Summary
Charting music's part in US politics, from 1970s disco to 'Rich Men North of Richmond', which has become a surprise No.1 hit. What does this country song, claimed by conservatives, tell us about American society? The Americast team talk to the BBC's 'Professor of Pop', Paul Gambaccini, about protest music in the States.
And what happens when musicians refuse to be used by politicians? Karen Willis, manager of The Village People and the wife of its lead singer, tells us about the YMCA group's cease and desist letter against Donald Trump.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
GUESTS: • Karen Willis, manager of 'The Village People' • Paul Gambaccini, Radio 2 presenter
GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast
Find out more about our award-winning “undercover voters” here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.
This episode was made by Daniel Wittenberg, with Rufus Gray and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans and the editor was Damon Rose.
BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS: 19:16 – Karen Willis 28:18 – Paul Gambaccini
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:04.7 | Hello Justin, Mariana, Anthony, this is a very special episode because as I'm sure |
| 0:10.1 | you're all very well aware, it's first birthday it is a year since the four |
| 0:16.0 | of us got together and put out the first Americas of the new administration so |
| 0:20.3 | this is going to be a celebratory episode. |
| 0:22.6 | And when you say got together, I've actually gone away to Greece to celebrate in proper |
| 0:27.3 | style on a Greek island, which I'll be doing tonight. |
| 0:30.8 | So Anthony, you're the only hangover from the old America |
| 0:34.8 | what do you make of this first? I know I like to think of myself as the |
| 0:38.0 | institutional memory of America's but I've really enjoyed this year you guys are great and I'm enjoying it. Every episode is a bright new day. |
| 0:46.1 | Tell you who else has been great and that's all our AmeriCasters. We have had amazing |
| 0:51.2 | engagement. We get really sharp perceptive questions. It is just a joy |
| 0:55.6 | to know that you're listening and that you want to communicate with us. |
| 0:59.2 | In this week's episode we're not going to be singing Happy Birthday, but we are going to be talking |
| 1:04.6 | about music and where music meets American politics, because there's lots of news around |
| 1:09.7 | about that at the moment. |
| 1:11.3 | To start us off, I thought I'd introduce you all to a viral |
| 1:13.8 | trend of AI-generated pop song covers by politicians that popped up on my |
| 1:18.6 | social media feeds a bit like this one. |
| 1:21.2 | Kiss me or before you go. |
| 1:25.0 | Summertime S. |
| 1:28.0 | I just wanted you to know |
... |
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