s version of ‘Ba-Rock My World, Little CountryGirl’” (taking off on another Brooks & Dunn hit).
Kix Brooks released his official response in a benign statement:“Seems ironic that the same song Bush used at The Republican Conventionlast election would be used by Obama and the Democrats now. Veryflattering to know our song crossed parties and potentially inspiresall Americans.” Of course the tune isn’t partisan by nature; it’sbecome a staple of 4th of July fireworks shows as well as politicalrallies. As Ronnie Dunn told me when I interviewed him for my book fouryears ago, the song “was apolitical. It was written before 9/11, and itwas just talking about the American dream, what’s out there for all ofus, what’s attainable—the sky is the limit. And that’s it. It’s justironic that the first line is ‘the sun coming up over New York City.’ Ithink that just had a kind of a freaky little coincidence” that gave itsome extra resonance.
Cook reminded me of just what a 9/11 anthem the tune became: “It wasat the top of the charts when 9/11 happened, and after that it became arallying point and had another life. I think it spent 18 or 19 weeks inthe top 10 after 9/11, which is an unheard-of amount for a single thesedays. It was a bittersweet thing for me, and always will be, because ofthose circumstances. For me, the bitterness that I associate personallywith my own song diminishes every time I see it used in a positive waylike last night. It was a lot of fun to be talking about the song inpositive terms even when Bush was using it—better than talking about itimmediately post-9/11,” Cook said.
Brooks & Dunn may be flattered by Obama’s use of it now, but it’s hard to imagine the Ronnie Dunn I interviewed four years agohaving been okay with it if John Kerry had wanted to use “Only inAmerica.” (Kix Brooks, by contrast, has always been more recalcitrantabout getting into his political views.) Of all the Republican countrystars I spoke with in Nashville, Dunn came off as the most intelligentand informed—very nearly a foreign policy wonk, in fact—and was quickto articulate why the Republicans were better prepared to stand up tothe threats of terrorism, which was his primary concern, far more thanany social issues. But a few weeks ago, Brooks & Dunn told CNN theywere sitting out making any endorsements in this election. I’ve sensedfar less passion for the GOP cause among country stars in general thanthere was four years ago, when I was writing Rednecks & Bluenecks—with the exception of Big & Rich’s John Rich, a true believer who wrote a campaign song, “Raising McCain,” for his preferred candidate. Toby Keith, who performed at an election eve rally for Bush in 2004, has come out and said he thinks Obama is a good manand worthy candidate, so I suspect we won’t see him playing any McCainrallies this year. Is everybody backing off over career concerns, notwanting to tick off significant parts of their audience? Or is theregenuine ambivalence, even among some reliably conservative countrystars, over the slate of candidates this time? Hard to tell for surejust now.
One thing that’s certain is how neither Republicans nor Democratsseem too worried about whether the songs they’re drafting as anthemsare by artists who line up on their side. Just as the Democrats havedeveloped a sudden love for Brooks & Dunn, the music that wasplaying after the announcement of Sarah Palin as GOP VP pick thismorning was “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” by Bon Jovi (a prominentDemocratic supporter) and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles (who played aDemocratic convention event earlier this week). But then, that same BonJovi song was also played by the Dems this week. As these musicaltug-of-wars continue, we can only hope for more rock and country turfwars. Will Palin try to wrest Tom Petty’s “American Girl” away from thefirm grasp of Hillary Clinton? Will Obama get really audacious andstart playing Charlie Daniels songs on the trail? To both sides, wesay: Bring it on!
Of course, many of the songs that candidates trot out, from “Born inthe USA” to “Pink Houses,” are fraught with undertones that mayactually contradict the message the politicos want to convey. WhenStevie Wonder sang “Signed, Sealed and Delivered” on Thursday night inDenver, I kept waiting for a Republican commentator to seize on lineslike “Like a fool I went and stayed too long/Now I’m wondering if yourlove’s still strong” and “I’ve done a lot of foolish things that Ididn’t really mean.” Petty’s “American Girl” had a few lines that fitHillary, but her supporters might have have wanted to hit the mutebutton when the lines “He crept back in her memory/God it’s sopainful/Something that’s so close/And still so far out of reach” came on. And when Brooks & Dunn sing, “One kiddreams of fame and fortune/One kid helps pay the rent/One could end upgoing to prison/One just might be president,” it does open the door foreither side’s loyal opposition to suggest that the campaigner inquestion is headed for the wrong big house, of the two mentioned inthat verse.
Comments (1-30) of 39 Add your comment
Know only a few country songs – had not even heard the song before last night – but as I listened to the lyrics, I thought “How Perfect”!
I think that the music for candidates thing is way overblown (not in the sense of this article, which i think just helps show my point. very nice piece here really). I think honestly Kix Brooks has it right. There were so many artists complaining of their songs usage for one party or the other (let’s be honest, especially artists being upset with republicans using their songs..dating all the way back to primaries and such. although john rich is a clear counter to that). I understand how these artists have their own points of view on politics, but this is background music. No one remembers candidates music. Or they shouldn’t. It just sets the mood and gets people on their feet.
