My last post got me thinking, what records would I give to various world leaders, when I'm in a position to be hanging out, you know, politicking? Have you noticed both Briony and I have leadership fantasies? This might be something worth addressing head on, but for now i'm going to embrace it..
Gordon Brown would get The Rakes - Capture/Release
Something upbeat but still 'gritty' (he likes Artic Monkeys, you know) for old 'Birthday-cake-in-the-rain' face... The Rakes are a cut above the rest of the UK entry level indie bands, they have songs about like, society and shit, whilst remaining slightly detached from the real issues, so pretty much a perfect fit for our very own Obama, the political equivalent of a greyscale bagpuss following a charmectomy.
Bush, Putin and Mugabe picks after the jump, plus pick your own!
George W Bush, I would give Wolves in the Throne Room - Diadem of 12 Stars
Bit of a less well known one here.. Some environmentally conscious black metal for George to ram that old Kyoto chestnut home. It's particularly bleak listening, Briony and I caught WITTR in San Franscisco, they spent twenty minutes getting the lights at the right level (i.e. as close to off as possible) before playing.
The band is well known for their "eco-spiritual vision" and Wikipedia tells me that WITTR strongly believe that traditional black metal should be seen as a jumping-off point in a process of continual spiritual growth, and not an end unto itself.
Uhh...Moreover, they live on a bloody farm, just like Bush, who's back to the ranch this week! It is often said that WITTR live "in a one room cabin in the woods with no contact with the outside world". They often try to set the record straight in interviews: "We don't live in caves and wear un-tanned animal hides," apparently. So they're not total neanderthals... but I'm sure Dubya could still get into it nonetheless.
Robert Mugabe would get Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
What?
Vladimir Putin would get a compilation of his favourite Любэ (Lyube) tracks
Cheating, perhaps, as we already know this band of rather portly Russian riff wizards (which includes an accordionist, two men both called Aleksey, plus Anatoliy the 'choral master') is a fave of Vlad's, but really, would you want to piss him off?
Barack Obama - JOURNEY'S GREATEST HITS
This is all about Motivation and positivity so its pretty much a no brainer!
Special mention to Argentina's Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, one of an increasing, although far too short list of female heads of state, who would get Bikini Kill's first EP.
What do you reckon for Sarkozy, Castro, Kim Jong-Il and Kevin Rudd?