Essential Estrogen

Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign has sent an email to supporters indicating the contest is over and a song for the campaign has been chosen. Those who actually want to know the results are asked to visit the campaign site.

While it is all in good fun to keep the song secret a few minutes longer -- not to mention those who don't visit the site can't be greeted by the big red "contribute" button -- we won't make you. If you want to know the chosen song, highlight the area below (white text on a white background).

"You and I" by Celine Dion

It's still uncertain why the Clinton campaign chose this particular gimmick. It just seems like something one of the candidates lagging in the polls would do for attention. And, unless you are a toddler, I'm not sure the bad attention is better than no attention at all. Then again, this is Hillary Clinton, and as she said in Iowa earlier this year, "I realize I tend to draw strong emotions." Maybe no matter what she does she will be attacked for it so why not pull out the cheese and distract the tormentors from the real news of the day?

Perhaps the best thing to come out of this whole campaign song blitz is a cute video featuring Hillary and Bill Clinton. Again, I like seeing the two of them together and acting like pretty much any other couple in America. There is this odd section of video toward the end where some angry middle-aged white man (who kinda resembles Rush Limbaugh) walks by and glares at the couple. The Clintons give each other a puzzled look and then the camera switches to a young couple right as the woman, who has black hair, kisses the man's cheek. Was my mind supposed to flip back to pictures of another young woman with black hair? It did.

And, for my fellow trivia manics, here's the list of songs which appear on the booth's jukebox (at least as much as I can see):

• "Flat Baroque" by the Carpenters
• "Superstar" by the Carpenters (middle of screen)
• "Bless the Beast & The Child" by the Carpenters
• "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass
• "Without You" by the Dixie Chicks
• "You and I" by Celine Dion
• "If I Could" by Celine Dion
• "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones
• "Believe" by ???
• "Rock this Country" by Shania Twain
• "Your Still the One" by Shania Twain
• "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead
• "Can't Stand Losing You" by the Police
• "Get Ready" by the Temptations
• "Don't Look Back" by the Temptations
• "The Best" by ???
• "I've Found Someone of My Own" by The Free Movement
• "I Can't Convince My Heart" by The Free Movement
• "I Believe in Music" by Gallery
• "Someone" by Gallery
• "Me and Julio Down by the School Yard" by Paul Simon
• "Congratulations" by Paul Simon
• "Hold You High" by Smash Mouth
• "I'm a Believer" by Smash Mouth
• "Ther Side of the World" by KT Tunstall (and, yes, it is spelled like that)
• "Anywhere Like Heaven" by James Taylor
• "Till" by Tom Jones
• "One Day Soon" by Tom Jones
• "I've Found Someone of My Own" by The Free Movement (yes, again)
• "I Can't Convince My Heart" by The Free Movement (yes, again)
• "Peace on Earth" by U2
• "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall
• "Ther Side of the World" by KT Tunstall (yes, that spelling and, yes, again)
• "I'm a Believer" by Smash Mouth (yes, again)
• "Hold You High" by Smash Mouth (yes, again)

Bonus points: "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey is playing in the background. That takes me back to a few high school dances.

~*~*~*~ UPDATE ~*~*~*~

I've been informed that my ignorance is showing... or maybe it's my thrifty side that's showing. As it turns out, the whole video seems to be a play on the last episode of the cable mobster soap opera known as "The Sopranos." Who knew? Well, probably most of the planet -- except me. I'm too much of a skin-flint to actually pay for cable movie stations and... brace yourself... I've never seen an episode of "The Sopranos." As a further shock, in the past 30 days I've probably watched less than five hours of either cable or network television.

Still, my gratitude to Mike, Jill, Kate and Jeremy for giving me a head's up. To be honest, however, the knowledge has me seeing the video in a different light. I'm not sure if I understand the Clinton campaign wanting to align itself with even a fictional mobster family.

And, in closing, I offer this piece of advice to all the readers, mobster or otherwise: If you think a whacking is in your future, order the damn onion rings.