Ten Bold Cover Tunes Part V: I Won't Back Down Edition

Note. Prior entries in this series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (Guitar Hero Edition), Part 4 (Dare to cover Johnny Cash Edition) 

This segment of the Ten Bold Cover Tunes series was inspired by the recent "Super Tuesday" primary elections. Former Vice-President Joe Biden, a guy who has been on the wrong side of so many things that have harmed huge numbers of people for so long (corporate trade deals, Iraq War, and bankruptcy protection to name just three of many), had such a great Super Tuesday showing that he's now back as the front-runner for the Democratic Party nomination. 

The last time the Dems nominated a former VP whose main appeal was his "decency" (think Walter Mondale '84), they lost 49 states in the general election. And Mondale's prior baggage was a paper lunch bag compared to the over sized footlocker Biden is carrying around. Which is not to say that Biden cannot win the general election; Mr. Trump's historically unique awfulness makes him vulnerable in ways that President Reagan was not in '84. What's sad is that huge swaths of the Democratic primary electorate have so deeply internalized lesser-evilism as a legitimate electoral option that they cannot bring themselves to vote for what they actually want or need. 

Biden's Super Tuesday ascension was propelled in part by other centrists leaving the race literally the day before the election to endorse him. Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar came to the conclusion that their active presence in the race could potentially hand over some victories to Bernie Sanders or even Michael Bloomberg. That Pete and Amy spent over a year getting supporters excited, then backed down immediately as soon as the DNC establishment explained the stakes to them, is not exactly the definition of political courage. 

All of which is not to say that Bernie Sanders is a perfect candidate. He has difficulty reaching out to older voters (who vote in big numbers), and his campaign's promise to attract new and disenchanted voters seems hollow at this point. But the good thing about Bernie is that, even at 78 years old and with two stents in the ticker, he doesn't back down. In fact the only hope right  now for people who want to see the Dems nominate someone who stands for things that most Dems say they believe in is to not back down. 

So for all of you out there fighting for more than pathetic business as usual, this rant is for you. Let's start with Tom Petty's original classic: 

#10: Jason Aldean: Aldean's version was performed live on Saturday Night Live, and proceeds from the recording went to victims of the horrible Las Vegas massacre.

#9:  Becca VanderBeck, Matthew Heath, and Noel Goff. I think Becca VanDerbeck's vocals on this cover hint at the vulnerability in the lyrics that's not immediately obvious on a surface level reading or listen.

#8: Lullaby Players: If you want to explain to young children the importance of being resilient and staying true to yourself, try accompanying your pitch with the Lullaby Players' version of "I Won't Back Down" playing in the background.

#7: JohnnySwim and Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors: Given the tragic tornado activity that hit Tennessee this week, this cover of the tune from a group of Nashville based musicians takes on added meaning.

#6:  Rebel Featuring Sam James. This is almost like a Club version of the tune, good if you're in the mood to tap your feet.

#5:  KT Tunstall, Mike McCready, and Leah Julius. The artists recorded this song as a "loud shout of support to all the people all over the world marching, protesting,and standing up for equality." Bravo.

#4: Reel Big Fish. If you like ska music, you will love this cover. The opening bass line by itself is worth the price of admission.

#3:  Anya Marina. In the last four years I've lost my mom and mother-in-law, both of whom continue to impact me greatly. Love the fact that Anya features her mom in the video.

#2:  Los Ciegos del Barrio. This band of all blind musicians know what it is like to have to struggle for acceptance and a place at the table. Their version of the tune is explicitly dedicated to the youth of the world, especially those victimized by gun violence. Powerful.

#1: Johnny Cash: The Man In Black somehow finds a way into just about all of these Bold Cover Tunes rants. I've said it before: no artist in history was able to take complete artistic ownership over other peoples' songs as well as Cash. He did it again here, belting out a version of "I Won't Back Down" that became a standard for others to follow. Amazing.

To get back to the primaries: if like me you are horrified by the turn the race has taken, the answer can't be to despair. The mainstream media will continue to tell us that we have to vote and act out of fear, that we have to share their warped sense of what a "safe" candidate is, and that we have to accept lesser-evilism as a legitimate political strategy. 

We can't continue to be suckered into that nonsense. 

We have to stand for something better. 

And when we say we won't back down, we have to mean it.