Labour’s earworm

35 comments on “Labour’s earworm ”

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1. Insolent Prick 1

   5 November 2007 at 4:49 pm

   Sure is a bitter way with Labour.

   A majestic irony of a pre-election year campaign song with the line: “And no power on earth can tell us, what to do or what to be…” at the same time that the Government is rail-roading legislation closing down opposition voices in election year.
2. Tane 2

   5 November 2007 at 5:04 pm

   Oh Prick, you’re still banging on about the EFB?

   I’ll spell this out simply for you: it’s not democracy when large, and in many case overseas-owned, interests can spend up large on billboard campaigns and other advertising to influence our elections. I sure don’t want National’s multinational business backers telling us what to do or who to be, and by the sounds of it Chris Knox doesn’t either.
3. illuminatedtiger 3

   5 November 2007 at 6:57 pm

   As a young kiwi male I really do like the sound of this. Minor criticism is it might sound too “punky” for older audiences. Perhaps this will be better targeted at the young and I’m sure marketing could dream something equally impressive up for an older audiences 🙂 .
4. all_your_base 4

   5 November 2007 at 7:25 pm

   IP – Who was it again that wanted Kiwi troops blindly following the US into Iraq? And which party advocated dropping the nuclear free legislation by lunchtime? National.
5. Santa Claws 5

   5 November 2007 at 7:26 pm

   So, who much was Chris paid for this effort by Labour, and where was it funded from then Tane?
6. all_your_base 6

   5 November 2007 at 7:28 pm

   I understand that he took the initiative himself. Apparently he’s been, or is about to be on Campbell Live.

   That is to say that I don’t believe he was approached or paid to do it.

   Strange concept for Tories, altruism, isn’t it?

   UPDATE: Ok, appears that I’m wrong. He was approached – his partner is apparently a fundraiser for the Labour Party – and yes, he was paid, but not a huge sum.

   He said in the Press that aside from the cheque, “Labour was a cause worth supporting.”
7. Santa Claws 7

   5 November 2007 at 7:47 pm

   You do know his connections to Labour don’t you?

   I wonder if Campbell will ask what he thinks of Labour’s version of the copyright act?
8. Santa Claws 8

   5 November 2007 at 8:03 pm

   Here’s the gospel from RB earlier today.

   “I presume it’s alright to say this: Chris’s partner, Barbara Ward (a very organised and involved person) was Labour candidate Phil Twyford’s campaign manager at the last election and I presume will be again. So that would have been the connection. I further presume it was a commissioned work.

   The Labour-Flying Nun connection isn’t new though. Last time the TV election advertising song was The Clean’s ‘Anything Could Happen’. Everybody just conveniently forgot that the song is actually about going to the doctor and trying to score drugs …”

   Kudos for Chris on being up-front though, and it is a good tune.
9. r0b 9

   5 November 2007 at 8:34 pm

   “Kudos for Chris on being up-front though, and it is a good tune.”

   He was a hoot on stage with the Grateful Red too. Hamming it up shamelessly!
10. Policy Parrot 10

    5 November 2007 at 8:46 pm

    Catchy jingle.

    Wonder what the Nats will come up with counter with?

    Perhaps the “Uber alles” verse of “Das Reich”? Would be appropriate considering past comments on the Standard by KEY righties slamming the poor for exactly that.
11. Robinsod 11

    5 November 2007 at 8:48 pm

    Tony Claws seems well up on all this sort of thing. Where you from claws?
12. milo 12

    5 November 2007 at 9:14 pm

    So what’s the market value of this jingle? That’s what should count as a donation in kind.

    Or is it National donations bad, Labour donations good?
13. milo 13

    5 November 2007 at 9:16 pm

    It really is grossly unfair that Labour should get an electoral advantage just because they happen to be supported by creative people. Creative people control popular culture, so this kind of action just distorts electoral outcomes.
14. all_your_base 14

    5 November 2007 at 10:13 pm

    “Happen to be supported by creative people”? You make it sound as if it’s an accident milo. No coincidence that the PM took responsibility for Arts and Culture as a demonstration of the huge role the creative industries play in helping to promote a unique national identity.

    Labour has invested in the arts because the arts matter. If artists recognise that and choose to support Labour on that basis, it should hardly come as a surprise.
15. milo 15

    5 November 2007 at 10:15 pm

    And does the same argument apply to business? Or should that be regulated?
16. Patrick 16

    5 November 2007 at 10:37 pm

    Milo, quite frankly I do think the arts are more important to our ‘unique national identity’ than business. Sure, business and the economy is very important, vital even. But looking back in history, what is remembered about the great civilizataions of the past?

    Fair enough if National doesn’t think the arts are important, that’s their prerogative, but there are a vast number of people in this country who think the arts are extremely important. Funny thing is, these are thinking, politically active people.

    Think of artists who have performed at Labour Party functions recently: The Checks, Dimmer, Goldenhorse, Nathan Haines, Salmonella Dub, Che Fu, One Million Dollars, David Kilgour, Anika Moa.

    And what do the National Party do? Neil Diamond CDs?

