



« Flying high | Latest postings | Kennedy: 'Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam' » Originally posted: January 9, 2007

Play that funky music, ABC lady Posted by Mark Silva at 2:30 pm CST This could be the first time that the oh-so-funky one-hit wonder from the Seventies, Wild Cherry, was invoked from the podium of the White House press briefing room, with press secretary Tony Snow's cheerful: "Play that funky music, white girl.'' Even better: It was the errant, custom-tuned cell phone of ABC News chief White House correspondent Martha Raddatz which prompted this soulful outbreak in today's press briefing. Play that funky music, Martha. ABC News photo. In the midst of Snow's rather serious briefing about the speech that the president will give about the war in Iraq tomorrow, Raddatz's phone rang in the front row. It wasn't chiming with bells or beeps, however. It was ringing with a downloaded refrain from "Ridin''' -- a hip-hop number about "ridin' dirty' by Chamillionaire, featuring Krayzie Bone. Snow, feigning a measure of shock, paused and asked: "Does Martha have a hip-hop ring tone?''

Then the press secretary let loose with an improvisation of his own, mercifully spoken, not sung: "Play that funky music, white girl.''' This would be only a slight variation on Wild Cherry's platinum hit from 1976: "Yeah, they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'... And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted.... Play that funky music, white boy.'' Just like the groove in the press briefing room, where sources say credit for the downloaded Chamillionaire ringer goes to Raddatz's teenager.

in White House | Permalink Comments We have all fallen through the looking glass! In celebration here is the worst song ever written.

(With the possible exception of MacArthur Park)

Mark, thanks, buddy, but you may be sorry! Paper Lace The Night Chicago Died In the heat of a summer night

In the land of the dollar bill

When the town of Chicago died

And they talk about it still When a man named Al Capone

Tried to make that town his own

And he called his gang to war

With the forces of the law I heard my mama cry

I heard her pray the night Chicago died

Brother what a night it really was

Brother what a fight it really was

Glory be I heard my mama cry

I heard her pray the night Chicago died

Brother what a night the people saw

Brother what a fight the people saw

Yes indeed And the sound of the battle rang

Through the streets of the old east side

'Til the last of the hoodlum gang

Had surrendered up or died There was shouting in the street

And the sound of running feet

And I asked someone who said

Bout a hundred cops are dead I heard my mama cry

I heard her pray the night Chicago died

Brother what a night it really was

Brother what a fight it really was

Glory be! I heard my mama cry

I heard her pray the night Chicago died

Brother what a night the people saw

Brother what a fight the people saw

Yes indeed And ther was no sound at all

But the clock upon the wall

Then the door burst open wide

And my daddy stepped inside

And he kissed my mama's face

And he brushed her tears away The night Chicago died

The night Chicago died

Brother what a night the people saw

Brother what a fight the people saw

Yes indeed The night Chicago died

The night Chicago died

Brother what a night it really was

Brother what a fight it really was

Glory be The night Chicago died

The night Chicago died

Brother what a night the people saw

Brother what a fight the people saw

Yes indeed Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 2:43:36 PM Everybody, Be sure to check out Eric Zorn's column today. He administered a real old fashioned MSM woodshed beating to Paulo. Hey Paulo, where you quoted correctly? Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 2:56:41 PM Oh, if only Tony had tried to 'moon dance', then called her 'beeeach!', or something. Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 3:30:42 PM In honor of Chicago and politics and war here's the Graham Nash tribute: So your brother's bound and gagged

And they've chained him to a chair

Won't you please come to Chicago just to sing

In a land that's known as Freedom

How can such a thing be fair

Won't you please come to Chicago for the help that we can bring We can change the world

Rearrange the world

It's dying-to get better Politicians sit yourself down

There's nothing for you here

Won't you please come to Chicago for a ride

Don't ask Jack to help you

"Cause he'll turn the other ear

Won't you please come to Chicago or else join the other side We can change the world

Rearrange the world

It's dying-if you believe in justice

It's dying-and if you believe in freedom

It's dying-let a man live his own life

It's dying-rules and regulations

Who needs them, open up the door Somehow people must be free

I hope the day comes soon

Won't you please come to Chicago, show your face

From the bottom of the ocean

To the mountains of the moon

Won't you please come to Chicago, no one else can take your place We can change the world.... Graham Nash, "Chicago"---more apropos now than ever.

s Posted by: dt | Jan 9, 2007 3:31:26 PM Are kevlar vests de rigeur for WH press briefings these days? Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | Jan 9, 2007 4:19:23 PM What's Silva's ringtone? I'd like to know. Posted by: Jules | Jan 9, 2007 4:45:15 PM I don't want to know what Snow, Cheney or Bush's ringtones are. Posted by: lochnessmonster | Jan 9, 2007 5:31:37 PM C.Morris, I thought you were opposed to torture. You couldn't have simply posted the title and left it at that? "The Night Chicago Died" should be listed in the "crimes against humanity" section of the Geneva Convention. Posted by: Tom O | Jan 9, 2007 5:36:42 PM Actually, Paulo wasn't quoted correctly. "...Obama's MUSLIM father" was how our resident genius Paulo put it, to make sure that we all know that he thinks muslims are less worthy of human consideration. Posted by: Bryan | Jan 9, 2007 5:37:37 PM

tom o, we've only just begun,,,,

no what I mean? Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 7:25:46 PM Tom O,

