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Pearl Jam Ensures Clinton Victory With Obama Song

Alright, perhaps I'm biased: Pearl Jam have always bugged the crap out of me. Back in the grunge era (do I capitalize that?), I was a fan of almost all of the Seattle bands, and even 3rd-level grunge-rock like Alice in Chains and Screaming Trees landed in my vinyl collection. But I hated Pearl Jam: "Jeremy"'s warbling, maudlin self-righteousness and aimless melody grated on me like a Celine Dion ballad, and the highest I've ever rated any of their songs is "tolerable." However, the more I learned about Eddie Vedder and crew, the more I grew to have grudging respect for them; a radio show Vedder hosted in 1995 featured fantastic music, and the band's fight against Ticketmaster was admirable (if fruitless). I realized that I like what they like, just not what they make.

So I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that they've recorded an embarrassingly bad take on "Rock Around the Clock" in support of Obama called (shudder) "Rock Around Barack." Its simpering, smirking chorus of "We're gonna rock around Barack tonight" is so terrible I think I might have just blacked out after only the first 7 seconds of the thing, and when I woke up I was on the donation screen of Hillary Clinton's website.

With Romney out of the race (and the Mega-Tuesday primaries settling nothing), my excitement over the knock-down drag-out rumble on the Democratic side has suddenly turned to abject terror: I just want this thing settled already, I don't care how! Perhaps Pearl Jam are trying to help in their own perverted way: just like a bunch of really cool posters, a crew of aging hippies doing a Bill Haley cover for you can't be a good sign.

Comments

It's so cool to be contrary. Welcome to the ranks...

Posted by: Stevie on 02/07/08 at 7:32 PM Respond

You would really let this affect your vote?
That's irresponsible & immature thinking.

Is this the MotherJones for Kids version? This whole column is horrendous.

Posted by: nic on 02/08/08 at 8:37 AM Respond

Party Ben?

Is this the kids' section? This is the most immature & worhtless blog post I've read this entire campaign season.

I thought MotherJones had higher standards.

Posted by: nic on 02/08/08 at 10:44 AM Respond

Was this just bad satire or a lame attempt to skew Obama's reputation as a viable and legitimate candidate based entirely on the innocuous endorsement of a 90's band?

Posted by: david on 02/08/08 at 1:32 PM Respond

Pearl Jam still rocks our house on a regular basis. They have proven to be a genuine hard-working band, in it for the long-haul, that treats the fans right. Their admittedly terrible cover of a death-rock song for a benefit album has been one of their most requested singles ever. I predict your reaction will be a minority one.

Posted by: JC on 02/08/08 at 1:55 PM Respond

Party Ben is angry! Pearl Jam evolved from Jeremy a long, long time ago Ben. I hope the "Party" that is your writing evolves soon too.

Posted by: brianr on 02/08/08 at 2:07 PM Respond

Pearl Jam is right on in using 50's music - and/or music from all generations to support Obama. The music put out by Pearl Jam is well respected amongst many in the world and for "Party Ben" to refer to the members of Pearl Jam as "a crew of aging hippies" shows the writer's utter stupidity. All of the band members of Pearl Jam are in their late 30's early 40's to our knowledge. We are "aging hippies" and we are a lot older than that you silly prick. To be called a hippie one must be in his or her late 50's or 60's if you want to be precise. Pearl Jam band members are a tribute of goodness to their generation which I think is called "Generation X".
Pearl Ben needs a better education.

Posted by: Jim Boyette on 02/08/08 at 2:49 PM Respond

I had the same nauseous feeling when I heard Oprah was endorsing him...

Don't believe the hype...

Posted by: JJ on 02/08/08 at 3:20 PM Respond

That was easily the most faulty logic in one place I've seen in a long time. How does a mediocre band doing and awful cover change the politics or vision of the person the song is about. Seriously? If we get another band to write Hillary song, will you vote for McCain?

Posted by: cory on 02/08/08 at 3:22 PM Respond

For intelligent and high quality music about Obama, listen to "Eine Kleine Barackmusik" by Roy Zimmerman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu-c3VgHCUQ

Posted by: Gary L Green on 02/08/08 at 6:01 PM Respond

Is it really Pearl Jam when Eddie Vedder's not involved? Seriously. Is it? I don't care what "they" call it. Vedder has called some of his solo songs Pearl Jam when they aren't, but somehow that makes sense. This doesn't. How odd.

Forgetting that observation, since when is Alice and Chains considered a 3rd level band? From a critical and a cultural perspective (how much influence they had on other musicians) that's one of the dumber critical remark I've read about music from that time. It's dumber than Stone Gossard and the others Baracking Around The Clock. Do people actually take your criticisms of music seriously?

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not a rabid fan of Alice and Chains, I just understand their importance. When I read things like this, I have to wonder why people bother when they don't understand what they're hearing.

Posted by: lolita on 02/08/08 at 7:00 PM Respond

> I thought MotherJones had higher standards

Guess not!

Posted by: Party Ben on 02/08/08 at 7:20 PM Respond

Seems consistent with the other cheez fueling Obama's campaign.

Posted by: rkt on 02/08/08 at 8:46 PM Respond

You know a candidate is a fad when Pearl Jam is yammering about him.

Jezuz, what a bunch of low brow thinking, video obsessed trolls most Americans have turned out to be.

Obviously the last eight years of Bush have eaten whatever dead brain cells our youth have left and the old fogies are trying to "be cool" by pushing Obama.

David Corn is a kernel short of a full bag of popcorn.

'ats about it.

Posted by: RealityBabe on 02/09/08 at 12:16 AM Respond

Party Ben, I think you're really funny. MJ doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

Posted by: carrie on 02/11/08 at 5:21 AM Respond

Aging hippies? Don't you mean X-ers? The Who are aging hippies. Hm, yes this post (and even my comment) seem like a waste of time and space. Oh, well.

Posted by: Rosemary on 02/11/08 at 1:30 PM Respond

I agree, bad blog post, plus Alice In Chains kicks ass!

Posted by: Michael Z on 02/11/08 at 2:53 PM Respond

Get your facts right, not the entire band did this song. Eddie Vedder is not a part of this song. This song is creating awareness and gets a generation x out to vote that doesn't always show to the polls isn't that a good thing? You would let this change your vote are you 9 years old?

Posted by: pearl jam fan on 02/14/08 at 8:34 AM Respond