Pink: War VS Pink: Blowjobs

Is there a single song out there that decries and regrets the human horror and global suffering caused by President Bill Clinton's blowjob, or for that matter any questioning Monica's technique? After all, if she couldn't get him to cum but just the once as has been "reported" then maybe all this was her fault.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Although, I wonder if she's given anyone a lap lick since then?

What I'm saying is there are an awful lot of people willing to er, come out and, um, release music critical of President George W. Bush and his politics. I think any explanation beyond "it's just the Hollywood liberals" would be useful, and indeed, as in the realm of journalism it has been made. The medium in both cases attracts certain people, it doesn't, usually, create them.

Pink is the latest to come out and play, voicing her dissent in a subtly-titled song called "Dear Mr. President." As a a whole it sounds better than its parts. An acoustic plea, and if you're going to plea, simple is best.

Basically she asks him whether he's proud of his accomplishments. It's a great thought exercise, but it comes across as plaintive and weak. Don't ask him, tell him he shouldn't be proud of XYZ, and your song is already a step above. It's your POV, so deliver it. "for example, how do you sleep while the rest of us cry" is aline in the song that doesn't make sense. One, clearly he sleeps and sleeps well. Second, the rest of us really isn't everyone else and really not many are crying.

The Indigo Girls are involved here, as well, which is unfortunate. Not because they're not talented beyond believe and a pleasure to listen to with or without music, but because Pink should be able to stand on her to deliver her message, not climb on the shoulders of proud and out Bush haters.

The second half of the song is better as it does get more specific, and goes beyond taking a stroll with the president.

Dear Mr President, were you a lonely boy? How can you say, no child is left behind, we're not dumb and we're not blind. They're all sitting in your cells while you pave the road to hell. what kind of father would take his own daughters rights away and what kind of father might hate his daughter if she were gay. .... You've come a long way, from whiskey and cocaine.

I still can't help but enjoy that "whiskey and coke" line, and the following points that he doesn't know anything about hard work and the working poor.

Tori Amos also penned and performed a mercifully short song called, "Yo George." But it is not her shining moment. It's works because it brings other literary constructs into the piece, but nevertheless it's simplistic in the wrong ways. Even geniuses fart.

Dj Drama's and Lil Wayne's "Georgia Bush" decries his performance in New Orleans from a very personal point of view: "This song dedicated to the one with the suit. Thick white skin, his eyes bright blue. ... Look at all the bullshit we've been through, had our niggers sitting on top their roofs. ... I know people that died in that pool. i know people that died in those schools. Now what is a survivor to do, got no trailer, you gotta move. ..."

With the background of Ray Charles', "Georgia" it's an elegant presentation of difficult questions: "We're from a town where everybody drowned. everybody died but baby I'm still praying witcha."

In a very real sense unless your song goes beyond platitudes, delving into the world of politics cheapens the effort and the artist. I separate world of politics from getting involved in certain issues and advocating for them. Most anti-war songs sound trite without specifics, and sound obvious and trite even with specifics. It's well-trod ground that doesn't often translate well in the realm of music. There are obvious exceptions.

No one I've come into contact with seems to remember The Rolling Stones song "High Wire" that came out in the immediate aftermath of the first war in Iraq. I can't recall exactly what it said so I won't pontificate, but I have the impression it lamented the killing on a massive scale. That was a different war, and I don't read or hear too many (read: can't think of any) people putting up the argument today that it was.

Politics is all about platitudes. Music is all about beatitude, and sadness can be beautiful art.