Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Video of the day: Jingles

Last week, Chicago Tribune journalist Oscar Avila had this to say:

In Latin America…songs become part of the candidates' political biography, a less offensive way to trumpet themselves. And for voters who don't have the education or access to read detailed platforms, the music is a convenient shorthand.

The best jingles burrow into the consciousness….

In the U.S., maybe it has come time for candidates to take a chance and pen an original song instead of simply relying on the inoffensive and predictable radio staples. No fewer than three U2 tunes, for example, are part of this year's campaign soundtrack.

A group called Amigos for Obama wrote a reggaeton tune for Barack Obama last year though none of the other presidential hopefuls have yet to take up Avila’s suggestion. (Despite our own ideas of a few tunes they could use).

Not every song works well, however; take for instance the following used by losing Guatemalan presidential candidate Otto Perez Molina:

For some odd reason that ad reminded me of the 1980s commercials for Mistolin with Johnny Ventura.

Sources- Urban Dictionary, YouTube, The Latin Americanist, Chicago Tribune, Vivirlatino

1 comment:

Chapín said...

That's hilarious. Especially that they're singing about a "hard hand" against crime - while having a big party in the streets? :D