Oh God have the elections come to this?

By Owen Gleeson

Eminem isn’t the only rapper releasing a much anticipated single this month. Yes it’s finally happened: Irish politicians have embraced the American street culture of ‘Hip Hop’. While Fine Gael is embracing celebrity politicians Labour it seems are embracing rapping politicians.


‘Don’t make the wrong choice – Vote Alan Kelly’ was written and recorded by Garry McCarthy (aka GMC), in support of the Labour campaign.


One of Ireland’s first ever political rap songs will be revealed by Labour MEP candidate Alan Kelly. Wednesday, 27 May 10am outside Clarion Hotel, Lapps Quay, Cork City

The video on YouTube starts off with Alan Kelly and his ‘posse’ at what seems to be a march or demonstration of some kind. It continues on as a montage to Alan and all his buddies from the providence of Munster, with Mr. Kelly often seen in his native red colours. The video ends with Alan hanging with a quite scary looking man.

Off course the song has a serious message. Speaking ahead of the launch, Senator Kelly said: “It is a very entertaining, humorous song but with a very serious message portraying the anger that many people are feeling but also looking at using Europe as a mechanism to create jobs, so that we can get ourselves out of this recession."

After listening to the song a few times it reminded me of Nelly’s 2001 song ‘Ride Wit Me’ taken from his Country Grammar album both in terms of lyric content and theme. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmGSmygesok). Nelly’s song also deals with a person’s conflict in making money that might not necessarily agree with them

if you wanna go and take a ride wit me
we're 3-wheelin in the 4 with the gold d's
oh why do i live this way
(hey) (must be the money)
if you wanna go and get high wit me
smoke an L in the back of the benzie
oh why must i feel this way
(hey) (must be the money)

‘Don’t make the wrong choice – Vote Alan Kelly’ could also be interpreted as one of these ‘diss’ songs that rappers so frequently partake in. The target in the song is often the current government.

‘Their incompetent,
It’s obvious,
See their name
Fianna Fáil no fada,
Spells Fianna Fail’

‘Fianna Fail play games,
like there on a soccer field,
making things disappear
like David Copperfield.’

The conflict between Fianna Fáil and Labour has been going on as long as the East coast West coast feud over in the States, except it’s been bloodier . While we wait in anticipation for Fianna Fail's ‘diss back' performed by Brian ‘Double D’ Cowen featuring Bertie 'Quickfire’ Ahern, I wonder if the two heavyweights of Irish politics and rap world might not put their differences aside for the sake of the Irish economy and come up with sensible solution to fix it instead of this continuous negativity that is levelled at each other.

As I write this now there has only been one comment on YouTube about the video and the song, surprisingly it comes from IRISH LABOUR PARTY "Absolutely brilliant stuff!" Perhaps they might be a little biased.

While the song is amusing I don’t think Eminem or Jay-Z will be too worried... yet.
Here is the song and video if you’re interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Z1E_-2EmY