We’re a little under one month until Election Day (Nov. 8—don’t forget) and unless you’ve been blissfully unaware of the madness that’s been raging between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, you know it’s been a particularly contentious couple of months leading up to this moment.
Created by writer Dave Eggers—responsible for 2012’s 90 Days, 90 Reasons in support of President Obama’s re-election campaign—30 Days, 30 Songs is a project that will release new music by one of 30 different artists every day leading up to Nov. 8 in an attempt to convince voters to not vote for Trump. There’s nothing subtle about this mission, folks.
We’ll be ranking the songs each day as they get released, so check back for more beautiful but terrible lyrical offerings to the election gods.
1) “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack [remix]” by Ledinsky
You’ve been unseated as the best, Death Cab. But honestly, how can you not make this song No. 1 with a title like that.
2) “Million Dollar Loan” by Death Cab for Cutie
Nobody can really bring home how depressing this election season has been like good ol’ Death Cab, right? This song speaks to my emo 14-year-old soul while also reminding current-me of the dumpster fire state of current affairs.
3) “Same Old Lie” by Jim James
This song’s lyrics are a throwback to the anti-Vietnam anthems of the mid-’60s and ’70s. “Now who’s getting cheated out? You best believe it’s the silent majority and if you don’t vote it’s on you—not on me,” precedes lines like “Guns drawn, faces long, how much killing can be done?” Jim James (yes, James James would be his actual name) wants America to know just how much is at stake, and he’s not above catastrophizing to get it done.
4) “With Love, From Russia” by Bhi Bhiman
This treasure from Bhi Bhiman accurately sums up just how bizarre this election cycle has been. “With Love, From Russia” focuses on the strange are they/aren’t they love affair between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, putting a weird and light-hearted spin on a troubling time in American politics.
5) “Demagogue” by Franz Ferdinand
Perhaps the best line in this entire song is, “Those tiny vulgar fingers on the nuclear bomb.”
6) “Can’t You Tell” by Aimee Mann
With lyrics like “Isn’t anybody going to stop me? I don’t want this job. … Can’t you tell I’m unwell?,” Mann isn’t beating around any bushes here. A soothing song that will almost make you forget how bizarre the last two presidential debates were, “Can’t You Tell” doesn’t really capture the soul-crushing despair of the political atmosphere at hand, but it’s a solid offering nonetheless.
7) “Backwards Blues” by Adia Victoria
The most solemn of the songs so far, especially if the listener has a firm grasp on American history.
8) “Trump Is on Your Side” by Moby and the Homeland Choir
The scariest part is some of this irony might go over peoples’ heads.
9) “The Temptation of Adam [live]” by Josh Ritter
This song wasn’t originally written about Trump—it was released during George W. Bush’s administration—but the live version is kind of chilling.
10) “Before You Vote” by Thao
Starting off with, “OK, babe, you proved your point. No need to take it to November. Tiny-minded man of few syllables and a temper,” seems like Thao is getting it all out there early. But, nope. It gets more intense from there.
11) “Are These My Jets” by EL VY
This video has an accompanying game, but other than that it’s a bit too “out there” to really make any sort of point. I mean, it includes lyrics about “walrus penis jewelry.” Take that as you will.
12) “World Leader Pretend [live]” by R.E.M.
Also not a new song, but you can’t deny that it fits given the current state of affairs in the U.S. “This is my mistake, let me make it good,” is hopefully not something we’ll be saying come Nov. 8.
13) “Little Failure” by Moby and the Void Pacific Choir
Did we need two Moby songs back to back? Good thing this is less a song as it is just a terrifying video that will probably stress you out.
Check back for more songs as they’re released.
@shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com
