Fugees pictures from New York Magazine

Songs About Obama Are Music to His Ears

Not only does Obama think that song is about him, he counts it as one of his favorites.Photo: Getty ImagesBlender just released a list of Barack Obama's and John McCain's top-ten favorite songs, and, like anything the candidates do that shouldn’t really matter, we feel duty bound to scrutinize it for political ramifications. McCain’s list contains two Abba songs in his top three, which is two more ABBA songs than you might expect from a grizzled 71-year-old Vietnam vet. But Obama’s top ten is bookended by what seem like two unintentionally weird picks. For a candidate whose detractors frequently refer to him as inexperienced and unprepared to lead the country, it almost seems like self-satire for Obama to choose “Ready or Not” by the Fugees (first line: “Ready or not, here I come”) as his favorite song. But even though it seems like a track Stephen Colbert might use if he were concocting a list of Obama’s favorite songs, that can be forgiven. It's the number ten pick that makes you wonder if any of Obama’s approximately one billion campaign aides are even paying attention.That’s because Obama’s tenth-favorite song of all-time is apparently “Yes We Can,” by Will.I.Am, from the popular viral video featuring ScarJo, John Legend, the sister from The Fresh Prince, Michael from Lost, and a bunch of other people who are less recognizable. Didn’t anyone in the campaign think it was an odd choice for someone who is right now facing allegations of vanity to proclaim that a tribute song composed entirely of lines from his own speeches is one of his favorite songs ever? Maybe he just wanted to spread word of the song to those who were in comas, in space, or not yet born at the time of the video’s release, in February, when everyone else on Earth saw it. But that doesn’t seem to outweigh the fact that it supplies more credence, however superficial, to the Arrogant Obama narrative. You didn’t see McCain picking “Bomb Bomb Iran” as one of his favorite tunes. Although that would ha

Published: 2008-08-12 Provider: New York Magazine

Heath Ledger Has a Supermodel in His Sights

Photo: Getty ImagesHeath Ledger has been stalking Gemma Ward around town and also tried hitting on (taken) Heather Graham. The server who brought Chelsea Clinton the wrong appetizer at Irving Mill may or may not have been fired. Calvin Klein is vandalizing his Houston Street billboard for the opening of the New Museum on the Bowery. NBC honcho Jeff Zucker doesn't want the strike to end because retail advertisers have already bought up ad space, and now production costs are zero. Kimora Lee Simmons was overheard saying that the reason she invited Russell Simmons's new girlfriend, Porschla Coleman, to meet the "major players" at Simmons's birthday last month is because she "wants this stupid bitch to get a clue." Seagram heir Edgar Bronfman Jr. just bought an $18.75 million condo in the Carhart mansion on East 95th Street.A publisher paid Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy an $8.5 million advance for his autobiography but will likely have trouble recouping it unless Kennedy comes clean about his car accident. Britney Spears may or may not have a secret kinky sex room in her mansion in L.A., and may or may not be pregnant again. Lindsay Lohan is set to start work on her third album (tentative title: Nobody's Angel), probably because she has no movies on her slate. (She is also apparently drinking again.) Amy Winehouse, who may have been snorting coke onstage during a recent show, canceled the rest of her tour on account of "doctor's orders." David Beckham totally overshadowed Vince Vaughn while the two separately dined at Nobu in London. Conrad Black, Don Imus, and Mark Zuckerberg are among the contenders for IWantMedia.com's "Media Person of the Year." Kim Kardashian had $50,000 in jewelry and electronics stolen from her at JFK. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was introduced to current fling Jessica Simpson by Simpson's dad. Wyclef Jean said he didn't get angry at Lauryn Hill for breaking up the Fugees because she needs "psychiatric help." Adrian Grenier said he doesn't

Published: 2007-11-28 Provider: New York Magazine