The Vinyl Community's Mazzy's new "Cease & Desist" YouTube video.


Norman Maslov (Mazzy) has developed quite a following amongst the Vinyl Community, with a subscriber base of over 5,000. And with good reason: He has a nice LP and CD music library, a good knowledge of the music the discs contain and the artists responsible, and is himself an interesting, entertaining fella. For a good time, check them out.

His newest video was made in honor of the current political situation in The U.S.A., and concerns the use of songs by a guy who will very soon be leaving his current residence (though he and many of his "slower" fans have yet to accept that fact). In the video, Mazzy cites a number of songs this individual and his minions have used at rallies, etc., songs for which the copywrite holders have issued to the individual Cease & Desist orders. They include the following:


- The Beatles: "Here Comes The Sun" (written by George Harrison). McCartney suggested an alternative: "Beware Of Darkness" (on a GH solo album). Funny, ay? ;-)

- Bruce Springsteen: "Born In The U.S.A.". Used by Ronald Reagan as well, who also didn’t "get" the lyrics.

- Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Fortunate Son". Ironic, hmm?

- Elton John: "Rocket Man".

- Prince: "Purple Rain".

- The Rolling Stones: "You Can’t Always Get What You Want".

- Tom Petty: "I Won’t Back Down". Yeah, we know.

- REM: "It’s The End Of The World As We Know It". Fortunately, not as much so as a second term would have meant.

- Phil Collins: "In The Air Tonight".

- The Village People: "Macho Man".


After that, Mazzy offers a selection of alternative songs, ones with titles more appropriate to said individual:


- The Beatles: "I’m A Loser".

- Neil Innes (The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Rutles): "How Sweet To Be An Idiot". Harsh ;-)

- The Knickerbockers: "Lies". A great song, by the way.

- The Smiths: "Big Mouth Strikes Again", "Unlovable", and "Half A Person". The latter being in this context generous.

- Dan Hicks: "How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away", "Cheaters Don’t Win".

- John Lennon: "How Do You Sleep At Night?" (Answer: On the big pile of money he swindled his "marks" out of), "Crippled Inside", and "Gimme Some Truth" (don’t hold your breathe).

- Bob Dylan: "Neighborhood Bully".

- The Kinks: "He’s Evil".

- And finally and most fittingly: Julie London: "Adios".


Feel free to offer your own nominations!

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I always thought that then candidate Trump's use of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" was a masterstroke.  Positioning himself as the "you get what you need" persona was also one of the few self reflected statements he's publicly made.  Actually, his dark vision of the country is better reflected by "Gimme Shelter".   And to wrap up the Rolling Stones and politics, some lyrics from "Salt Of the Earth":
Raise your glass to the hard working people
Let's drink to the uncounted heads
Let's think of the wavering millions
Who needs leading, but get gamblers instead

Spare a thought for the stay-at-home voter
His empty eyes gaze at strange beauty shows
And a parade of the gray suited grafters
A choice of cancer or polio

When I look into the faceless crowd
A swirling mass of grays and black and white
They don't look real to me
Or don't they look so strange

"Liar" written by Russ Ballard
"Your So Vein" Carly Simon
"Hit the Road Jack"

Audiogon is also a music site. This thread is about songs used in a political manner. Anyone not wanting to read about a video addressing that topic is free to not do so. Ah, there’s a song right there: "Freedom" by Richie Havens (performed live in a movie I don’t care for: Woodstock. I know, I know; this is an audio site. No one gives a damn about my views on movies ;-).

Excellent nominations @slaw!