Did you catch President Trump’s “Totally Not the State of the Union” address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday? If you did, maybe you caught me and my RedState colleagues' live-blogging as well; always watch for those at such events, they’re a lot of fun.
Now, President Trump did rock the house, but honestly, his entry needed a lot of work. I initially thought he should have swung into the chamber on a rope, Errol Flynn-style; that’s a swash that needs buckled. But the president isn’t a young man, so perhaps we can forgive him that. But an entry theme – now that’s doable. I’m pretty sure the Capitol has a sound system, and even if it doesn’t, how hard could it be to rig one up?
Anyway, I have some thoughts for future events. Here, in no particular order, are six possibilities for the president’s entry theme.
Gustav Holst, “The Planets – Mars, the Bringer of War.” This is a wonderful piece, my favorite of all of Gustav Holst’s suite. It fits the Roman god of war: Ringing, ominous, almost throbbing in places, with a majestic, sweeping overtone. Maybe a trifle too serious for the president’s mercurial nature and ready wit, though?
Richard Wagner, “Ride of the Valkyries.” Made famous in the movie “Apocalypse Now,” and that famous cavalry-charge scene, this majestic bit of Wagner is part of the operatic cycle, “The Ring of the Nibelung.” There’s just one problem: Wagner was German, and the German government in World War 2 was known to favor his work. So, that would leave the angry left with a pre-made epithet to shout, and why give them that?
Survivor: “Eye of the Tiger.” Now, this one’s just a tad too obvious. This song, written as the opening theme of “Rocky III,” seems to be a rock & roll favorite for dramatic entrances. Oh, it fits all right, but it’s been overused. Still, it rates a place on the list, if for no other reason than that the line “Eye of the Tiger” draws an obvious conclusion to the gimlet eye the president turned on Democrats last Tuesday.
See Related: LIVE: President Trump Set to 'Tell It Like It Is' to Congress
Alice Cooper: “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” Now we’re talking. The title and theme of this classic Alice Cooper tune evokes a lot of the attitude of President Trump’s second term, in which he seems to have no craps left to give. He’s playing hardball, and on Tuesday, he let the Democrats know it – even to the point of calling out Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) with the sobriquet “Pocahantas” after her infamous claim of Native ancestry. The president is done playing around, and Tuesday, he as much as said so – which would have made this a great theme.
Smash Mouth: “All Star.” A little lighter, a little more high-spirited. It’s a peppy, lively bit, and we can have little doubt that the president indeed views himself as just such an all-star. But maybe a bit too light for the times? President Trump is a bull in a china shop, more than a happy all-star. He’s happiest, of course, when he’s making Democrats look ridiculous, not that they need his help for that.
See Related: When You've Lost MSNBC: Hosts Slam Dems' Dumb Moves During Trump Speech
And, of course, my personal favorite:
George Thorogood: “Bad to the Bone.” Now, this is the one, for my money. The video, which shows George Thorogood playing a billiards marathon against Bo Diddley as real-life pool shark Willie Mosconi watches, is a lot of fun – and that bit at the end, where the 8 ball perches on the edge of the pocket – and George taps the ash of a cigar, which lands on the floor and sends the ball dropping into the pocket – that’s the kind of swagger that we suspect the president would admire.
Politics requires a certain amount of showmanship. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does. And, to be fair, President Trump is pretty good at showmanship. But his entry into major events would be more dramatic with musical accompaniment.
Ideas? Suggestions? As always, the comments are all yours!
