Breakout!

Bill Clinton made Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" his '92 presidential campaign theme. I still remember what Seventeen Magazine wrote about it in its eco-edition: it's a tribute to the era of radical changes, the flower generation, the swing to the other extreme of the pendulum. It's about saying out loud what you think and what you want. It's about trying everything. It's about revolution.

It's about the Vietnam War era.

Brilliant strategy, of course, since only in the previous year George Bush (Sr.) was at the peak of his popularity after the Persian Gulf War -- which many saw as a success in helping erase the Vietnam Syndromme. With a song from the Vietnam War era, not only did Clinton remind Americans about one of its most remembered foreign policy failures, but also portrayed himself as an agent of change. (And at the same time gave him justification for refusing to be sent to Vietnam).

Why not think about times to come,
And not about the things that you've done,
If your life was bad to you,
Just think what tomorrow will do.

Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don't stop, it'll soon be here,
It'll be, better than before,
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone.

That, a strong emphasis on economic issues (the catchy"It's the economy, stupid!"), the ability to take advantage of the fashion trend (back to '70s! With girls wearing bandanas, and long, frilly, flowery skirts combined with Doc Marts), and the charisma of course, he was all an irresistible package :).

What's the core issue of this year's presidential election?

SWITCH.

The American people are sick with the constant fear. With the list of casualties in Iraq. With feeling isolated and being the global enemy. With THE global warming. So there's gotta be a switch of the modes of conduct. Because it's been on the wrong path.

Heroes are those with supernatural power, but who are also very humane. Did you notice that "Heroes" come from different backgrounds? The message: multilateral course. Not a Rambo who singlehandedly terminates his foes.

So my pick for the perfect tune for '08 election campaign theme will be Swing Out Sister's "Breakout".

When situations never change
Tomorrow looks unsure
Don't leave your destiny to chance
What are you waiting for
The time has come to make your break
Breakout

Don't stop to ask
Now you've found a break to make at last
You've got to find a way
Say what you want to say
Breakout

A new way to repair the damage that has been done. A breakout. And a breakthrough. Hm. A theme for our country too?

And if you were a presidential candidate, what would be your theme song?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's a touching post, sist.

well, if you ask me, i'd choose the song yang juga menginspire pameran gw, hahaha (meskipun sebenernya itu talking about love):
UNBREAKABLE - Alicia keys

...we gotta stay tuned cuz there's more to see (Unbreakable!)
Through the technical difficulties
(Unbreakable!)
We might have to take a break
But ya'll know we'll be back next week
I'm say'n this love is unbreakable

We livin' our dreams...
We livin' our dreams...

-Fitri Mohan- said...

This will be my theme, Siti Nurhaliza "Seindah Biasa".


"Jangan pernah takut ku tinggalkan
Saat bintang tak mampu lagi berdendang
Saat malam menjadi terlalu dingin
Hingga pagi tak seindah biasanya

Takkan mungkin kita bertahan
Hidup dalam kesendirian
Panas terik hujan badai
Kita lalui bersama

Saat hilang arah tujuan
Kau tahu ke mana berjalan
Meski terang meski gelap
Kita lalui bersama

Ku tak bisa merubah yang telah terjadi,
Tapi aku akan menjanjikan yang terbaik."