"Roadrunner" for Official Rock Song of Massachusetts

This list of arguments for Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner" being named the official rock song of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (h/t to Ashmont Records) overlooks the song's continued relevance, such as being sampled by M.I.A. in "Bamboo Banga," etc.

[blog.thephoenix.com]

Stories such as this one are especially reassuring to me.

They indicate that our lawmakers have faithfully and completely resolved all the other important issues before them ... and are now afforded an opportunity to move on to such legislative marginalia as figuring out what their state's "official rock song" ought to be.

Well done thou good and faithful public servants!

...

Rhino should do the box set of all 50 "Official State Rock Songs." Maybe each song could be encoded on a USB-compatible state quarter? Or maybe a spoon?

A USB-compatible state spoon? Think of the collectibles market!

...

Holy Toledo! Never assume that a notion is so bizarre that there's no way it could have been taken up by the merchandisers of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen ... I give you:



The USB-compatible absinthe spoon!

"Guess I'll be out all night!"

Carol Miller ( a dj in new york) wanted Born to Run to be the official state song for New Jersey...[cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com]

Baby, this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
Sure, works for me.



Post Edited (02-13-13 21:31)

Just before I moved to the West Coast, I was preparing an online petition to replace "Rocky Mountain High" with the Supersuckers' "Creepy Jackalope Eye" as Colorado's official song. I was going to post it on KRCC's web site. I still mourn the lost opportunity.

I don't think Illinois has an official State Rock Song, though I see online that there was a campaign to get "Surrender" nominated, which would be aces. I could live with probably any Cheap Trick song except "The Flame" as my state song.

If we ever get one, I suspect it'll probably be by Chicago or REO Speedwagon. Or gasp - Styx! I always forget that they're a product of the Land of Lincoln.

Personally, though, based on the political approach of our last few governors I'd nominate "Fuck and Run."

My favorite explicitly Illinois-themed song is :

[www.youtube.com]

That is a good one, Nosepail.

I've been fond of Decatur ever since I found a used copy of the Slowdive Blue Day EP on Creation at GB's Records there. God only knows how it ended up there.

actually Richman's New England would be more practically and explicit.

Ohio has many songs. Neil Young's is by far the best but I am not sure the subject is theme song material
I guess the Black Keys and The National can battle it out for OH theme song.

WV - its as corny as f@*^, but Country Roads is about as good as it gets for a State theme. I've heard people all over the world use it to sing national pride (Germany, Japan, etc.)

Of course NY and CA have the most theme songs cause they are the only states that matter.

California Saga(Big Sur) by the BBs and California by Rufus Wainright are my faves. California Stars and California Love would win the popular vote though.

I am not sure I could narrow down all the good NY songs.

I love "New England." and "Government Center," heck, that's a T station. But neither is as iconic as "Roadrunner"