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1984: A Song for the Inauguration

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Down at headquarters
there's a big database
with black and white photos
of the side of your beautiful face
and your library records
and all your test scores
and an invitation to party
like it's 1984

Welcome to George W. Bush, Part Deux...

Here's an inauguration song for you -- "1984" by Anais Mitchell, an up-and-comer who reviewers have compared favorably to both Ani DiFranco and the young Bob Dylan.

Click the > to play.

The MP3 is posted here for downloading.

Download it to your iPOD or desktop and listen a couple times -- that's the first verse at the top of this message... It's a wonderful, wry sendup of the new American homeland security state, inspired, Anais says, by George Orwell's chilling vision, Prince's "(Party Like It's) 1999," and Phil Ochs' "Love Me, I'm a Liberal." It's one of 11 cuts on her CD, "Hymns for the Exiled," which was produced at the Mill in Bristol, Vermont by Michael Chorney.

"This album contains some stunning songs," a reviewer says. "After being awarded the prestigious New Folk award at Kerrville [TX] in 2003, much was expected from Anais Mitchell, but few could have anticipated an album as striking as ‘Hymns for the Exiled’.... it’s immediately disarming while being literary and powerful. She has an obvious cultural and political understanding.... ‘Hymns for the Exiled’ is an excellent album; intelligent and poetic as well as being personal and political. But where it really shines is in its accessibility which you rarely, if ever, find in an album as powerful as this. Very highly
recommended. "

So take a listen as you contemplate our great democratic traditions on Thursday. And pass this on -- this is good music as well as good commentary, and art has a way of registering when even astute punditry falls short.

Find out more about Anais Mitchell and listen to additional songs at her web site.

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION