Today's the day that President Obama will attempt to share a "teachable moment" with Sgt. James Crowley and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. I'm not sure what food and beverage will be served -- I'll leave that up to the White House Mess. But we all know there's nothing like some good tunes to really set the right mood.
In order to avoid any awkward teachable moments, I've intentionally left off some more provocative police songs from N.W.A. or Body Count, and even "I Shot The Sheriff" by Bob Marley & The Wailers and "Piggies" by those dangerous gangsta rockers The Beatles.
So here's my playlist for a "Teachable Moment." Please reply with your far more arresting ideas for some songs to really get this potentially uncomfortable party of three started.
"Police On My Back" - The Clash
"State Trooper" - Bruce Springsteen
"Gee, Office Krupke" - West Side Story
"Sound Of Da Police" - KRS-One
"Dream Police" - Cheap Trick
"Don't Stand So Close To Me" - The Police
"Everyday People" - Sly & The Family Stone
"Karma Police" - Radiohead
"Build Your Own Prison" - The Boxmasters
"Let's Stay Together" - Al Green
"Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley
"Authority Song" - John Mellencamp
"I Fought The Law" - The Bobby Fuller Four
And let's not forget "Mr. Policeman." Who's that one by, you ask? Rick James, bitch.