From: MHB@MITVMA.BITNET (Michael H. Bloom)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Subject: Presidential music
Date: 16 Dec 92 17:45:06 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU

From:         Scott Hammer <SCOTH@WMVM1.CC.WM.EDU>
Subject:      President-elect Clinton fails the ALLMUSIC taste test

> On NPR's _Morning Edition_ this morning, there was a story about President-
> elect Clinton's leisure-time activities.  The two musicians (aside from
> Elvis) who were mentioned as current Clinton favorites were Michael Bolton
> and Kenny G.
>
> Yuck!
>
> Clearly, Clinton's taste in music does not measure up to ALLMUSIC's high
> standards.  What's a liberal ALLMUSICer to do?

I agree completely. I know he likes to cast himself as a consensus builder;
maybe he does it by anaesthetizing his opponents.

On the other hand, consider what the musical life of Arkansas is like--
remember Black Oak? :-) The only other musically significant Arkansas export
I can recall is the Klipschorn, made in the town of Hope.

> P.S. In a recent story in the _Boston Globe_ about rumors that the Grateful
>      Dead would be playing at the inauguration, Jerry Garcia said "Al and
>      Tipper came to a show the last time we were in Washington.  They seem
>      like real nice people -- a nice family.  We made every effort not to
>      frighten them."

Let's tell Tipper about the suggestive lyrics in "Sugar Magnolia."

From:         Leonard Watkins <ISTS024@UABDPO.BITNET>

> And just think the conservatives had Lee Atwater a Blues Man, he even shared
> the stage with B.B. King....Boy did we screw up.......:-).......L.W.

I believe the consensus was that he was faux blues. I preferred his deathbed
repentance-- he did American politics grevious harm.

From:         Kimberly Wasilewski <ST92CPO6@DUVM.BITNET>

> Even if President-elect Clinton likes differen't music, which is really that
> bad.  I mean did amyone ever ask Pres. Bush what he listens to...talk about
> yuk

Granted Presidential musical taste has generally been pretty embarrassing--
remember Nixon playing piano?-- I specifically hate the thought of the yuppie
demographic that Clinton represents (and that I at the age of 39 am assumed to
fall into) being best served by Bolton and G.

And what does Bush listen to? (Certainly not Barbara.)

> I mean, after you get by Michael Bolton's hair, he is a very good singer.  I
> think.  What do you think a 40 or so man would listen to....Bobby Brown or
> Extreme?  Get with it. I don't think he choices were that bad.

Why do you think those are the only choices? Get with it yourself!

From:         crispen <crispen@EFFTOO.BOEING.COM>

> Are you so willing to believe that people of certain ages should
> like certain music that you'll put in a pre-paid order for the
> complete works of Lawrence Welk to be delivered to you on your
> 50th birthday?  Have *you* stopped listening to new music?

I'll be 40 in three months. I still listen to preposterous noisy raucous shit
that doesn't have a prayer of being played on the radio or MTV. I have every
expectation of being the guy in the nursing home that nobody wants to room
with because of my awesome collection of post-post-post-punk holographic
memory digital storage devices, whatever they're called at the time.

> Sorry, but I think the PresElect's choices suck, too.  Of course
> anyone who gets to be President has got to be so monomaniacally
> interested in politics that he hasn't got that much time to educate
> him/herself musically.

No, this isn't quite true. The last Southern democratic governor that got to
be president was a Dylan and Allmans fan, and invited Cecil Taylor to play
at the White House. (Taylor played a 5 minute set.)

From:         David Malbuff <SPGDAM@UCCVMA.BITNET>

> What a great idea! Are we set for the Allmusic Presidential Inauguration
> Compilation '93, then? Just think of the great stuff we could send him.
> We could even set up a tape just for Tipper. I think this idea has great
> potential, folks. Reach for the stars. I mean, c'mon, who else is gonna
> turn this guy on to some decent music? And who could do it better than the
> ALLMUSIC All-Stars? Well, are we ready to serve our country and our President?
> I've got my tape deck primed and ready!

Robert Wyatt, "United States of Amnesia," from _Old Rottenhat_
Dead Kennedys, "United States of Corruption," from _Frankenchrist_
Fela ? Kuti (I'm not even gonna try to spell it), "I.T.T." from _Original
     _Sufferhead_

And, as a special tribute to the outgoing administration:

Naked City, "Fuck the Facts," from _Torture Garden_
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