Friday on My Mind: Soundtrack for the Shutdown

It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News.

If you've been hiding under a rock and haven't already heard, the government came to a halt this week. You may ask "How did this happen?" Well, let me tell you... The fiscal year began this past Tuesday. Since the Democrat and Republican parties could not agree on a spending plan, the federal government has officially shut down. The last time the U.S. government shutdown was in 1996. 1996, a time when people were doing the Macarena, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey ruled the charts, and everyone was watching Friends on TV. And now here are, with a few songs we suggest for you to use as your soundtrack while all is shutdown:Schoolhouse Rocks - I’m Just a Bill "I'm Just a Bill" is a featured song from the ABC children's show Schoolhouse Rocks! The song was featured during an episode entitled "American Rock" from the third season. Jack Sheldon, who is the voice of the Bill, in real life is a jazz trumpeter. The song was covered by Lou Barlow and The Folk Implosion for the 1996 compilation Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks which also featured covers by Pavement, Daniel Johnston, and Moby. Here is the animated original version from 1975:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag

Talking Heads - Don’t Worry About the Government

The next song for your soundtrack is "Don't Worry About the Government" off of Talking Heads' debut album, 77.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LftzRjilTEI

War - Why Can’t We Be Friends?

In 1975, this single went to number six on the Billboard charts. During that same year, NASA beamed the song into space when during the linking of Soviet cosmonauts and U.S. astronauts for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVTOxELjfU

Honorable Mentions:

Public Enemy - Shut’Em Down

"Shut'Em Down" is off of Public Enemy’s fourth studio album, Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB4D-GbQ9A4

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was added to the Tears for Fears album, Songs from the Big Chair as an afterthought. Roland Orzabal of the band felt that the song would not work as a part of the album. Orzabal agreed to record the song after being encouraged by producer Chris Hughes.