Posted on Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
Celebrated composer William Bolcom responds to Congress' gun vote in song: 'Aren't You Ashamed?'
By Jenn McKee
Ann Arbor's resident Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom recently posted a YouTube video that's "a musical letter to Congress in response to their failed gun vote on April 17, 2013."
The song is titled "Aren't You Ashamed?" Watch it here:
Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.
Comments
Dorothy
Tue, Apr 30, 2013 : 3:57 a.m.
Thanks Mr. Bolcom for being an engaged artist, and for the commentary your catchy song. It is very much needed. Woody would be proud.
arborani
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.
I understand the premise (I think), but poor Woody must be rolling in his grave.
gerald brennan
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:20 a.m.
The Senate did its job. Those who voted against knew well that they would be selling pencils after the next election if they did otherwise. The system worked. Let's hear some songs about THAT.
Jack Gladney
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:36 a.m.
I guess if this is his newest hit record, I needn't bother checking out his back catalogue of golden oldies and classic b-sides. I may see if I can find his appearances on Top of the Pops and Bandstand though.
leaguebus
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
Good song, Bill. Even 85% of the NRA would like to see universal background checks! Must be the 15% of the, lets keep the status quo NRA people have hit this list today. Being blind to a problem makes it no problem, right? I keep thinking of the 20 or so sets of parents who had their kids killed in Conn. and I see a problem.
Usual Suspect
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
"I keep thinking of the 20 or so sets of parents who had their kids killed in Conn. and I see a problem." Nothing in the proposed bill would have made any difference in the outcome of that event, not would it have any affect on the next such event. Criminals don't obey the rules, including background checks.
Pete
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:02 p.m.
Sorry, but 85% of NRA members do NOT support this bill as written. They MIGHT support a background check that actually only did such a check for all sales and then destroyed all records of the check as is currently done. Unfortunately, that was not the intent of the writers of this bill, and certainly would not have been the effect of this bill as written. This bill was an attempt to slide universal gun registration past the voters. It deserved to be defeated; I'm just sorry to see how many legislators voted for this bill without reading or understanding it.
Mike D.
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 11:07 p.m.
I share Bill's disgust at the inaction. This bill was about background checks, which are just fine when voting is concerned, if you ask Republicans. While checks wouldn't prevent every act of violence, they would be a step in the right direction. This kind of violence won't go away until guns are harder to acquire for wingnuts.
djm12652
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 7:36 p.m.
Aren't there already background checks in place? That being said....wasn't the tragedy in Newtown committed with stolen weapons?
Superior Twp voter
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.
"Wingnuts" huh? That's code for Conservative(s)?
Usual Suspect
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:38 a.m.
If it's truly a step in the right direction, then let's see Democrats introduce a bill that does exactly that, and not all the other garage that was in this bill.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:16 p.m.
I appreciate the talents of athletes, actors, and musicians. I enjoy their work. I don't, however, understand why they think anyone would have any interest in their political diatribes. These people aren't usually very educated and they rarely deviate from the most tired and pointless party-line cliches.
Mike D.
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 11:09 p.m.
You can disagree with Bill, but you might want to look up his credentials and education before you make gross generalizations. Your ad hominem attack isn't grounded in reality.
motorcycleminer
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:05 p.m.
The song should be " Aren't you ashamed you brought this wholly political BS bill up in the first place "
patroit728
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:22 p.m.
aren't you ashamed you don't know who to blame its not the guns its the people you could get rid of every gun in this country and the murder rate would not change since the beginning of man people have killed with a rock or stick a knife if you take all the guns from good law abiding citizens do you think the criminals will give up there's not i have owned guns all my life and have carried one for some time i have never murdered anyone i have used it to stop a person from killing another if i was not there they would be dead and all the police could do is take a report a hope to catch them you think the police are here to protect you well they are not did you know it takes several minutes for a call to go out to the police it may take 10 minutes to get there now if some criminal was in your house and going to harm you is your call to police going to stop the attack i didn't think so they are here to uphold the laws of the land its up to you to protect your self and your loved ones police forces are getting smaller and the criminals are getting larger the problem is there's has always been a balance of good and evil the problem is the evil is getting bigger then the good and that starts at home parenting that's were the problems lie want the government to protect you and make it a better place to live well you have to get a background check to buy a gun how about background checks b4 you can be a parent
djm12652
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.
wait a minute...you mean the 14 people recently in Texas weren't stabbed by a gun? Blame the gun industry....cuz we all know criminals are all misunderstood...
John of Saline
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
There is a concept called "punctuation" that you should look in to.
John of Saline
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 6:12 p.m.
Remember, if you disagree with this guy you're officially a Bad Person with Bad Motivations. No other explanation is possible.
Usual Suspect
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:36 a.m.
That's the official liberal "tolerant" attitude about opinion that doesn't exactly match theirs.
Superior Twp voter
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.
Such a non-newsworthy crock. It was hilarious watching/listening to exalted ruler Obama after another gun control failure. The failure of his own party in bringing the worthless feel-good legislation forward.
Superior Twp voter
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:33 p.m.
I am clear on that, Mr. Mattson. However, is it not "entertainment" with heavy political overtones (pardon the pun)?
djm12652
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
@kyle....please, please define "entertainment"...
Kyle Mattson
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:03 p.m.
Just to note STvoter, this is filed under entertainment.
Cory C
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 6:26 p.m.
@dsponini, that's exactly what's wrong here, people thinking "Oh, we must DO something!" and trying to push for knee-jerk legislation that really won't have any effect on crime. Assault weapons ban? Great, you've stopped 300 murders a year (if it's even that high, that number is for all rifles, including hunting rifles). Want to stop crime? Start talking about handgun bans. Or do you not care about the 30,000 people that die from them? Seriously, I'm quite glad this horrible piece of legislation failed.
dsponini
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
@ Unusual. No, I'm talking about the..."our only job is to make President Obama a one term President" traitors in congress. You know, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz (McCarthy reincarnated), Paul Ryan et al. http://www.dailykos.com/ news/Traitors%20in %20Congress#
Usual Suspect
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 5:57 p.m.
By "the party of no" I assume you're talking about the Democrats who voted against the bill?
dsponini
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 5:45 p.m.
At least Democrats are trying to get something done in this country. But it's futile when you go up against the party of "no".
dsponini
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
Yes they should be ashamed. Here's an idea. Why doesn't everyone in congress just quit and give their jobs over to the board members of the NRA, since they are the ones that control us all
Usual Suspect
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
Let's completely ignore the fact that the NRA is a collection of American citizens who belong to the organization because they agree with what the NRA stands for. It's a silly concept, I know. If that wasn't the case, you would be seeing people fleeing the organization (like happened to the AARP), but instead, it's membership is growing. But it's best for your ideological propaganda to ignore that fact and just demonize the organization instead.
Usual Suspect
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
"A day that will live in infamy" .... Are you sure his awards weren't for drama?
djm12652
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 8:20 p.m.
@suspect....I forgot to insert the sarcasm, I just assumed that little ditty of his was more Broadway than drama....LOL..I got 5 downs
djm12652
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 7:25 p.m.
Suspect...shame on you! You didn't even bring up the notion of a Tony!
Usual Suspect
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
I don't understand why it says, "failed gun vote" when it turned out the right way. Maybe it's a typo.
Steven Taylor
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 4:59 p.m.
I didn't know whiny liberal tears had a musical category.