I am impressed. This was a very well written piece, and I am going to buy the book. I am for McCain and noted the use of the Brooks and Dunn, Republican favorite, song last night. But I was also moved to (almost) tears thinking about how true the title was, especially last night. Congrats Sen Obama and Gov Palin.
I’ve always loved “Right Now” by Van Halen and wondered why it wasn’t used more.
Loved BO using Only In America. But I also enjoyed the use of Remember the Titans for the Fireworks and “Rudy” for Palin’s intro. Classic stuff.
Obama is a poser & a paper tiger! If you think he is the next savior of America…..your as lost as he is!!!!! We truly objecitve people are grounded in the real world & look forward to the debates by the VP’s & the main players.
The rubber will hit the road soon enough! You naysayers will be eating your words in quick fashion. God bless America!!!!
New McCain campaign strategy…
“Put a Girl In It!”
I really enjoyed this article, well written and very interesting. And “bak” your comment cracked me up!
I too, noticed that line in “Only in America” after Obama’s speech. I think the song applies to him more than it ever did to Bush and Cheney, that’s for sure! Unless they meant “only in American can it’s citizens be so duplicitously deceived, battered and bruised”.
Now let’s see if Palin comes out using Stevie Nicks’ “Sara”.
Hell, all the candidates with the exception of good ole Joe scare me.
I thoroughly understand Obama’s choice of B&D’s song. It’s an attempt to link certain bridges and whatnot (as he said, he’d like to be not a blue state president or a red state president but an American president), but I still kept hoping that Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” would have been played.
I have a huge problem with the media coverage of the elections. Obama uses a Brooks and Dunn song he didn’t have permission to use and these artists take it well. The Republican party uses a craptastic song by Heart and the comments just keep rolling in! Hello! Does anyone not see the hypocrisy in this? I am tired of people being a Democrat because it’s popular and celebrities do it! Boo Hoo! If we all did what celebrities did we’d all live on Skid row.
Nothing will change as long as the politicians continue to fool us by pulling the wool over our eyes so therefore the future remains to be the same.
We know that Influence Rules but exactly how are we being influenced?
There is a Minority who actually knows the answers and will admit they know without Fear.
Bad Example: When politicians debate and get angry in public…No Anger Management classes for them.
Such Lack of Integrity when criticizing opponents and also using music that they should not have used.
Is this really setting good examples for our young generation and generations to come? Are they being Constitutional or other?
The Media targets “Peacemakers” and nothing is done because of “freedom of speech.”
How much longer do Americans have to be jerked around to come to their senses and stand up to these overbearing FOOLS who REFUSE TO
CHANGE THEIR WAYS FIRST? IN THIS CASE WE CAN’T expect much as leopards never change their spots.
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” was a hit in the summer of 1970, exactly halfway between the 1968 and 1972 conventions. The opposition may try to say something like “Aha! That song was only two years removed from the strife-torn ‘68 and ‘72 Democratic conventions!”
I really enjoyed this commentary–I received “Rednecks and Bluenecks” as a b-day gift two and a half years ago and enjoyed it as well, finding it well written and researched.
I enjoyed seeing the GOP convention using AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” happily singing along, unaware of AC/DC’s less-than-family values lyrical content.
The McCain campaign doesn’t even vet its songs! He endorsed the song “Gasolina” at a Phoenix, AZ high school, not knowing the song is about sex, not gasoline or driving.
Love the song Only in America, loved Heart and the song Barracuda…why do people have to be so ‘picky’ about who is using their songs. Would Heart be so upset if the Dems used their song? Think some of the elitist entertainers need to get a life; remember being Americans First; Country First; McCain is at least telling us what will be done; Palin is absolutly the Perfect VP Choice. She is a woman. Isn’t that what the Dems wanted originally? No Democrat was against a woman running when Clinton was running in Primaries; Why now is the choice of a Strong Woman in Sara Palin under attack. When I hear the songs, like another said, I get jazzed, pumped, & ready to go – the songs do what they’re supposed to do – pump the people up – period. This is no longer the North vs the South, that war was Won. We’re ALL Americans living in the greatest Country in the World – the USA! Be proud of it and move forward. God Bless
Since “Only in America” was co-written by Democrats and Republicans, I guess either everybody can use it or no-one can.
(And I agree with some of the other commentors: great piece, Chris.)
Obama….AC/DC BACK IN BlACK
Fran R, I have to disagree with you about Palin. Yes, she is a strong woman, however, she is a rude woman. Hillary was never rude to the point of insult. If the best woman the GOP could come up with was a woman that resorts to petty insults, then she doesn’t deserve the spotlight. As for the use of the song “Barracuda,” I am with the band Heart, and their choice to allow or not allow whom they want to use their song as a slogan. They are the owners of the rights to the song.
well…stooping to pilfer a song even…thats typical. But, it is true that only in America would people want to have someone as inexperienced as Obama “leading”
our country just so they can say they’ve elected a “black” president.