    Sure, you could (and probably will) claim that there are plenty more prominent rich white business men attending National Party functions, however you may choose to spin that some other way.
17. Insolent Prick 17

    5 November 2007 at 10:49 pm

    By large, overseas interests, Tane, are you referring to Labour’s biggest backer in the last election, who donated $500,000 to Labour’s campaign?

    Because you’re certainly not referring to the EFB, Tane. The EFB does nothing to limit anonymous donations. Labour can’t do without its Owen Glenns.

    You’re simply lying, Tane, by trying to spin the EFB into a battle between openness and righteousness on the one hand, and sneaky, closed, evil dealings on the other.
18. milo 18

    5 November 2007 at 10:53 pm

    I guess my point is really that some of the rhetoric about the undue influence of business on politics could similarly be applied to the arts. I am being a bit precious, I admit it, but I worry about the unbalanced rhetoric that we seem to be getting in our political discourse these days, and make the point to try to get people to stop and think a bit.

    Still, to try not to threadjack … I do agree about the importance of the arts, and I think the Prime Minister was right to patronise the promote them. Funnily enough, I think it contributes to a vibrant economy as well in the medium term (not that that’s the point). So she certainly gets a tick from me for that.
19. Santa Claws 19

    5 November 2007 at 11:18 pm

    Geez Robespierre, I’m surprised that you don’t read the lefty goodness at Public Address. I’m sure you’d go down a treat there with your calm discussion and reasoned debate. Or have you been banned from there too?
20. illuminatedtiger 20

    5 November 2007 at 11:57 pm

    Thanks a lot fu*kers 😉 Now I can’t get this song out of my head 😛 !
21. Benodic 21

    6 November 2007 at 12:00 am

    I know, me too. It just goes round, and round, and round, and round and won’t go away.

    Though I guess there are worse things in the world for Labour than NZ’s voters having “you’re better off with Labour” stuck in their heads in the weeks leading up to the election!
22. illuminatedtiger 22

    6 November 2007 at 12:04 am

    Doesn’t mean its bad though, I really do like it 😀 . Definitely has an old “flying-nun” feel to it.
23. Robinsod 23

    6 November 2007 at 7:58 am

    DPF Claws – interesting to see you commenting on my ban at KB only minutes after DPF posted it in the demerits section without comment on the main thread (even I didn’t find out ’til this morning). You are DPF and it’s real sad I must say that you feel you have to come over here to boast – what’s the matter bro, do you miss engaging with me already?

    Oh and if we’re talking unpaid creative contribution I’d be real interested to know how much Ansell got paid for National’s billboards and taxathon ad last time around…
24. Insolent Prick 24

    6 November 2007 at 11:01 am

    Yes, Robinsod. DPF has the time to set up alternative noms de plume and comment at length on your blog. I’m DPF, too. So is Murray McCully. And Cactus Kate? Also DPF. Whaleoil, definitely him. Pete Cresswell as well.
25. Robinsod 25

    6 November 2007 at 11:28 am

    No Prick – you’re just some nobody who is seeking attention via blogging (you probably also delude yourself that you’re active in some important cause due to this vanity). Santa on the other hand is someone with inside knowledge of similar circles to DPF, ready access to the same sort of stats DPF uses (and a propensity to use the same techniques to spin them) and a very similar lexicon and style to DPF (despite his attempts to hide them). When you add the fact that santa seems to take the standard as a personal affront and his handle doesn’t show anywhere else. I’d say it’s about 90% certain he’s DPF. I’m sure an analysis of posting time between the two would show significant correlation but who could be arsed with that? DPF Claws it is…
26. Insolent Prick 26

    6 November 2007 at 1:01 pm

    You should charge people for your investigative services, Sherlock.
27. Robinsod 27

    6 November 2007 at 2:05 pm

    IP – I’d charge you but I don’t think you could afford to pay me out out of your benefit. Go back to punter-land son.
28. roger nome 28

    6 November 2007 at 2:18 pm

    chris knox is possibly the most melodically talented musician that NZ has ever had. So similar in his musical sensibilities to the Beatles and Elliot Smith – who of course are/were left-wing also. What is it that no real musical talents are ever right wing?
29. Sam Dixon 29

    6 November 2007 at 2:57 pm

    Milo – it wouldn’t be ‘ – national bad’ all the time if National didn’t have stupid policies designed to benifit a few rich buggers at the expense of the rest of the country.
30. Insolent Prick 30

    8 November 2007 at 11:36 am

    It’s not consistent of you to benefit-bash, Robinsod.
31. ANGUS 31

    10 November 2007 at 12:33 pm

    I CAN’T DOWNLOAD IT!

    ANY SUGGESTIONS?
32. Anne Elliot 32

    10 November 2007 at 1:06 pm

    Use a Mac :-). Worked for me.
33. ahod 33

    10 November 2007 at 1:07 pm

    Really… Damn!

    Can it be emailed?

Links to post

1. Phentermine: posted on 13 November 2007 at 4:36 am
2. Why’d you do it Chris? at thestandard.org.nz: posted on 31 December 2007 at 10:09 pm

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