Tag Archives: rahm emanuel

The Talkin’ Red Light Blues

The More Things Change…

So, I caught this report about red light traffic cameras on the news the other day. And, at first, I kind of laughed to myself. HA HA HA Mayor Rahm screwing up again! But then I was like, “Hey, wait a minute, wasn’t this an issue back in 2009? Didn’t I write a song about something like this?”

The Talkin' Red Light Blues
A city of Chicago worker making the city a safer place.

Yeah. I did. Here it is.

Now, Rahm was not Mayor of Chicago back then, so CTA buses speeding through red lights and getting tickets from red light cameras installed by His Holiness Mayor Daley really can’t be blamed on him.

Oh, wait. Oops.

So, nothing has changed, except that Mister Mayor himself got caught by the cameras this time. And not just the red light cameras, but also the speed-trap cameras that he had installed. HILARIOUS.

Seriously, did you read this article? READ IT.

“No one is above the law.” (Unless no one notices.)

Mayor Emanuel wants the city to be SAFER, so he installed cameras to make us all drive slower. But he’s got a city to run, okay? Get out of his way.

So you see, I had to do a rewrite of the Talkin’ CTA Bus Blues. HAD TO.

Enjoy.

Hey! You can now download this song by clicking here.

The Talkin’ CTA Blues (Rahm Emanuel Version)

Same Old, Same Old

Well, this is another Chicago-inspired tune that I wrote several years ago. In 2008! But, the more things change, the more they stay the same, right? The CTA is still crashing trains, but instead of Mayor Daley making things right, we’ve got Rahm Emanuel.

The Talkin' CTA Blues (Rahm Emanuel Version)
In Chicago, infrastructure is priority number one.

I wrote the original version about a CTA crash on the blue line, but since there was just recently this one (or, even this one that I saw happen), I figured I better update the song a little. You can read about the original version and listen to it here. Or, if you feel like supporting a local musician, buy the song here. You’ll notice the differences.

For one, Chicago isn’t trying to get the Olympics any more, but Mayor Rahm does want to use our hard earned dollars and change to build a shiny basketball arena for DePaul University. They MUST need it bad, huh? Go ahead and read up on it. The Chicago Reader always has some good points.

Anyway, I always enjoyed this song. Singing it, performing it. I’m adding it back into my lineup. Maybe you’ll catch a show where I play it sometime soon?

Hey! You can now download this song by clicking here.

Rahm Emanuel Says (I’m Guided by the Love of Gold)

A New Version of Mister Mayor Says

With all the big issues you have to deal with in a big city like Chicago, who better to deal with them than good, ol’ Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Rahm Emanuel Says (I'm Guided by the Love of Gold)
Rahm Emanuel has good intentions and good will for all of the citizens of Chicago.

I first wrote this song WAY BACK near the end of 2009. The original subject being good, ol’ Mayor Daley, may God rest his soul. I never figured he’d retire from his job and thought I’d get to keep singing the song and singing it until I died.

But all good things come to an end.

Good, ol’ Mayor Daley retired and good, ol’ Mayor Rahm stepped right in. So, I figured I better update my song a bit just for him.

You’re welcome, Mister Mayor.

If you’d like to hear the original recording that appeared on my album It’s Chicago! from 2010, go here. If you’d like to hear some other draft recordings, go here and here.

Hey! You can now download this song by clicking here.