John Rich: "Raising McCain"

Reality (of an opinion) check: “Yes We Can” sucks. From its conception to its video, you’re dealing with the right-wing’s exhibit A against the Democrats: vague declaration of “hope” and “change,” celebrities looking melodramatic in a black and white background like they know (or have done) something more than the average person. Then there’s that guitar line: like Jack Johnson on sleeping pills, its only other use would be for another “good times with weed and girlies” rhyme from somehow-famous Shwayze.

Now, enter “Raising McCain.” A fitting title for the pop-country stomp that John Rich— you’ll remember him as one half of Big & Rich, the duo that birthed “Save A Horse (Ride A Levi—er, Cowboy)”—unleashes. “Raising McCain’s” greatest asset is its inability to take itself seriously. While “Yes We Can” tried hard to make some kind of sentimental point, John Rich is content to make a two-minute pep rally ditty for the GOP. As pop-country goes it’s nothing terrible, and oddly infectious, much like Big & Rich themselves (speaking of which: where does Big come down on this?). Personally, I can’t stop humming it, which is a good sign for any novelty single.

John Rich also isn’t half bad as a spokescelebrity for McCain. Unlike George W. Bush’s country pinup of choice, Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, Rich doesn’t make himself out to be the kind of person who would shoot you for buying the wrong brand of cigarette at his local general store. Comparatively, my Obama-supporting self has enough of a hard time tolerating will.i.am’s posturing and “I am doing something so amazingly important” head-nods.

None of this is to say that “Raising McCain” will have any effect in rallying support behind its titular candidate. The lyrics vaguely recount the story of McCain’s time as a POW in Vietnam, but spreading political gospel isn’t on the menu here. Now, if only Obama would embrace TI$A and Daedelus, with their rallying cry of, “fuck what yo mama say / we gonna vote Obama way,” we’d have an even matchup. Also, good idea for a mashup!