"It's coming through a hole in the air; from those nights in Tiananmen Square It's coming from the feel that this ain't exactly real Or it's real, but it ain't exactly there. From the wars against disorder, from the sirens night and day, From the fires of the homeless, From the ashes of the gay: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A."
TV commercials are notorious for licensing songs that sound like they mean one thing, but really mean the opposite. Often, they sample an ironic line or chorus from the song and flip its meaning on its head. A classic is how Chevrolet used CCR/John Fogarty's "Fortunate Son" to patriotically taut its American-made, macho trucks, leaving out the signature line, "It ain't me." Heh.
But I never expected PBS's "Frontline" to co-opt, for a promo of its election coverage, Leonard Cohen's "Democracy."
The promo starts with the song's signature light melody, marching drum beat, and salutory harmonica (harmonica, right?). As I heard the familiar music play, sans lyrics, with stars-and-stripes imagery on the screen, I thought, "No ... no ... they didn't ... is this a satire?" as I fumbled to check what channel I was tuned to.
And sure enough, the lyrics only kicked in with Cohen growling the idealist but ironic chorus, "Democracy is coming / To the U.S.A."
I'd say Cohen's song isn't exactly an indictment of American democracy, but it's certainly an indictment of the way it functions now. It's a hopeful call for what we could be (do I hear Obama-style aspirations?) with frank acknowledgment of all our failings. Implicit in the message is that, despite our self-patting, proper democracy isn't really here yet.
Which, to me anyway, is not cause for flag-waving. (But maybe flag-waving includes an embrace of our flaws? Hmmm ... but flag-wavers don't usually strike me as thoroughly introspective about our country like that; they come off more as purely rah-for-the-home-team types: as if our flaws will magically fix themselves thanks to our innate greatness; or, when our flaws are a consideration, they always take a back seat to good ol' pride.)
Unless Frontline WAS being ironic, too, as it profiles the forces that influence our esteemed candidates. Or as a nod to fault-embracing "but it's the best we've got" patriotism.
If that's the case, if election night results show business as usual, I kindly request they sample Radiohead's "2+2=5" and serenade the polls with its blunt chorus: "Because ... You have not been / Paying attention / Paying attention / Paying attention..."
As you may have noticed, the site has changed. Sampa, the free-site host, did a version 2 of some sort.
Despite an FAQ that made it sound like allowing one's site to go through v.2 surgery would be okay, there were several flexibilities that surprisingly disappeared with the click of a button. (e.g. I cannot believe sidebars like this one are even narrower than before.)
And I'm told -- miraculously! -- that the conversion cannot be undone. Truth be told, I'm actually quite pissed. But free is free. Sampa has otherwise been good to me.
So I need to sort through site "features" to see how I can make do. Except that I don't have the time at the moment, in the middle of graduate classes and Lighthousehockey.com. (btw, I've removed that Lighthouse RSS feed so that you're not clogged with random Islanders hockey gibberish).
But I promise to touch up the accessories when I get a chance, and return to irregularly scheduled blogging.
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February, 2008