IFC LIST MONTH: Top 20 Musical Moments in Politics (1-10)

By Sarah Scully on 07/15/2008

By Jim Shearer, Sarah Scully and Will Rabbe

The criteria for being a successful politician is pretty much the opposite of that for a musician: keeping your hair and dress neat, your nose clean, not saying controversial things, having no rhythm and perhaps most importantly, no visible groupies. As a result, the rare occasions when these two worlds intersect make for some highly entertaining moments...

1. Tricky Dick and The King (1970)
Elvis Presley meets with Richard Nixon in the White House. Elvis suggested that he be made a "Federal Agent-at-Large" in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and gave Nixon a Colt 45 pistol as a token of his admiration.

2. Folk You I Won't Do What You Tell Me (1960's)
Folk Music becomes a popular venue for political protest for Civil Rights and against the Vietnam War, most notably John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance"

3. Willy Gets A View of D.C. From High Up (1980)
Willy Nelson smoked marijuana on roof of White House during a visit with Jimmy Carter.

4. Rage Against the Machine Raging Against the Machine (2000)
In 2000, politically-minded-fire-starters, Rage Against the Machine, staged a massive concert across the street from the Democratic National Convention (Los Angeles) in protest of the two-party system. As frontman Zack De La Rocha took the stage, he proclaimed, "Brothers and sisters, our democracy has been hijacked! Our electoral freedom in this country is over, so long as it's controlled by corporations!" Although the concert sounded great and looked spectacular (especially with all the police in riot gear), it accomplished nothing more than remind people of how messy a two-party system can be--leading up to the most controversial and confusing Election Day in the history of this country. Sadly, Rage Against the Machine broke up a couple months later (sigh).

5. Bill Clinton's Sweet Sax (1992)
When you hear the name Bill Clinton, what's the first word that pops into your head? Cheeseburger? Cigar? How about saxophone? Amazingly, by simply playing this instrument on The Arsenio Hall Show, Bill Clinton gained "cool" points from young voters and eventually beat out George Bush in the 1992 Presidential Election.

6. Al and Tipper Gettin' Down (1993)
The "MTV-President," as some people referred to Bill Clinton, didn't seem so cool during his inauguration party, when Vice President, Al Gore, and wife Tipper, decided to feel the beat and dance to the music. Embracing their whiteness, Al and Tipper made Donny and Marie Osmond look like Ike and Tina Turner. The dancing was so awful, it was utterly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!

7. John Kerry and John Lennon (2004)
In an obvious attempt to win some "cool" points with the kids, presidential hopeful, John Kerry, tossed around a football at every campaign stop and even managed to pose for some pictures while snowboarding (totally rad, dude!). The coolest picture of all though, was one taken years earlier at an anti-war rally featuring Kerry and the late John Lennon. In an attempt to attract voters opposed to the war, Kerry made sure everyone saw this piece of music/political history. Coincidentally, Kerry was unable to win the state of Ohio, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which he needed to beat out George Bush for the Presidency.

8. Green Day's American Idiot (2004)
Leading up to 2004, many people thought Green Day had seen their best days pass them by. After recording a new album and losing the master, Green Day decided to start from scratch and write a concept album inspired by their favorite movie soundtracks and their contempt for a war-loving American Idiot. Though he's never mentioned by name, it's rather apparent that the "idiot" in question is none other than George W. Bush. The album sold boatloads, won multiple Grammys, put Green Day back on the map, and even drew praise from Bush's opponent in the 2004 Presidential Election, John Kerry (while appearing on The Late Show together, Kerry told the band that he liked their anti-George Bush song).

9. I've Got Politics, Babe (1988)
Cher's ex, Sonny Bono enters politics- becoming mayor of Palm Springs then congressman in 1994.

10. Country Clinton (1992)
Hillary Clinton references Country Music song in 60 Minutes Interview about her husband's philandering: I'm not sitting here, some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette.