Ahmadenijad (A-bomb) sent Bush (G-Dub) a letter that suggesting some “new solutions” in the context of US-Iran relations:
Iran’s leader has written to President Bush proposing “new solutions” to their differences in the first letter from an Iranian head of state to an American president in 27 years, a government spokesman said Monday.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki delivered the letter to the Swiss ambassador on Monday, ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told The Associated Press. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran houses a U.S. interests section.
These guys just don’t get it. If A-Bomb really wanted to work things out with G-Dub, he should have tried a sad puppy birthday card with a little handwritten note, something like You are the best President ever—deserving of great respect.
Or, like, a mix tape. Start off, maybe, with the theme from Friends, go right to the Beatles “We Can Work Out,” toss in Dylan’s “All I Really Want to Do” to soothe any commitment fears, four or five more songs and then … close strong with Marvin Gaye.
Guaranteed normalization of relations right there.
No way Bush makes it all the way through Let’s Get it On without picking up the phone.
ANOTHER AWE-TASTIC WONK CONTEST!
Send me: Your tracklist for the Mahmoud & George, TL4E mix tape.
Bonus points if you include cover art.
I think you nailed it already with your playlist. I don’t really see how anything can top Marvin Gaye for getting people in that sweet sweet normalizin’ mood.
Jeff, you are the best wonk ever—deserving of great respect.
This is My Country (The Impressions)
What We Do Is Secret (The Germs)
I Stand Accused (Isaac Hayes)
Point That Thing Somewhere Else (The Clean)
The Old Folks Started It (Memphis Jug Band)
I Might Be Wrong (Radiohead)
I Ain’t Mad At Ya (2Pac)
I Wanna Be Loved By You (Helen Kane)
I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges)
Anyone Who Had a Heart (Dusty Springfield)
Beware (Louis Jordan)
You’re Gonna Be Sorry (Dolly Parton)
Tragedy (Bee Gees)
Cities on Flame (Blue Oyster Cult)
Radioactivity (Kraftwerk)
The End of the World (Skeeter Davis)
Really nice, Phila.
“Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War. Even mentions the president and CIA in the lyrics.
Not even 24 hours and US has already rejected the letter.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4752613.stm
You’ve got to take Ahmadinejad’s working-man image into account here. He’s not gonna go for sappy songs like the theme from Friends. And he’s definitely got to throw in some country to appeal to Bush’s Texas side.
Ace in the Hole (George Strait)
You May Be Right (Billy Joel)
The Gambler (Kenny Rogers)
Brain Damage (Pink Floyd)
Virtual Insanity (Jamiroquai)
A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action (Toby Keith)
Blood Brothers (Bruce Springsteen)
Does Your Daddy Know About Me (Lonestar)
I Can Change (South Park)
Check Yes or No (George Strait)
File this under Silly!
Muhammed’s Radio – Warren Zevon
Medley: My Way/Aintcha Ever Comin’ Back – Frank Sinatra
Suite: Uranium Bribery Never Fails, Smart Bomb, and Tubthumping (“I get knocked down, but I get up again…”) – Chumbawamba
Waiting on a Friend – Rolling Stones
The Envoy – Warren Zevon
Overture to “Nixon in China” – John Adams
Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon
Although, having seen the winner of the Power Point Contest, I’m not sure I trust your judging skills……
@Lewis:
Ouch. Harsh, man. Harsh.
Hey, you can’t get upset about unfavorable contest results. This isn’t a blogacracy, it’s a blogtatorship. If you think your powerpoint submission was better, then post it on your own website.
However, I don’t recommend sending your submission around to colleagues at work, who may forward it to other people, etc., until it filters up to your boss’s boss’s boss, who may not have a sense of humor and/or may think it’s real, forcing the need for awkward explanations. That just takes all the fun out of it…
That was my submission, and the comment was intended solely for the judge’s eyes, in the spirit of “working the ref” NBA style in hopes of influencing future decisions.
If ACW chooses to adopt the “no arguing balls and strikes” model of MLB, then of course I could be ejected, at the risk of my kicking infield dirt all over Jeff’s shoes.
And I did have a better PowerPoint entry, but I can’t post it for same reason it didn’t win – it was deeply offensive and politically incorrect.
Inside tip—you all should work some “Jeffrey Lewis” into your track lists: http://www.theJeffreyLewisSite.com
My take on the kiss and make up, er, normalization mix:
You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
Fight For Your Right – Beastie Boys
Atom Tan – The Clash
I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
People Are People – Depeche Mode
Hard To Handle – Otis Redding
Why Can’t We be Friends – War
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me – Culture Club
Cruel To be Kind – Nick Lowe
A Little Respect – Erasure
Tell Me Something Good – Rufus w/ Chaka Khan
Pick Up The Pieces – Average White Band
Who’s Gonna Take The Blame – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
I think “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar would definitely have to be on that tape.
Ahmadinejad:
Hey you, out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old
Can you feel me?
Another anonymous entry:
Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me and My Monkey – The Beatles
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Army of Jesus – Rudimentary Peni (either that or “Blasphemy Squad”)
I Hate Israel – Shaaban Abdel Rahim
Crazy – Willie Nelson
American Idiot – Greenday
Fall Out – The Police (or “Bombs Away”; “Deathwish” is also an option)
Ask – The Smiths (“If it’s not love / then it’s the Bomb / then it’s
the Bomb / that will bring us together”)
Here’s my mix tape. Imagine the songs as alternating parts in a negotiation. This should win some points for eclecticism, regardless:
1) I’m Waiting for the Man- Velvet Underground (“Hey white boy, what you doin’ uptown?)
2) Ben Folds Five- Army (just the first stanza, I suppose…think about it…and then laugh)
3) 99 Problems- Jay-Z
4) You’re Crazy- Guns N’Roses
5) Friends in Low Places- Garth Brooks
6) Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)- Janis Joplin
7) You Can’t Always Get What You Want- The Rolling Stones
8) Texas Never Whispers- Pavement
9) Live Forever- Oasis
10) Come On Feel the Noise- Quiet Riot
11) Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance- Bob Dylan
12) Armaggedon Days Are Here (Again)- The The
13) I Would Do Anything for Love (but I won’t do that)- Meat Loaf
I’m probably going to be damned to the nine hells for this one but the tape would have to include:
Liza Minelli – Don’t Drop Bombs
All you get is the one song… my brain seized up after than one.
My ten cents:
#1 Crush (I Would Die For You) – Garbage
Something I Can Never Have – Nine Inch Nails
Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe – Barry White (Can’t believe no one threw in some Barry).
Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered – Laura Fygi
Take a Picture – Filter (“Can everyone agree that no one should be left alone”)
So Alive – Love and Rockets
I’ll Fall With Your Knife – Peter Murphy
Try a Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
Pictures of You – The Cure
Never Let Me Down Again – Smashing Pumpkins cover
I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles
Letting the Cables Sleep (Apocalyptica Remix) – Bush (“Silence is not the way, we need to talk about it”)
There’ll be Some Changes Made – Tony Bennet
‘Taint What You Do (It’s the way that you do it) – Julie London
Where is my Mind – Pixies
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Alternative “It’s all gone to hell” mix.
Everything’s Fucked – Pitchshifter
Head Like a Hole – Nine Inch Nails
Last Caress/Green Hell – Metallica cover
Die Motherfucker Die – Dope
Blue Monday – Orgy cover
Only Happy When it Rains – Garbage
Bad Religion – Godsmack
Nice Guys Finish Last – Green Day
Check Yo Self – Ice Cube
The End of Something – Rollins Band