There’s no two ways about it – the Republican Party has never really been a close friend of pop music. Elvis was pally with Nixon, but Elvis had gone pretty shitty by that phase of his career, all jumpsuit and loose marbles. Ray Charles played at some GOP inaugurations, but he played at any that would have him, because he liked a paycheck.
Since Trump took office, the world of good music has backed away from him. The best Trump has managed is… well… an ageing Beach Boys fronted by Mike Love with John fuckin’ Stamos on drums at some lousy looking Mar A Lago knees up.
Mostly, it’s been Kid Rock and lesser country acts. Jelly Roll has been looking pretty friendly with Trump lately, but he’s probably one of those dorks who believes in Jesus and the freedoms of the States, and is happy just to be in the proximity of anyone leading the country at any given moment.
Of course, Turning Point USA had a MAGA flavoured alternative Super Bowl Halftime show, which was some protest against Bad Bunny having the audacity to sing in Spanish. Away from Kid Rock, it was a real who’s whothefuckisthatagain? with Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett, which could well be completely made up names for all you know, and we know you’re not going to fact-check us either.
Trump & Co are at it again to celebrate 250 years of the United States of America, with a show which declares to the rest of us, just how magnificent the USA is. Should be easy, right? They invented jazz, country, hip hop, R&B, pop music as we hear it, rock ‘n’ roll, surf, soul, funk, house, techno and more.
Putting on a show to tell everyone how great the USA is at music should be the easiest gig in the world.
Well, this party will baffling host a UFC bout on the front lawn of the White House (look, if a genuine redneck got into power, this had the potential to be really funny, but it isn’t), and a grand prix race in Washington, DC, and a series of music shows, which… well… music isn’t sending its bravest and best.
Freedom 250 managed to book Vanilla Ice, what’s left of Milli Vanilli, C+C Music Factory, Young MC, and Poison frontman Bret Michaels. There’ll also be Flo Rida, Martina McBride, The Commodores and Morris Day & The Time. Flo Rida probably has some ironic fans by this point, and the cry of ‘EVERYBODY DANCE NOW’ with the dnnng dnnng dng dng dnnng from C+C never failed anyone.
However, the wheels seem to be falling off this thing already.
On Instagram, Morris Day posted: “Contrary to rumour, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the ‘Great American State Fair.’ It’s A No For Me,” with an added sunglasses emoji, for good measure.
Young MC has also backed out, saying that his agents never told him “about any political involvement with the event.” He wrote: “I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT. The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organisers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed”. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”
So, we’re left with The Commodores who don’t have Lionel Richie in them anymore, one half of miming duo Milli Vanilli, C+C Music Factory who no longer have David Cole on board thanks to his passing in 1995 (and apparently, they’re currently weighing up their options). Poison’s singer without his kickass band, and some country singer and… jeez man… it’s looking depressing.
Even asshole country singers who fill stadiums aren’t seemingly interested. Or Chris Brown. You have to assume this is because Trump is crapping out on how much he’ll pay for someone to play at a show like this, and these guys care about the value of a dollar bill above all else. This is what you get when you’re a bad dick, with bad taste, who is a tightwad – you end up with a washed up ’80s rocker, one half of a mime troupe, a country singer, and the Commodores who will probably pull out any second now.
Please watch Freedom Williams of C+C Music Factory ranting about this gig in an ultimately confusing manner (he rails against Trump, entertainingly calls out his mates, and says something about voting for Genghis Khan before being told what he can and can’t do) if it’s the only thing you do in all of this.
He seems to be sat on the toilet too.
The Pop Corporation 
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