Nowak Attack

So I found out today that MGMT sued Nicholas Sarkozy's political party  for using "Kids" during the French election campaign.  I think they won like $30,000 in damages (which I have NO idea how they calculated)

Now I have two trains of thought on this:

-The first is "Fuck yeah! Artistic integrity!

-The second is "Why is France so cool?"

How is it Obama is still using crappy singles from Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield, 

or worse McCain using "Barracuda" and parody songs by Hank Williams Jr.

Seriously.  How have we cultivated so much amazing music in the past 80 years and yet we've yet to acknowledge any of it outside of a couple Bruce Springsteen songs (Reagan)? And not even the good ones!

Is MGMT even a popular enough band to sway the masses of commercial appeal in France?  

Something I've noticed with the two parties in the states here and their preference in music.

If you're a Democrat; you play it safe.  You stay with the classics, and I mean the CLASSICS. No disputable bands.  The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix.  If you're an edgy Dem you might say Led Zeppelin or The Who.  Typical waffle.  If they ask about new stuff then I think U2 would be acceptable, but only if you talk about "The Joshua Tree".

If you're a Republican; you pretend to be hearty.  You stay with the blue collar pander.  Bob Segar, BTO, Springsteen (maybe), ZZ Top.  If you're a Ted Stevens-esque Republican you might say Buck Owens, Merle Haggard ("Okie from muskogee" era Hagg), emphasis on Johnny Cash.

My election playlist:

To pander to the right: Neil Young, Boston, in fact, in any red state campaign I would start every speech with "More Than A Feeling".  The Flaming Lips (now I know this is a stretch but I KNOW I would get Oklahoma's electoral points), The Hold Steady, definitely Merle Haggard.

To pander to the left: Stevie Wonder but only from "Music of my Mind", Marvin Gaye, Wilco (I have a feeling many future Democrats will listen to Wilco.) , The Shins, Oasis (because it's punk but just punk enough), Feist (because then I'm almost certain my mom would vote for me)

I would not mention The Strokes, The White Stripes, or The Thermals.  Well maybe The White Stripes, but not likely because it's a little pandery in general.  It's like copping out with The Beatles.

I would subtly disregard any claims against disliking Radiohead, because that would really hurt me in the polls.  I would, however, put out a personal statement against M.I.A.

BUT to prove my edginess: Peter Frampton, Public Enemy, Paul McCartney solo work, and The Darkness.