Tag: Election

Sufjan Stevens Reinterprets “The Star-Spangled Banner”

sufjan stevens silver and gold Chimesfreedom has previously discussed some of the different versions of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and now we can add a version by Sufjan Stevens who has reinterpreted the national anthem. It is a new re-working of the song, changing the melody and some of the lyrics. Stevens posted the song last night before the election results, but it is not a celebration song: “And the flag marked with blood with the blood of our hands / And our hands marked with death, with the blood of a man.” Check it out.

As part of his upcoming Christmas season tour, Stevens will release a holiday-music EP box Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas on November 13. I know it is a little early for holiday music, but in case you want to check out one of the songs from the upcoming CD, check out his take on “Angels We Have Heard on High.”


What do you think of the way Sufjan Stevens reinterprets “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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  • If a Song Could Be President
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    If a Song Could Be President

    After an exciting election yesterday, congratulations to everyone who participated, including everyone who voted, all of the candidates for state offices, Gov. Mitt Romney, and Pres. Barack Obama. As the president begins his second term in office and all the elected officials begin the difficult work of governing, may we hope that all of our representatives learn a thing or two from music. Unfortunately, a song cannot be president, but what if it could? In this performance, the Ohio band Over the Rhine imagines what the world might be like.

    We’d vote for a melody,
    Pass it around on an MP3;
    All our best foreign policy,
    Would be built on harmony.

    Over the Rhine’s performance of their song “If a Song Could Be President” above is at the WUTK Radio studio where they appeared before a May 28, 2008 show in Knoxville Tennessee. I would vote for any song that imagines a better world while giving roles to John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Patsy Cline.

    (Thanks to mh for reminding me of this song.)

    What is your favorite song about politics? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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  • The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris
  • Vote Today: This Is Our Country

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Vote Today: This Is Our Country

    ballot box vote Happy election day for our U.S. readers. While we all often rightfully dabble in cynicism about politics most days of the year, for today, may we all feel the joy of going with members of our communities to cast a ballot. Even as the commentators divide the states between Pres. Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney and even as they call some states “red states” and others “blue states,” may we remember that every state has a large number of people who vote for each candidate. The supporters of “that other candidate” are your neighbors, your teachers, your fire fighters, and the wonderful hurricane relief workers we have seen so much of here in the northeast the last week.

    So may we remember that others have a right to disagree with us and vote for someone else. It is not my country, or your country. This is our country. May we make it until the polls close to start complaining again and fulfilling our job to be a check on our representatives. And may I forget for the next few minutes that this catchy song by John Mellencamp was used in a truck commercial and just enjoy it.

    The dream is still alive,
    Some day it will come true;
    And this country it belongs
    To folks like me and you;
    So let the voice of freedom
    Sing out through this land;
    This is our country.

    From the east coast,
    To the west coast,
    Down the Dixie Highway,
    Back home,
    This is our country.

    Do you remember when you first voted? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Visits Presidential Debate

    In case you missed it on Conan, our funny video of the week is Triumph the Insult Comic Dog’s appearance at the final presidential debate in Florida. Check it out.


    What’s your favorite part of the video? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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