Serious Political Fun

A person would have to dig deep into the archives of history to come up with an event that's been as frustrating, exciting, uncertain and every-which-way as Election 2000. All of which has been grand fodder for comedians, artists, musicians and every combination thereof.
Listen as NPR's Linda Wertheimer plays a bit of several political parody songs.

Check out the full versions of these modern folk songs below.

•The Battle of Florida
Bruce Kerr, Mountain View, California

As a performer he goes by the name "Loose Bruce" Kerr, but he's actually a lawyer at Sun Microsystems in California. Kerr started his career as a lawyer, but took 20 years off to perform and write songs. He got into doing parodies in 1987, including songs about Zsa Zsa Gabor and O.J. Simpson ("O.J.-Oh!", sung to the tune of "Day-Oh"). Send him an e-mail at bkerrlaw@aol.com, or get a free MP3 download at his Web site: www.cereus7.com.

•Election Blues
Bill "The Sauce Boss" Wharton, Tallahassee, FL

According to his manager, Ruth Morton, Bill doesn't really write a lot of parodies. He's a Tallahasee-based songwriter who was just riding in the car one day, noticing the flood of news crews and satellite trucks, and the song 'just came to him.' Wharton has a bit of a twist in his live show: he cooks a pot of gumbo using his special hot sauce while he's on stage performing with his band, then serves it up to the audience. Write to him at wharton@sauceboss, or visit his Web site at www.sauceboss.com.

•Dimpled Chad
Michael Krieger, Ferndale, MI

He writes personalized songs for people for a living, as well as performing at concerts. Krieger says he loves to do spoofs and parodies and was inspired to do something to lighten things up and ease the stress of the election a little bit. Send an e-mail to Michael at makrieger@aol.com, or check out his Web site www.michaelkrieger.com.

•Punch It Twice, It's All Right
Ross Altman, Los Angeles, CA.

Ross has been a a full-time folksinger and songwriter in Los Angeles for the past 15 years. He says he was trying to come up with a topical song was hoping to think of something about the election. Altman says tried all week to come up with some angle on, and at the last possible minute,woke up and the first thing I thought of Bob Dylan's, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." Send your e-mail to greygoosemusic@aol.com

•White House Blues
The New Grange

•Fuzzy Math
Michael McNevin, Fremont, CA

Michael McNevin is a touring singer songwriter from the rail town of Niles, California. He writes with humor and irony about his roots, and also the towns and people of his travels. A Kerrville New-folk winner, he was nominated for “Artist of the Year” by the National Academy of Songwriters, and was chosen by The Performing Songwriter magazine as a Top-12 DIY Artist of the Year. Send him an e-mail at mcnevinfans@aol.com, or visit his Web Site www.michaelmcnevin.com.

•No More of Those Hand Votes
Richard Siegel, Baltimore, MD

Siegel is the national sales manager for the Science Instrument Company in Baltimore and in his spare time does political satire and social commentary. He says, 'Everytime there's something going on in the world, I write a song about it." This one is to the tune of Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy." Send an e-mail to him at parodydr@aol.com, or visit his Web site at www.mp3.com/richardsiegel. (to the tune of Alice cooper's No More Mr. Nice Guy) Everytime there's something that's going on in the world, I write a song about it. National Sales Director of Science Instrument Company, in Baltimore, MD. Spare time do political satire and social commentary, sing and record songs.

•BUSH AND GORE ARE DRIVING US NUTS
Dave Greer Dayton OH