Playlist: HELLection Season
After a year’s worth of campaigning, mudslinging, and celebrity keynotes directed at party members and actual chairs alike, it’s finally here: Election season 2012.
As someone working for a campaign and two nonprofits, I’ve accrued a lot of papercuts from voter registration forms in the past eight months. That number is second only to the number of migraines I’ve experienced after yelling about reproductive rights, voter IDs and immigration reform. Whether you’re a voter, an organizer or a staffer, you’re probably feeling the burnout, too. Just taking a peek at the hundreds of millions spent on this year’s presidential campaigns is exhausting.
At the same time, there have been fulfilling moments this election year. Remember when Obama came out in support of gay marriage in May? Of course you do. What about when he schooled Todd Akin on rape last month? Yep. And when he developed a penchant for holding mohawked babies? Mhm.
Presidential fangirling aside, it’s the little things we do in the days leading up to an election that are often the most worthwhile. Volunteering, registering someone to vote or just explaining the issues to a curious bystander; that’s the powerful stuff. And in a re-election year, they could not be more important.
If you also find yourself shifting between states of “Fuck this, I’m moving to Canada and I’m taking all of the undocumented folks with me! ” and “I fucking love ‘Merica and apple pie,” this playlist is for you.
Gird your loins. It’s Hellection season.
HELLection Season
[STREAM THE PLAYLIST HERE]
Talkin ‘Bout A Revolution – Tracy Chapman
Hollywood – Marina and The Diamonds
Washington Bullets – The Clash
Zombie – The Cranberries
America – K’Naan (Featuring Mos Def and Chali 2NA)
Keep On Livin’ – Le Tigre
Words I Never Said – Lupe Fiasco (Featuring Skylar Grey)
Dear Mr. President – P!nk (Featuring the Indigo Girls)
Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire
They Don’t Care About Us – Michael Jackson
Truth No. 2 – The Dixie Chicks
Why – Jadakiss
All These Things I’ve Done – The Killers
Fortunate Son – Pearl Jam (Creedance Clearwater Revival)
People Have The Power – Patti Smith
Beautiful Struggle – Talib Kweli
Succexy – Metric
Forgive Them Father – Lauryn Hill
Respect – Aretha Franklin
My Generation– The Who
Tell me your favorite election related tracks below.
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone on the team will make it for you.