THE PLANK AUGUST 28, 2008
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According to the Democratic National Convention schedule for tonite, Barack Obama has an impressive array of performers set to tee up his stadium speech. For the national anthem, there's American Idol/Broadway star Jennifer Hudson. Later on, there's will.i.am, a new sensation for the young Obama fans. Followed by Sheryl Crow, an established rock star for the soccer moms. That sets the stage for Stevie Wonder, a bona fide national treasure. Whose performance will surely build up the excitement for....Michael McDonald!
Michael McDonald? Yes, the blue-eyed soulster from the Doobie Brothers, that Michael McDonald. Perhaps you remember him from his 1986 #1 hit duet with Patti Labelle, On My Own. Or the time the Doobies appeared on an episode of What's Happening? (ReRun was caught trying to make a bootleg of the concert.)
No disrespect to chart-topping songs like 1978's Takin' It to the Streets, but: Really? Maybe the Obama folk have some elaborate sine curve idea about crowd excitement, where things build up to Stevie and Al Gore and then everyone catches their breath with McDonald and Dick Durbin. Or think the Doobie demographic could be the key to Ohio. Or maybe nice-guy McDonald is only pretending to be on the schedule, in order to clear up space for some officially-denied surprise performer. Still, if the Crow-to-Wonder-to-McDonald succession is their idea of building a frenzy, it could be a long fall for the Obama folk.
-Michael Schaffer
8 comments
Is it too late to christen this Obamapalooza?
- adaglas
August 28, 2008 at 5:47pm
Nope, I think you're right on time.
Good lineup, though I would have put will.i.am as the headliner.
BTW, will.i.am is hardly new, although perhaps significantly less experienced than the rest of the lineup (that sounds familiar...?)
- GSpinks
August 28, 2008 at 6:04pm
I hate the doobie brothers so much. this is horrible news. really really awful. Please let him get laryngitis, or be a red herring for, oh, Bruce Springsteen.
- psantillana
August 28, 2008 at 6:22pm
Are we sure it's not Michael McDonald, the MADtv star, who plays Stewart?
- miceelf
August 28, 2008 at 6:31pm
The only way Michael McDonald would ever be acceptable is if he was singing back-up for Steely Dan. Now, *there's* an act I'd like to see. They could dedicate "Black Cow" to McCain, and "Dirty Work" to the media because it's done so much of it for McCain.
On other other hand, isn't MMcD just the type of guy to reach those baby boomer white folks we're always hearing don't like Obama?
- WoodyBombay
August 28, 2008 at 6:47pm
I also hate the Doobie brothers, but I love Parliament. It's the only reason I opened this post.
Too late this time, but if Obama wins it he should really try and get George Clinton in on the musical festivities of the convention. THAT would be a party!
- hewstino
August 28, 2008 at 8:18pm
Michael McDonald. UGH. I'm guessing the staff polled those easy listening adult radio stations wanting to know who are at the top of that genre's lists, none of which do the least bit for me. I'll second Woody's vote for Steely Dan. They're way more cool than anything lined up, except for maybe Stevie.
- jet
August 28, 2008 at 9:28pm
I yield to nobody in my hatred of the McDonald-era Doobies, but he did a fine job with American the Beautiful, if a bit Ray Charles-esque.
- drwohl
August 28, 2008 at 10:34pm