As clever as playing Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” while Michelle Obama leaves the stage after her speech at the Democratic National Convention seems, considering the title, perhaps it would be worth actually listening to the song’s lyrics for a bit and realizing the “she” referenced the lyrics is a baby. The line “Less than one minute old” might be the tipoff–plus I doubt Michelle Obama would care to be referred to as “precious.” [Salon]
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Please tell me I was the only one who witnessed an army of middle-aged people awkwardly boogieing to ‘Celebration’ by Kool & the Gang. And these people wonder why it’s been 12 years since they won an election, my God.
@Lax Danja House:
They should just get Barack to make a playlist or something for each day of the convention. I hear he knows what’s up on the 1’s and 2’s. Or would that be too off-putting for some voters?
OMG, the song’s about a baby? What a story…zzzzzzzzzz….
@AquaLung: You’re still here?
@Chris Molanphy: I seriously never get tired of “Jammin on the One” jokes.
They need to play this before Obama goes on:
Although I did hear some James Brown “Say It Loud” going on from the floor during NPR’s coverage last night…
@Clevertrousers: The house band played “Living in America,” which reminded me of that Rocky IV scene where Brown fronts an obscenely tacky Vegas show to the Soviets’ amusement.
FWIW, they played “I Was Made to Love Her” as Michelle Obama came out.
I sort of thought “Isn’t She Lovely” might have been a nod to M&B’s young daughters. Both were less bizarre and cheesy than the band repeating the chorus of “Still the One” over and over and over during Ted Kennedy’s entrance and exit.
Boy, the DNC could get a little more hip with their music, though, no?
I’ve taken note of several instances during the primaries when Hillary Clinton would take the stage to U2’s City of Blinding Lights. Appropriate for a prom queen maybe, though lyrically it’s still not so flattering ["Oh you look so beautiful tonight/In the city of blinding lights"]. It’s another thing when you’re running for the highest office in the land.
@ragandboneshop: I sort of thought “Isn’t She Lovely” might have been a nod to M&B’s young daughters.
Me, too - Sasha looked so much last night like a vintage Keshia Knight Pulliam that I figured they were just trying to maintain a friendly, Cosby Show vibe with that song choice.
Of course, if they wanted to do that, they probably should’ve played that other Stevie classic, “Jammin’ on the One”:
@Chris Molanphy: Of course, if they wanted to do that, they probably should’ve played that other Stevie classic, “Jammin’ on the One”
YES!
These things have to be graded on a curve. Ronald Reagan’s use of “Born in the USA” is still the gold standard for tin-eared song selection.
Or, as the case always seems to be, political campaigns take every song title at face value.
@ragandboneshop: I think “Isn’t She Lovely” is a great song for a mother; it was probably not just for Michelle.
@brasstax: I’ve never heard that from Hillary’s campaign, but I heard it AT an Obama event I went to, and I think Edwards used it, too. If you recognize it’s a song that’s actually about renewing America’s promise (sorry, didn’t mean to spill the catchphrase for tonight) after 9/11, I think it becomes a better choice. Plus, sonically, it’s one of my favorite U2 songs.
I still think it’ll be dope if Hillary Clinton comes out tonight with this track playing in the background:
But wait - the worst had to be the horrifically goony version of “Still the One” being performed as Edward Kennedy left the stage. That was pretty damn embarrassing.