That man will only get things done if Congress is allowed to add all of their little special interest items on, and then only if it will help them to line their pockets with our money. Kind of the way congress has kept the current president from getting anything done!
I don’t get it. Why is everybody so surprised about this song playing after Obama’s speech? It’s just one of his campaign songs.
I’ve been watching live videos of his rallies for about half a year now, and maybe eight out of ten times you could hear this song being played before or at the end of the rally. The day of his acceptence speech ‘Signed Sealed Delivered’ was performed live on stage, ‘The Rising’ was played the day before, after Biden’s speech when BO came on stage as a ’surprise guest’. These are the three songs that were played the most on the campaign trail. There’s also ‘Beautiful Day’ (U2) and ‘Born in the USA’ but those weren’t played as often. ‘Yes We Can’ isn’t even a campaign song. Don’t remember ever hearing it at a rally, and I’ve seen like, a LOT of Obama-rallies.
So where’s the surprise factor in using the Brooks & Dunn song?
Dems not using country songs? Maybe it’s just a matter of paying attention?
Hey – angel – the reason I voted for Obama in the primary and why I’ll vote for him as president is not because he’s black, but because he’s an intelligent, thoughtful, decisive man who holds many of the same values that I do. John Mc Cain does not. The idea that I’d vote for someone based on how they look is astounding to me. And thank God, the congress is stopping Bush from continuing to dismantle the constitution, sell more of our country to other countries to pay our bills, and oveall continue to do the horrible stupid things he did for the six years before they had the numbers to fight him. Enough! How much more senseless stupidty can this country take?
Just think if all these celebrities and singers adopted Kid Rock’s point of view and that is to “stick to what your good at, and when it comes to politics, keep your mouth shut!” I think its petty for Heart to object so forcefully and anyone else who does the same.
And by the way wh, I don’t think that angel was insinuating anything racial just that so many people want to be politically correct, and that there are a lot of people out there who will(not that it’s right) vote for him because he is black!
I am becoming fed up with these stars and their political views—-DON’T USE YOUR FAME TO SHOVE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS DOWN OUR THROATS! The canidates should be able to use whatever songs they want to use without the singers coming out and acting like babies (Heart) Unless they are singing the songs live on the campaign trail, no one believes the singer or group MUST be endorsing the particular canidate. Hearing these rude artists like Heart bellyache because Sarah Pailin played their songs makes me never want to listen to them again.
I think Heart’s official statements on this topic are ludicrous. I don’t know why these political campaigns are supposed to get permission from these artists in order to use their songs. I don’t get permission to sing with their CD in my car. The bar down the street doesn’t get permission to play their single. The artist puts it out and it is fair game. And let’s not forget: THEY GET PAID EVERY TIME THEIR SONG IS PLAYED, so their whining and posturing is a overplayed. For all I know, they are making a stink so that their song will get played again on the news all day tomorrow.
And Kix said ‘I had nothing to do with it — that was their right.’ As long as the venues pay their performance fees they can play any song they want. They don’t need anyone’s permission.
Pepper – it’s not about getting paid for the song getting played. Its about people’s perceptions that the band playing the song represents the views of the party playing it (which in this case they DON’T). I think that Heart are perfectly within their rights to let the public know that they are not endorsing the party that is using their song. The legality about its usage is irrelevant. Its the representation that is the real issue. How would you like it if the party that you are opposed to, used a quote of yours, out of context, to help garner support? If you would like to argue that backround music is not important, than a party can easily pick a song by an artist that DOES agree with their views. OR find an artist that agrees with your views, and ask them to write a song specifically for your campaign. (But they won’t do that because no one will recognize that song.)
It is so sad that our country is in crisis right now and individuals are attacking music instead of issues. Our country is in the fight of its life over war, nuclear power, outsourcing jobs, economy, etc. We should be listening to the candidates rather than the music from CD’s or arguing over who’s right is it to play what music. Politics have and never will change unless we have individuals that are willing to stand up and say what they are willing to do for our Country, whether it hits a home run or hits a nerve with voters! All Candidates avoid response to questions that actually pinpoint their views. They are rarely truthful of their proposed policies. Not everyone sees things the same way and naturally Candidates have a tendency to want to stay popular. What we need is someone that will stand up and fight for what is best for our Country whether it makes them popular or causes controversy. We need answers on proposed policies, whether the answers are popular or not.
Republicans dancing to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck can be found here
Give me a break! typical right winger trying to re-write history. Bush had a Republican controlled congress his entire first term and part of his second. We now have 6% unemployment( which does not include people who have simply given up) high health care costs, depressed wages, outsourcing, etc. Bush has only accomplished driving this country further into the ground. McCain/Palin will be even worse.
Rachel: Anyone will be better than Bush, the consensus “Worst President Ever”. Of course, that’s not saying much, and I do believe Obama is MUCH better than McCain, who has very similar views a Bush. I just think Baby Boomers will have trouble voting for a black man. I really do.