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12 Songs About Ronald Reagan

Before we all get swept away in the current trend of Bush hating and extreme voting, let's take a moment to remember that in a faraway land known as USA circa the 1980s, a President named Bonzo was giving legions of punk rockers a common enemy. During his eight years in office, a seemingly endless stream of anti-Reagan venom was the grease that lubed a musical revolution. If all you Punkvoters, Indyvoters and Rock-the-Voters do your job, W's four years and two Rock Against Bush compilations CDs won't hold a candle to the Gipper's musical legacy.

Dead Kennedys' "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now"
Jello Biafra's paranoid vision of Reagan as Emperor of the world/lounge singer is a little slice of jazz-punk heaven. Apparently the Dead Kennedys weren't the only people nervous about the year 1984 coming around the corner, as Biafra soon found himself on the Governor ballot in California.

D.R.I.'s "Reaganomics"
Before crossing over into the world of metal, The Dirty Rotten Imbeciles were the masters of one minute punk tunes. With the freedom to put thirty-plus songs on one album, it's no surprise that they eventually wrote one about Reagan. "Reaganomics killing me, Reaganomics killing me, Reaganomics killing me, Reaganomics killing you!" And you wonder why Mondale got his ass kicked.

Reagan Youth's "Reagan Youth"
No band demonized Bonzo more than these boys, who dressed in Klan outfits and saluted Reagan on stage. The catchy little chorus in their theme song went something like, "We are Reagan Youth, heil! Heil! Heil!" And you could dance to it.

D.I.'s "Reagan Der Fuhrer"
Perhaps these Orange County pop-punkers felt their fanbase waning after three albums about surfing and guns. Clever as ever, Casey Royer and company hopped on the political punk bandwagon with this little rhyme, "Reagan's Der Fuhrer, we need someone newer." Just don't ask him what rhymes with Nantucket.

Suicidal Tendencies' "I Shot the Devil"
Rumor has it that this little thrash fantasy -- told from the perspective of a man who put several bullets into Reagan's head -- bought singer Mike Muir several years worth of FBI phone taps. Now they have hundreds of transcripts of Muir as he bought the band's bandanas and head wraps wholesale over the phone.

Millions of Dead Cops' "Bye Bye Ronnie"
When MDC helped organize Rock Against Reagan back in the mid-eighties, it's doubtful that they thought a similar tour would be organized twenty years later to rally against the Vice President's cokehead son. This song is a celebration of the end of the Reagan years. We all know history repeats itself, but who knew it would happen so quickly?

Crucifucks' "Hinckley Had a Vision"
The Crucifucks, if you can't tell from their name, made a career out of attacking organized religion. The consensus at the time was the Church and State were in bed with one another, so when the Rock Against Reagan tour picked this boys up, this tune spoke to both camps --the "we hate church" camp and the "we hate Republicans" camp. Subtlety was never a concern for The Crucifucks; as you'll notice, this song is about chopping off Reagan's head and mailing it to the Puritans in a garbage bag.

The Dayglo Abortions' "Ronald McRaygun"
Everything you need to know about this song you can find in its title. When you listen to the Dayglo Abortions' only album, "Ronald McRaygun" is the prize you get for making it all the way through "Aargh, Fuck, Kill." One song attacking the Administration's shading dealings with corporate America almost makes up for a song whose lyrics are "Blah (x 100)." These weirdos were not the brightest bulbs in the scene, but apparently they were the brightest abortions.

Prince's "Ronnie Talk to Russia"
The Artist proved that you didn't have to be a punk rocker to rag on Reagan. Mr. Purple was actually pretty far ahead of the game with this number, written in '81. He pleads, "Ronnie talk to Russia before its too late, before they blow up the world," as a single tear rolls down his face.

The Minutemen's "If Reagan Played Disco"
If you ask the Minutemen, Reagan was not only a horrifying president -- he also had no soul. "If Reagan played disco, he'd shoot it to shit, he'd sing lame lyrics." This song was obviously released before "Rappin' Ronnie" hit the streets. That tune silenced all doubts about Bonzo's skills on the mic.

NOFX's "Reagan Sucks"
NOFX frontman Fat Mike is the founder of Punkvoter's Rock Against Bush tour. It's no surprise he wrote this song about anti-Reagan nostalgia. Written during the Clinton Administration, Mike's cries of "I miss songs about how Reagan sucks," didn't last long. NOFX now has their Reagan -- his name is W.

The Violent Femmes' "Old Mother Reagan"
Not as popular as the frathouse tunes from their self titled release, this little-known rocker from The Blind Leading the Naked is as catchy as protest songs come. Try it and you'll like it, "This is the Old Mother Reagan Protest song. Old Mother Reagan, she's so dumb, she's so dangerous. How come..."

-- Philip Stone

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