March 14, 2006
Come to Washington
Vince Scheuerman, eat your heart out. This morning, DCist's inbox contained a press release announcing an upcoming party kicking off a campaign to adopt a city song for Washington. The effort calls itself, "Come to Washington: A Song for the City," and it's thrown its support behind "Come to Washington," a treacly bit of civic pride penned by Lincoln Ross, a longtime D.C. musician whose past work has included stints with Count Basie and Donald Byrd. The song, which you can hear here, begins like this:
Washington, DC A really great place to be, So if you're into having fun, Come to Washington.
The musical style is James Taylor doing After School Special themes, but inoffensive is the key when trying to get a song like this adopted (it appears the song is god-free, thank heavens). Here's some more (it's irresistable):
Hail to our Redskins. We really love to see them win, And the Nationals are getting down, Now that baseball is back in town.
The launch event, which takes place from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on March 24th, will be hosted by local sports personality Glenn Harris and held at Jenny's Asian Fusion on Water Street in SW. The press release notes that, "The first 15 guests to arrive receive a delicious bottle of California Sauvignon Blanc with a souvenir "Come to Washington" label. The next 15 guests win a "Famous People of U Street" poster courtesy of Cultural Tourism DC. Washington's historic candy shop, Velatis, is gracing the next 15 guests with a heavenly 1/4 pound box of its famous caramels. And the next lucky 15 winners receive a gift certificate for a savory chilidog from celebrity-famous Ben's Chili Bowl!"
Sounds like a good time. Nonetheless, before this is all set in stone, we'd like to entertain some ideas for alternative city anthems. Leave your suggestions in the comments.
Picture taken by JamesCalder.
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How about one without an ethnic slur?
Uh, what's happpenin' CC? You already have a theme song.
If "inoffensive is the key," why mention the Redskins? Many find this name extremely offensive.
As for alternative songs, I'd have to agree with the P-Funk. Chocolate City is DC's soundtrack. Of course, anything by Chuck Brown or Rare Essence would fit the bill too.
Good point PFAS.
Here are another couple of worthy toons:
- "Washington DC" by Magnetic Fields
- a different "Washington DC" by our very own Johnny Cohen
:^)
j
Hands down it should be Parliament's "Chocolate City".
The Magnetic Fields' "Washington DC" would be awesome.
Michael - I'll second that! Also Johnny Cohen's tune of the same name. (I tried posting these with links to sound clips of each song earlier, but I got some weird "we need to approve this post" kind of message, no need to re-post", so let's see if it shows up eventually!)
Well Said Michael. Here are the Lyrics for everyone who hasn't heard the song.
W! ASH! ING! TON, baby, D.C.! W! ASH! ING! TON, baby, D.C.!
Washington, D.C., it's paradise to me. It's not because it is the grand old seat of precious freedom and democracy no no no
It's not the greenery turning gold in fall, the scenery circling the Mall. It's just that's where my baby lives, that's all.
Washington, D.C. it's the greatest place to be It's not the cherries everywhere in bloom It's not the way they put folks on the Moon, no no no It's not the spectacles and pageantry, the thousand things you've got to see. It's just that's where my baby waits for me
W! ASH! ING! TON, baby, D.C.! W! ASH! ING! TON, baby, D.C.!
Washington, D.C., it fits me to a T It's not the people doing something real. It's not the way the springtime makes you feel. It ain't no famous name on a golden plaque that makes me ride
the railroad track It's my baby's kiss that keeps me coming back. It's my baby's kiss that keeps me coming back
This may be ignorant - but does DC have a problem getting tourists to come to the city? All my experiences have been packed Metros, charter buses lining Constitution Ave., and lines for other attractions.
Rock Creek Park by the Blackbyrds. That is a bad-ass song.
To pick up on the Chuck Brown theme (Aziz), why not Bustin' Loose? And, off topic, why on earth aren't the Nats using that as their 7th inning stretch song any more? It was genius, I tell you, genius!
I am really enjoying Lincoln Ross's Foreigner-style aversion to words that have more than two syllables.
What about Smart Went Crazy's DC Will Do That To You?
Never mind. I guess that one's more of Rusty's kind of song. Also, much more accurate.
LOVE the Magnetic Fields song. Great call, James C!
I could also see the snappy W! ASH! ING! TON, baby, D.C.! fitting really well into tv ads for the District. Very energetic.
Having just returned from Chicago, I've got it on my brain.
According to the Chicago Public Library, they do not have an official song (does anyone really need one and why not, like the comments above, use one that already exists.)
But they do have unofficial songs, based on requests to the library. Don't we keep records like this around?
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chisong.html
Perhaps they should use our anthem
"DC Fight Song" by Federal City Five.
But then again, they may not appreciate the sentiment...
it's all about statehood!
"we can't fight what we can't see, cause no one represents DC!"
Coburn - thanks for introducing me to a DC song I'd never heard before. Love it!
DC1974 - i'm with you on figuring out what would be the most popular DC song.
DCist editors - isn't this a great opportunity for another test of the voting capability you used yesterday?
What? No votes for "Christmas Eve in Washington" by Maura Sullivan? I'm shocked -- I say, SHOCKED.
Or there's always "East Coast Anthem" by Good Charolette ... jk.
BTW - (while Im commenting) anyone catch the Logan Circle parking action over the weekend? I hear they are adding something like 70 spaces up there. Why cant they do that, um .... everywhere?
How about "911 is a Joke" by Public Enemy?
I smell a compilation cd coming on...
Only DCist readers would seriously suggest a song from uber-indie Magnetic Fields. Especially after the knock-out undisputed cham-PEEN was already named- "Chocolate City." If only the "vanilla suburbs" weren't gainin' on it...
Army of Me's "Come Down to DC" would be great...
The radio station was playing "christmas eve in washington" allll christmastime and there are better songs out there. It's like, she just found attractions that rhymed and put them in a simple song. not exciting.
amen on the not needing a song for DC. not every state has a song (see VA's recent trouble finding one) and money can be better spend making the district easier once the tourists get here, so they'll return.
What about "District Sleeps Alone Tonight" by The Postal Service? It'd appeal to hipsters, a demographic DC so badly needs more of.
MAURA SULLIVAN'S "CHRISTMAS EVE IN WASHINGTON" IS OVERPLAYED TRIPE, MAUDLIN, OVERLY SENTIMENTAL AND THE TUNE IS LAME !!!!! THE SINGER SUCKS TOO !!
NO VOTES PLEASE FOR "XMAS EVE IN WASHINGTON" !!!
Sorry, I'm backing the call for Christmas Eve in Washington, as a non-native Washingtonian who loves listening to it everytime it's played. Just as with every Christmas song, it supposed to be sentimental and appealling to a sense of community. It nails those qualities. Maybe not the song for year-round play, but at Christmas time, definitely a hit.
Does anyone have the sheet music to "Christmas Eve in Washington"? I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find it!