by Michael Chamberlain

Created on: October 01, 2008

This is a time of change in our country. It's a time when history will be made. I am talking about the presidential election of 2008. The result will either end in the oldest president and the first woman to ever win the white house, or else the first black president of out country.
Americans have started to realize what an amazing point in history we are at. The famous people of our country are making their voices heard. In this paper I will compare and contrast the ways musicians have made their voices heard by writing campaign songs. First I will explore John Rich's song made to support John McCain called, "Raisin' McCain." Then I will contrast with Ludacris's song, "Obama," written for Barack Obama.

While on, "The Sean Hannity Show," John Rich explained that his song, "Raisin' McCain," was written to give McCain's campaign a rally song. He wanted to give McCain a song that would compliment McCain and rally his supporters. He also said he wanted it to be positive. "Raisin' McCain," is a Country song. All types of people listen to country, but the generally country music listeners are white people living in the Southern and Western United States. It is a song meant to support and not to put others down.
His idea for the song was to tell a hero story about McCain. The song states,

"Well he got shot down in a Vietnam
town

Fighting for the red, white, and blue

And they locked him up in the Hanoi Hilton

Thinking they could break him in two

He stayed strong, stayed extra long

Til they let all the other boys out

Now we've got a real man with and American plan

We're going to put him in the big White House."

From this excerpt we can tell that John Rich is trying to create a positive image about McCain, showing that he is a true American hero who cares about his country and his fellow man.
His voice in this song is of a concerned American who feels strongly that John McCain should be the next president of the United States.
This song brings out the positive.
It tells the listener why to pick McCain without trying to take any of his opponents down in the process.

In opposition Ludacris decided to boost his self image while disrespecting others along the way in his song, "Obama." "Obama," is written in rap style. This style appeals to many, but it specifically appeals to Black Americans.
This song is very arrogant saying that he is one of Obama's favorite rappers, and asking Obama to pardon him if he is ever jailed. He even goes on to tell Obama to make him his vice president candidate.

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