Music to Rock the Election

If you're like me, you're starting to think about what you might do on election night 2008. One thing you might do is go to or host an election watch party. Thing is, talking heads and video clips can get pretty boring. And lets face it, it's the same group of pundits you've been watching for a year or more. So, you might want some music to help you enjoy the evening.


Most of what you want to see about the election will be the vote tallies, who is winning what state, popular vote, polling results, etc. Guess what? You don't need the sound to get that. It's all visual. So, turn down the sound of the TV and get your iPod going with some appropriate selection of tunes.


And this is another thing I've been thinking about. What songs should an election party have. Well, certainly take into account your friends' tastes, but for my crew it's rock and roll. For those sharing similar tastes, here are three lists for election eve I put together...


BEFORE A WINNER IS CALLED
As you watch the results come in, list #1 is songs that keep you and your friends in an upbeat and appropriate "up the establishment" mood...but still positive on the whole thing.

• MC5 - Kick Out the Jams
  
• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Generation
  
• Carbon/Silicon - The Network is Going Down
  
• The Clash - Revolution Rock
  
• Green Day - American Idiot
  
• Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power
  
• Joe Strummer - Johnny Appleseed
  
• Manic Street Preachers - Found that Soul
  
• Morrissey - In the Future When All is Well
  
• Muse - Time Is Running Out
  
• Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Grey Cell Green
  
• Oingo Boingo - Controller
  
• The Professionals - Kick Down the Doors
  
• R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
  
• Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man
  
• Sex Pistols - Liar
  
• Sugar - Changes
  
• Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
  
• Weezer - Possibilities

IF OBAMA WINS
If Obama wins, you're gonna want to celebrate. Below is a list to help you out. McCain fans reading this need to go somewhere else to find your fix.

• Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
  
• Blur - Song 2
  
• Bob Marley - Coming In From the Cold
  
• Social Distortion - Far Behind
  
• The Clash - Lets Go Crazy
• Elvis Costello - Pump It Up
• The Jesus & Mary Chain - Coast to Coast
• The La's - There She Goes
• The Lashes - Yesterday Feels Like A Year
• Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll
• Manic Street Preachers - Unstoppable Salvation
• The Pixies - Here Comes Your Man
• Radio 4 - Absolute Affirmation
• Rolling Stones - Rip This Joint
• Public Image Limited - FFF (Farewell my Fair weather Friend)
• U2 - Beautiful Day
• The Who - Baba O'Riley

IF McCAIN WINS (or there's no result)
Now, if McCain wins, you're gonna be pissed off and in no mood to feel optimistic about much of anything. Same goes if the race is not over on election day...we all know where that will end up. Well, rock is pretty good at communicating angst if you hadn't noticed. So, list #3 is custom built for this scenario...filling the bill that will be your rage, dissapointment and resignation that the bad guys stole another one:

• AC/DC - Highway to Hell
  
• Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
  
• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Kill the U.S. Government
  
• Carbon/Silicon - What the Fuck?
  
• The Clash - Know Your Rights
• The Enemy - Away From Here
• Green Day - Chump
• The Hives - See Through Head
• Manic Street Preachers - Democracy Coma
• Morrissey - America is Not the World
• Nirvana - Negative Creep
  
• Placebo - You Don't Care About Us
• Jarvis Cocker - Running the World
• Radiohead - Let Down
• The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
• Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
• The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
• The Strokes - The Way It Is

So there you go. Three lists to get you started. Add your own for a full night's entertainment.