My favorite line; 'And the sound of the battle rang

Through the streets of the old east side' ??? 'old east side' !??? Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 7:37:19 PM Kenny B, Yeah, I just noticed the vest. Was she in Bag. recently? Could be. She is on Washington Week and has been there, I think. Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 7:46:34 PM More bad tunes for the Swamp Rats! LADY, by Styx! Dedicated to Ms. 'Radish'; Lady, when youre with me Im smiling

Give me all your love

Your hands build me up when Im sinking

Just touch me and my troubles all fade

Lady, from the moment I saw you

Standing all alone

You gave all the love that I needed

So shy, like a child who has grown Youre my lady of the morning

Love shines in your eyes

Sparkling, clear, and lovely

Youre my lady Lady, turns me on when Im lonely

Show me all your charm

Evenings when she lays down beside me

Just take me gently into your arms Your my lady of the moaning

Love shines in your eyes

Spanking, clear, and lovely

Youre my LAAAADEEEEE!! (phrased like Jerry Lewis) Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 7:53:14 PM sorry about the double posting. Anybody else have a huge problem with the Swamp interface tonight? I's really like to know. Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 9:20:59 PM "Anybody else have a huge problem with the Swamp interface tonight? I's really like to know. Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 9:20:59 PM" Typepad, the blogging software we use to produce The Swamp, had technical difficulties this evening. So I assume millions of blogs and blog devotees had mega problems. I couldn't access the blog to check postings and posting was impossible as well. But everything seems to be working now. Ain't technology grand? Posted by: Frank James | Jan 9, 2007 9:31:55 PM Frank,

Thanks for the 'splain. I just wanted to know it wasn't my own little number cruncher. We all start to sweat like heroin addicts in church any time the interface crashes. Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 9, 2007 9:39:30 PM Ahhhh...C.Morris,The jealousy of it all...of the hundreds of thousands of idiotic lefty posts by you,Dale Peters,General JohnE. Loon and the usual suspects,Zorn picks Paulo's post and teams me up with pundit Debbie Schlussel.....Ahhhhhh.

C.Mo---Envy is not good,now go make a name for yourself.

Paulo Posted by: Paulo | Jan 9, 2007 9:57:50 PM C Mo, I'd bet that George Jr.'s ringtone is:

"Sympathy for the Devil". Posted by: John E. | Jan 9, 2007 10:10:19 PM Why is this news? Posted by: Terry | Jan 9, 2007 10:47:04 PM I've got my cell phone set to Tiffany (not!) Children, behave

That's what they say when we're together

And watch how you play

They don't understand

And so we're Chorus: Running just as fast as we can

Holdin on to one another's hand

Tryin to get away into the night

And then you put your arms around me

And we tumble to the ground

And then you say I think we're alone now

There doesn't seem to be anyone around

I think we're alone now

The beating of the hearts is the only sound Look at the way

We gotta hide what we're doin

'cause what would they say

If they ever knew

And so we're repeat chorus I think we're alone now.. Frank James' favorite song written by (Ritchie Cordell) Posted by: dt | Jan 10, 2007 12:52:53 AM C.Mo---Envy is not good,now go make a name for yourself.

Paulo Posted by: Paulo | Jan 9, 2007 9:57:50 PM How about hussein...it's seems to be available now!!!! Posted by: bill r. | Jan 10, 2007 7:11:06 AM Paulo, Aren't we all basking in your reflected glory?

The 'cult of personality' lives! Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 10, 2007 7:52:22 AM Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.

I got love in my tummy,

And I feel like a-lovin you:

Love, you're such a sweet thing,

Good enough to eat thing

And that's just a-what I'm gonna do.

Ooh love, to hold ya,

Ooh love, to kiss ya,

Ooh love, I love it so.

Ooh love, you're sweeter,

Sweeter than sugar.

Ooh love, I wont let you go. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy,

I got love in my tummy,

And as silly as it may seem;

The lovin' that you re giving,

is what keeps me livin'

And your love is like

Peaches and cream.

Kind-a like sugar,

Kind-a like spices,

Kind-a like, like what you do.

Kind-a sounds funny.

But love,honey

Honey. I love you. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy,

I. got love in my tummy,

That your love can satisfy;

Love, you're such a sweet thing,

Good enough to eat thing

And sweet thing, that ain't no lie.

I love to hold ya,

Oh love, to kiss ya,

Ooh love, I love it so.

Ooh love, you're sweeter,

Sweeter than sugar.

Ooh love, I wont let you go.

Posted by: Earl | Jan 10, 2007 9:21:11 AM Earl, An awful one. Thanks! Here's another real 'bile buster'. Chewy Chewy, Chewy, Chewy.....

Always got a mouthful of such sweet things to say

Chewy's full of sugar and I love her that way Everytime you love me it's a real sugar treat

Love me little chewy cause you do it so sweet Baby a living box of candy wrapped up so very fine

Do it to me chewy chew me out of my mind. Ooh I love to kiss her

Love to hold her

Love to miss her

Love to scold her

Love to love her like I do. Oh little Chewy

Don't know what you're doing to me

But you're doing to me what I want you to. Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 10, 2007 10:07:03 AM why has no one noticed that Wild Cherry didn't do "Play that Funky Music?" It was the Average White Band People!!! credit where credit's due, no? Posted by: emang | Jan 10, 2007 10:27:11 AM Comments are not posted immediately. We review them first in an effort to remove foul language, commercial messages, irrelevancies and unfair attacks. Thank you for your patience.



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