Barnstorming '16 (the Emperor has no clothes)

I have always believed that the most appropriate platform for any politician regardless of national origin or political affiliation has been on the stage…not giving a speech, but instead belting out a torch song, complete with all the pyrotechnics, amplification and grandeur that would make any over-budget music video, theatrical or movie production embarrassingly pale in comparison. When you stop to think about it, the modern "pop" song, and political campaign speech are basically from the same core. Whether joyous celebration or cold, sharp lamentation, the modern pop song can sometimes be used to convey emotion--whether underneath the surface, or viscerally bare. From sarcasm to sincerity, sometimes the pop song can be a pure passionate plea or raison d'etre. Even with pop songs that follow a quirkier path, the core can still overflow with emotion. Much to the same degree, the campaign speech is built in the same vein. The desire to capture hearts and minds simmers within campaign pleas, promises, and warped flirtation during the election season. Regardless of what a politician decides to do the morning after, at least for that special moment in time, their focus is to woo and serenade their constituents-in-waiting. Juggling empathy and determinism in a nice package most suitable for the spectrum of coveted slivers in contemporary media--sound bites, ads, tweets, GIFs , etc.. The candidate will bleed an array of punchy persuasions of political savvy in exchange for no more than our complete devotion to their political vision, all neatly wrapped in a ballot. Once “performance reality television” slithered onto our screens and into our synapses, the common ground between the love song and campaign speech has become even stronger. Now, we live in an age where the idea of reality has become as skewed many times as there are channels to broadcast programming. 2016 has become somewhat of a dark beacon of what all this programming has done to us on practically every level that we receive information, and even to the information itself. But let me leave the dystopian view aside at least for now...

In this age of the talent show as ultimate sport/entertainment, where the "(Fill in The Blank) Idol" format attempts to dictate how the masses should be occupying all five of their senses (maybe six), it only stands to reason that political campaigns on every level should just fully embrace this format as well. If these individuals want to spend our time spilling or spinning their blood and guts stories on why they are the right choice, perhaps they should truly spill out their hearts and minds in song. Sure, there is a sheen that is placed on the visage and the cadence of these men and women begging for our attention. That sheen is most likely made from the same ingredients from that of today's pop stars. Not unlike the mission of a pop music Svengali, the challenge of a campaign manager to stuff all that passion (and ulterior motives) neatly in a cohesive, enticing glaze is not for the faint of heart. The task of making the raw message an appetizing and easily digestible anthem for the masses yet with just enough punch to leave them a little affected must have side-effects. Yet, even once the masses have become hypnotized, how many of those raw materials have become diluted, how much water has bloated the pure message. Refined song for the masses to swoon over, yes. Victory. But what if these public servants were able to spread their message, purely unadulterated, with all the elements--blood and guts, venom and verve, pure passion. Throughout the gradual chaos and the slow horror of the 2016 campaign, we have so far come the closest yet to seeing some of these servants pull straight from the raw materials and burn--brightly, disastrously, with resonance and dissonance. I've always been intrigued by the decisions of politicians to co-opt pre-recorded music to use as their campaign anthems, and even more, the choice of songs that many have used. Beyond the obvious issues, many past choices have only seemed to highlight major acts of pure ignorance on part of the politician and/or their campaign team. Don't people read lyrics?!!? Even more curious, too many politicians have played it safe with their song choices, even if their campaign and their speeches may have had more bite.

Ironically, this past election has revealed both the bilious and inspirational, from the campaign speeches and rallies to the contemptuous debates. In the recognition of the pure visceral edge of the 2016 U.S. Presidential campaign, election--and its rude awakenings, I wonder what may have happened if politicians chose songs for their campaigns that were actually more daring and honest to a point of complete nakedness...with total sanctioning from the brilliant musicians and songwriters, of course.

My fellow citizens, I bring you the "Barnstorming '16" playlist, the result of such contemplation. There are so many songs, of course. Which ones would you nominate?