Election 2012

November 6th, 2012 | 2:55 pm by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Delta Rae Speaks About The Importance Of Voting On Election Day

VH1 You Oughta Know artist Delta Rae has been working the campaign trail in support of President Barack Obama; in addition to encouraging young people in their homestate of North Carolina to go vote early, they played an event hosted by Michelle Obama just a few short weeks ago where, according to singer Brittany Holljes, everyone in the band received “full Mama Bear hugs” from the First Lady. However, now that it’s Election Day, Delta Rae wants you to get out and vote, regardless of your party affiliation.

“Voting is very important, especially in an election like this,” Brittany explained to our own VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown host Jim Shearer in Napa, California last week, just moments after performing a scorching set at the Live In The Vineyard festival. “It’s close!”

Her brother, Delta Rae singer/keyboardist Eric Holljes, weighed in next. “I think it’s important for everybody, no matter your age, to have some foresight and think about where we’re going to be in 30 years. The decision we make right now is going to impact that, so I hope everybody out there goes out to vote.”

Power To The People! 5 Politically Charged Music Videos

Election Day is finally here! There were seemingly endless months of commentary, satire, parodies and intense arguments with loved ones that made it seem like you were choosing sides for the American Civil War instead of a president. But that’s over, because today We The People cast our ballots for red, blue, green or Honey Boo Boo! Stave off that voting postpartum with five politically charged music videos that celebrate your new-found surge of political empowerment – which, let’s be honest, will go hibernate the next two to four years in some of us.

The Blackeyed Peas – “Where Is The Love”

The 2003 chart-topper crossed B.E.P. over into the pop world and introduced us to Fergie. But The Black Eyed Peas didn’t just milk their new level of fame. They used the popularity of the hit to address global social injustices like war, pollution and intolerance in the music video.

There’s More! Black Eyed Peas, Dixie Chicks, John Lennon after the jump.

November 6th, 2012 | 12:31 pm by VH1

All Your Favorite Musicians Have Voted, Have You?

The big day is upon us: Happy Election Day! After many months of endorsements and rallying, even the most famous and busy musicians are taking some time to hit the polls or submit their absentee ballots. And because it’s such a special day, many are snapping (sometimes illegal) photos and sharing the experience. Below, because we sincerely hope you’ll follow their example and exercise your right to vote today, we’re rounding-up all their Tweets and Instagrams as they share them. Until the polls close… Read more…

November 6th, 2012 | 10:28 am by Lindsey Weber (@lindseyweber)

On Election Day, P!nk’s “Dear Mr. President” Storytellers Performance Is Especially Relevant

Written six years ago, P!nk‘s “Dear Mr. President” spoke directly to former President George W. Bush. And now, it speaks directly to the history of politically charged anthems, one that spans years of candidates and every age of our country’s history. P!nk’s open letter to George W. never made it to the charts, as she decided it would never be a single because “it was too important to be perceived as a publicity stunt.”

Meanwhile, the lyrics are loud and clear on the singer’s feelings on our former President. Unabashedly, she calls him out for his reported contradictions:

What kind of father would take his own daughter’s rights away?
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You’ve come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.

If all goes as P!nk hopes, as she’ll be voting Obama today, she won’t be writing our President such a strongly-worded musical letter for (at least!) the next four years. To hear more of the story behind “Dear Mr. President”, check out P!nk’s full VH1 Storytellers on Tuesday, November 13th at 11PM EST.

November 5th, 2012 | 5:11 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

Jay-Z’s Got “99 Problems But Mitt Ain’t One” For President Obama In Columbus, Ohio

As promised, Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen are out rallying with President Barack Obama on this eve of the election. Obama says that he’s got both artists on his iPod — and, “Yes, the president has an iPod!”– and that he chose these two in particular because “they tell the story of what our country is, but also what it should be.”

Jay and Obama go way back, and so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to learn that the rapper was willing to duck the President’s secret service, putting his life, liberty and Red Phone line to the White House at risk, to really drive his point home with a. “I have to do it, I’m sorry,” he said, before hitting ‘em up with this “99 Problems” election special remix: “I feel bad for you, son, but I’ve got 99 problems but Mitt ain’t one!” Needless to say, the re-work has already been taken up as a hopeful rallying cry on Twitter.

You can stream the rest of the rally live, if you would like; and tomorrow, don’t forget to get out and vote! If you need a refresher, see what all your favorite musicians have to say about the candidates. Read more…

August 29th, 2012 | 11:41 am by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

Three Doors Down Debuted A New Song At The Republican National Convention

3 Doors Down reentered our consciousness in a big way last night when they turned up at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida to debut their new single “One Light” in front of a floor’s worth of Republican delegates. Taking convention’s main stage after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s contentious keynote address, the multiplatinum rock band (all wearing almost matching shirts) urged convention-goers to “let’s take this world and make a change” with the song, befitting of the evening’s mood. American Idol season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, Randy Owen, and America’s Got Talent winner Neal E. Boyd are all also billed to provide between speech and nomination entertainment in the days to come.

“I’ve never really followed politics that much, so I am not really qualified to be really political,” said a sweaty Brad Arnold, speaking with Politico before the big show and insisting that the performance was not politically motivated. Rather, he suggests that “One Light” is about “just doing your best and giving all that you can all the time,” and that “it could really apply with anybody.” He sung a similar tune in 2008, when their “Citizen/Soldier” was released in conjunction with a recruitment campaign by the United States National Guard. So, probably don’t get your hopes set on a 3 Doors Down 2016 ticket.

3 Doors Down to DC: Stop ‘battle of the bands’ [Politico]