Top Gun = Greatest Script Ever? And I tune Barack's iPod

Updated! Remember the movie "Sleep With Me?" Yeah, neither did I.

I did however remember one scene (and thanks to the site GeekTyrant for reminding me) from that movie that had Quentin Tarantino in it. He gives a monologue (one that I believe whole-heartedly to be true because I tried to convince my college friends to watch it again for this reason) about how Top Gun is the most subversive movie ever. Why? Because it's a movie about a guy wrestling with his burgeoning homosexuality. And the masses bought it as a straight "guy" movie.

The reason it's the greatest script? It was so well done, almost no one noticed it. (Though the beach volleyball scene with the song "Playing With the Boys" shoulda been a tip-off.)

Here it is.

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My (morning) Rant

If there is one thing that politicians and the people that produce political appearances don't know, it's selecting music that might, maybe, appeal to anyone born after 1970.

They also think hats, balloons and streamers are a good idea. But I digress.

So far, they've had John Cougar Mellencamp. "I'm So Excited." "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" for our past president. We've taken a ride on the "Love Train" — which may or may not advocate group sex (it was the 70s, so I can't really be sure).Then there's the requisite and awful "Born in the U.S.A." Also, who didn't think they'd play "Times They Are A Changin'?" Is "Ch-Ch-Changes" around the corner?

Now, there has been good music going on OUTSIDE of the convention. Rage Against the Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, Flobots, Kanye West, John Legend and Nelly.

But, inside the convention hall, it's been everything you'd expect a large group of people who would be interested in the political process to be into. Which of course means lots of "safe" music.

This is an actual quote from a Forbes story about the music choices at the convention: "Music is always a key element at political conventions, but it played a particularly strong role in motivating the masses tonight. We can't wait to hear what theme song Barack Obama uses when he takes the stage before 75,000 at Invesco Field Thursday night."

Well, I can't either. But, only because I know it's going to be something absolutely lame. (Though The Scorpion's "Winds of Change" would be fabulous, obvious and lame at the same time.)

If they really want to incite some change I can believe in, they'd let me control the iPod for Obama's speech.

Wyclef John "If I Was President"

It would bring the roof down, send a message to the fat cats in Washington that a new cat is in town. A new cat that knows a good song from a talented and interesting musician. And a cat that is aware that people might not actually like him, but he's OK with that. Definitely the closer.

Neil Young and Pearl Jam "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World"

It's a fight-the-power tune that takes out the establishment while maintaining the ethos that America is still the best. Even though Neil Young is Canadian. Would be a great intro song, right before the fireworks go off.

Clutch "You Can't Stop Progress"

Now, what better theme to give to Obama than this song? The title alone would be fantastic. Throw in that it's the best band that no one has ever heard of, and it makes it twice as awesome. It also rocks. This could be either an opener or a closer.

Foo Fighters "My Hero"

"There goes my hero / watch him as he goes." It would be a little obvious, a little egotistical, and 100% kick-ass.

Rage Against the Machine "Freedom"

Would be a fantastic opener. Would state his intentions with fury, wit and be a big middle finger to the GOP establishment.

Other candidates: Green Day "Wake Me When September Ends," Joe Jackson "I'm the Man," Joe Walsh "Rocky Mountain Way," MC5 "Kick Out the Jams" and Night Ranger "Sister Christian."

Serious or not, none of those would ever make it into the shuffle on the DNC iPod.

But, at least the Dems have a halfway decent taste in music — albeit slightly older and lamer than your average football game.

Can you imagine how much worse next week's Republican National Convention will be? At least there were a few good choices this week (Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" comes to mind).

I'm guessing next week is going to be a steady stream of Big & Rich and the Charlie Daniels Band. (Though I'm crossing my fingers that someone is ironic enough to play "I Want to Conquer the World" by Bad Religion when Dick Cheney is introduced.