July 15, 2004
the features of freedom
I couldn't decide whether to call this song 'The Horny Republican' 'cause that has a sort of special ring to it, or 'Democracy in America' which is, perhaps, a bit more apt. I decided to go with the latter, though it is not against the rules for the name of a song to change. Opinions welcome.
Why Alexis de Tocqueville?
This is a very good question because I never would have dreamed that I would write a song involving de Tocqueville. Not that I am anti-him or anything, just that I tend to not be overly involved in theoretical political discussions.
So how did this come about? I was hanging out with a friend on the UCSC campus several months ago and I was trawling for things to record. An unsuspecting student sat down near me to study in an outdoor seating area of a café and the trap was set. I ended up just asking her to read out loud what she was studying so that she could both help me and get a good grade all at the same time. I am very thoughtful. Unfortunately, I never got her contact information (actually, I think I lost it), so if you are out there, Lulu, please let me know and thank you! I hope you got an A.
Are you a de Tocqueville expert?
Not at all. But I will provide a good example in support of the maxim 'it's not what you know, but who you know'. I am lucky enough to have a good friend who is an expert on all things philosophically political as well as politically philosophical. She is such an expert that she has three copies of 'Democracy in America' on her heavily laden shelves and has taught the book to scads of impressionable Harvard undergrads. I am really upset at her though because she refused to lend me her copy of the *best* translation. I mean, how can I create without the absolute best inputs?!?
S-girl was kind enough to give me a crash course in AdT which I recorded and you'll hear her words of wisdom throughout this song.
Some of the trumpet sounds pretty accomplished. Are you playing all of it?
No. There are actually three different trumpets in this piece: my own playing, a synth patch, and a bit stolen from another recording of mine (any guesses?!)
What's your favorite part of this song?
I'm not sure if this is my absolute favorite, but I really like the xylophone part that comes in on the repeat of the final 'verse'. It's funny (and fun) like most xylophone parts.
Have you read all of Democracy in America?
God, no! That thing is like 750 pages. And my translation sucks...(!)
Who would you put your money on in a celebrity death match between George W. Bush and Alexis de Tocqueville?
AdT - what about you?
Wow, I think it's absolutely amazing that you've turned a random/unplanned UCSC encounter with Alexis de Tocqueville into yet another cool, original, fascinating song. I love that it's got such a jazzy and intellectual flair, so appropriate for the subject matter (in my opinion). The piano, trumpet, and (yes) xylophone meld together so well with the fast tempo -- giving off an impression of spiralling urgency and causing me to visualize Dick Cheney swinging with Kenneth Lay to the tune. Yikes. That's not such a great visual, and is not meant to discount your song in any way! In any event, whoever thought that music inspired by AdT might be *danceable*?!?! That's quite an accomplishment!
Of course, the song's title and its lyrics can't help but get me thinking of the real state of democracy in America. I know this is intended to be a music blog, not a political philosophy watering hole, but it *is* interesting to contemplate that AdT probably wouldn't be suprised with the corporate oligarchy (currently characterized, among other things, by the leave-no-millionaire-behind policy of GWB) that has supplanted any more idealized version of democracy. But would AdT have guessed that this government not only would be mortgaging our future (creating extraordinary monetary, moral, environmental and other debt for future generations of Americans, who have no say in the matter) but also striving so ardently to impose its own flawed values and systems on much of the rest of the world?? Could he have envisioned the American global hegemony that has been made possible, if not fostered and groomed, by our domestic political systems that allow us to pursue preemptive military intervention and promote the trend toward monoculturalization of the world (including via such glorious avenues as McDonaldization, BurgerKingification, GAPification and Blockbustervideoization...)??
Hmm. I'd better quit before these musings become rabid rantings. (Or maybe it's already too late for that!) I just appreciate that 'democracy in america' -- in addition to being an enjoyable listen -- provides a great focal point for asking a new round of questions...
