Joe the Plumber Pursued for Record Deal

Mark Elliot Cullen

I think the idea with celebrity albums is that they are interesting people and so they will automagically make interesting writers and performers. This is usually not the case.

I believe that sort of idea comes from producers and record men who think that musical ability and song craftsmanship are arbitrary things that anyone can do. They see popular music as a product instead of as an art form.

There are exceptions. I enjoyed Scarlett Johansson’s album and Tenacious D’s first album, though I haven’t heard the second one yet. I think what drove those albums were musical ideas by the artists, not some arbitrary commitment to make an album for self-promotion, read Paris Hilton.

Joe the Plumber’s case is unique because I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song about plunging or cleaning out a septic tank while trying to get tax cuts for the wealthy. I can say without reservation that I’m looking forward to his sure to be exciting contribution to the musical community.

Oct 30, 2008 @ 4:59 PM