Fugees V. ABBA: McCain And Obama's Top Ten Songs

Blender gets both presidential candidates to name their top ten songs -- and has singer Randy Newman and DJ Girl Talk rate the choices. Barack Obama wins points for picking the Fugees -- but loses them for also choosing a song about himself. John McCain gets credit for picking two songs by ABBA.

Read both lists -- and the evaluations -- here.

Comments

[angelwax]

11:48 AM on 08/13/2008

"Dancing Queen"? hmmm, Maybe McCain is giving us a little insight as to who McCain really is.

[bookon]

09:49 AM on 08/13/2008

Charlie Crist turned him onto the ABBA... If you know what I mean...

[Mattyhorn]

09:32 AM on 08/13/2008

Is there any more telling example of McCain being out of touch than choosing 2 ABBA songs? Except the fact that none of his choices are more recent than the late-70s...? How out-of-touch can one person truly be?

Obama's choices are hip, eclectic and demonstrate a keen taste in diverse musical styles. He's so much cooler than Bill J. ever was - the nevertheless erudite professor who could still chat with his students once class was over. (McCain, by contrast, is the Dean of Discipline.)

How anyone under 35 could ever consider voting for McCain...I'll never understand.

[jcwtts1]

06:02 AM on 08/13/2008

can McCain work and Ipod?

[laborgrunt]

05:11 AM on 08/13/2008

I cringe at the the thought of how the wingnuts are going to try to use the lyrics from "Ready or Not" against Obama.

[TrueIndy08]

02:14 AM on 08/13/2008

READY OR NOT by the Fugees.... GREAT pick...

O is letting all these LOSERS know... ready or not, he will be your POTUS come Jan 09

[AllenD]

01:43 AM on 08/13/2008

Haha, I think I have a new nickname for Johnny "Dancing Queen" McSame!

[Triangle1]

01:09 AM on 08/13/2008

They both have Frank Sinatra and their lists. Odd. I know these are not made up because no self respecting person would admit to TWO Abba songs unless it were true. McCain likes Neil Diamond. This guy is starting to grow on me. I'm not sure about having a president whose top ten includes a song by will.i.am. http://mespace.wordpress.com

[MissDaphne]

12:31 AM on 08/13/2008

well, geez. I heard a story on AirAmerica today about how McCain's handlers are hiding his cell phone because he goes off message so much, calls folks for advice, tends to parrot the last thing he heard...
So I'm thinking the explanation for his list is he just watched Mamma Mia.

[timeforachangenow]

11:12 PM on 08/12/2008

personally I was thinkin that the "Big O's fav song was....8)

Loving you by Minnie Riperton...

except sung in the first person....8)

now that would be a sight to behold....8)

[319]

11:07 PM on 08/12/2008

Although I agree with J.Mac on a couple of his choices (Blue Bayou, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, classics) anyone who would choose one, let alone two, songs by ABBA, has poor taste and judgment.

Obama's choices are much more varied and show an appreciation for many different styles. His musical taste reflect his openness to different ideas. That shows a willingness for growth and wisdom.

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

07:13 PM on 08/12/2008

McCain doesn't strike me as a music fan - anymore than Cindy McCain struck me as someone that would be baking her favorite cookies and sharing the recipe.....

[LondonTownNY]

06:18 PM on 08/12/2008

Perhaps McCain posing as Ol Man River

Here we all work long the mississippi
Here we all work while the white folk play
Pullin them boats from the dawn till sunset
Gettin no rest till the judgment day

Dont look up and dont look down
You dont das make the boss man frown
Bend your knees and bow your head
And pull that rope until your dead

Let me go way from the mississippi
Let me go way from the white man boss
Show me that stream called the river jordan
Thats the old stream that I long to cross.

Ol man river, that ol man river
He dont say nothin, but he must know somethin
He just keeps rollin, he keeps on rollin along

He dont plant tatters, and he dont plant cotton
And them what plants em, are soon forgotten
But ol man river, just keeps rollin along

You and me, we sweat and strain
Body all achin and racked with pain
Tote that barge and lift that bail
You get a little drunk and you lands in jail

I gets weary, and sick of trying
Im tired of livin, but Im scared of dyin
But ol man river, he just keeps rolin along

[S1m0n]

09:55 PM on 08/12/2008

The 'Here we all work" opening has been radically bowlerised. The real lyric was (close to) "N-words all work..". If that's McCain's song, he's definitely not singing the politically correct version.

[319]

01:34 AM on 08/14/2008

Great points S1m0n.

bowdlerize |ˈbōdləˌrīz; ˈboud-| verb [ trans. ] remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), esp. with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective : [as adj. ] ( bowdlerized) a bowdlerized version of the story.

[MissDaphne]

12:36 AM on 08/13/2008

you gotta love oscar hammerstein. He also wrote the brilliant "you have to be taught" from South Pacific.
ahead of his time, and a lovely wordsmith.

[LondonTownNY]

06:16 PM on 08/12/2008

McCain's campaign song should be 'Jive Talkin' by the Bee Gees.

[beboy]

06:32 PM on 08/12/2008

It would be funnier hearing Brother Barry singing it.

[leftoflennon]

06:10 PM on 08/12/2008

this is really the PAST vs the FUTURE!