Boys, give me something in a C progression…

Hey, those guys had some pretty good timing, didn’t they?

Anyway, this morning I see that The New York Times is saying that:

Former Senator Fred D. Thompson  of Tennessee has taken new steps that make it clear that he is likely to run for the White House, potentially shaking up a field of candidates that has failed to strike a chord with the Republican base….

… and with my uncanny ability for going right to the heart of the matter, I immediately wondered, "which chord would that be?"

I’m thinking a basic C chord, within the context of a blues progression. That would be very Nashville, with a hint of Memphis thrown in. It would go with the drawl and the red pickup truck, which has been Fred’s campaign persona in the past.

Get out your ax (not the one you grind, the acoustic one) and strum C, F, G, G7 — maybe throw in an A minor in there someplace, or an E minor, or…

OK, I’m way out of my depth on music here. I can strum it, but when I try to write it, it’s too hard. Phillip, or anybody else out there?

Beyond that, in order to strike this chord in the electorate, would Fred have to sing a new song, or should it be something we know already that he could cover? I’m thinking a cover of an old favorite, or a new song that sounds old-timey. Anybody have any titles?

4 thoughts on “Boys, give me something in a C progression…

  1. Brad Warthen

    A colleague expressed puzzlement as to the POINT of this post.
    What am I going to do with these literal-minded people?
    I responded: “The point is, I don’t understand what it is that’s missing from the other candidates that he brings. But I prefer to be figurative…”
    And I really don’t. I think Fred’s got great presence. But that’s about all I know for sure. People talk about needing a “conservative” candidate. I don’t care what they say about that; they’ve GOT conservative candidates out the whazoo (or however you spell that).
    Another colleague suggested to me a moment ago that this is Karl Rove’s candidate this time around, citing some of the “slick moves” Thompson has made thus far.
    Slick moves? say I. Excuse me, but isn’t Karl Rove the PRESIDENT’s political adviser? What’s slick, or subtle, or clever about any political move HE’s ever made?

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