Posted on 02/19/2008 1:27:32 PM PST by The Pack Knight
APPLETON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Would Abba take a chance on him? Republican presidential front-runner John McCain is not so sure and said he opted against playing the 1977 hit "Take a Chance on Me" by the Swedish group at his campaign rallies because of licensing and other concerns.
"It's more difficult to play 'let's take a chance on me' than I thought," the four-term Arizona senator told reporters aboard his campaign plane.
"It gets expensive in a big hurry and if you're not careful you can alienate some Swedes," he joked. "If word gets out to Stockholm that we're using Abba music, then there'll be a worsening in U.S.-Swedish relations."
The hit disco song, which begins "If you change your mind, I'm the first in line," could sum up McCain's courtship of the powerful conservative wing of the Republican Party.
Some conservative Republicans distrust McCain because of his moderate stances on illegal immigration and other issues. Getting their votes in November's election to succeed President George W. Bush is one of McCain's top challenges.
Popular music and hit songs are common on the campaign trail. Candidates use them to pump up crowds before they take the stage, and to subtly reinforce campaign messages. But they occasionally get a candidate in trouble.
McCain's Republican rival, Mike Huckabee, found that out last week when the founder and songwriter of the rock band Boston claimed his 1970s hit "More Than a Feeling" was being used by the former Baptist preacher without his permission.
McCain said he also ran into problems while using the soundtrack from the 1976 Hollywood movie "Rocky."
After playing the anthemic horns of the "Rocky" theme song at his rallies, the owner of the song's copyright telephoned the McCain campaign to politely complain it was being used without permission, McCain said.
"It wasn't a formal complaint or a letter. Someone just called on the phone and said 'Hey, that's our property,"' he said.
If the Republicans wanted to play “Ode to Joy” they’d get a call from someone claiming to be Beethoven to knock it off.
Playing Abba would be more reason not to vote for this a-hole.
At first, cursory glance at the title, I was wondering when Mahmud Abbas decided to run for president.
Theme songs.
It makes me wonder. How long can such an unserious nation last?
"SLICHA???"
“Take a Chance on Me” as a campaign song?
Sheese.
Gimme Gimme Gimme a Man After Midnight, for Hillary.
I Have a Dream or We’re all Following the Pied Piper, for Obama.
Maybe Ides of March can tour with him. All the kids love the funk-rock sound of “Vehicle”.
The only thing worse than having an affair with John McCain would be realizing I was married to him while having an affair with him.
Weird Al has a song called “you’re sort of everything I ever wanted.” Maybe McCain can use that. Switch the gender and make it about voting instead of romance, and conservatives could relate in their feelings about McCain:
“Oh, I couldn’t live a single day without you
Actually, on second thought, well, I suppose I could
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, honey, you’re the greatest
Well, at any rate, I guess you’re...pretty good
Now, it seems to me I’m relatively lucky
I know I probably couldn’t ask for too much more
I honestly can say you’re an above-average lady
You’re almost just what I’ve been looking for
You’re sort of everything I ever wanted
You’re not perfect, but I love you anyhow
You’re the woman that I’ve always dreamed of
Well, not really...but you’re good enough for now
You’re pretty close to what I’ve always hoped for
That’s why my love for you is fairly strong
And I swear I’m never gonna leave you, darlin’
At least ‘til something better comes along
‘Cause you’re sort of everything I ever wanted
You’re not perfect, but I love you anyhow
You’re the woman that I’ve always dreamed of
Well, not really...but you’re good enough for now
No, not really...but you’re good enough for now”
Maybe he can get something appropriate from Led Zeppelin.
That's the media's definition of moderate.
His daughter Meghan posts regular playlists on her blog. He should let her handle the music:
http://www.mccainblogette.com/docs/playlist/
John McCain prefers "Everybody Loves A Clown", by Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
"They all laugh when they say me coming,
But you don’t laugh; you just go home running.
Everybody loves a clown, so why can’t you?
A clown has feelings too."
No I'm not a fan. But those gals were so yummy looking.
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