MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

Joe Hill, a songwriter and labor activist who believed in the power of song, once wrote: “If a person can put a few common sense facts into a song and dress them up in a cloak of humor, he will succeed in reaching a great number of workers.”

Hill’s words, contained in a Nov. 29, 1914, letter to the editor of the labor publication Solidarity, also describe the philosophy of a series of radio shows I hosted more than 100 years later in May and June 2019.

In those shows, I used songs and humor, as well as commentary, to provide listeners with news and information. In a program about the 2020 presidential campaign. I played “All the Young Dudes” to show there were young candidates in the race. To remind listeners that some voters feel 70 may be too old an age for a president, I played “Too Old to Rock’n’Roll: Too Young to Die.” Because several women are leading contenders, the setlist included “Superwoman” and “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.” (The latter, with its “They’ll stone you when…” lyrics, also describes the constant criticism that comes with the territory for politicians). “The Long Run” illustrated the rigors of a long campaign.

In another show, I used the Who’s “Tommy” to illustrate the qualities that make successful political candidates. Tommy came from a military family, overcame childhood disabilities, built name recognition as a pinball wizard and developed a strong and loyal following that propelled him to success.

I will resume the series in the fall, so I will be able to share stories about additional shows at the conference. On a more theoretical level, I plan to explore the role that music and entertainment can play in public policy and in creating a more informed and educated electorate.