"...There will be justice for the unborn/ Factories back on our shores..."

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Say what you will about Obama -- it is impossible to imagine the current president inspiring a song as terrifically awful as "Game On," which this Oklahoma group called First Love just released supporting the candidacy of Mr. Rogers' evil twin, Rick Santorum.

From the first line ("We've finally got a man who will stand for what is right") to the second ("We've got a man who understands that God gave the Bill of Rights") to the third ("Oh, there is hope for our nation again/ maybe the first time since we had Ronald Reagan"), "Game On" comes across like a cruel parody, or a bad joke. It can't be real, you think. Surely, this was penned by a cynical New Yorker with ties to Saturday Night Live, trying to make Santorum supporters look facile.

But no. It actually appears to be a cheerful, sincere song sung by a pair of Tulsa ladies endorsing a grinning bigot who wants to force his medieval values on their vaginas and the entire country. But they're so damn happy about it. They want you to stand up, and sing, people! Hope is here! Rick Santorum is running to save the world, return white males to their rightful position of omnipotence, and ensure that the nation's women are left free to cook, procreate, and write dopey folk songs!

View this terrifying glimpse of our eight-children-per-family future (and read its entire lyrics) after the jump.

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via EKA Photography

Boots Riley at Occupy Oakland

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The Occupy movement doesn't have a leader, but Oakland activist-rapper Boots Riley is serving as one sort of de facto spokesman for his hometown's defiant occupation, lending the collective grievances a high-profile voice.

Inspired by public gatherings in Greece and Spain, the self-described "outspoken Communist" visited Occupy Wall Street in September, went to Occupy Oakland on its first day, and performed there on the protest's fourth day. Last week, when crowds marched to retake Oscar Grant plaza after being kicked out, Riley was there with them. And today, as the Occupy movement attempts to shut down Oakland in a rare "general strike," Boots Riley will be out marching again.

"This is just a warning," he says of the strike, "like us flashing our guns and saying, 'This is the power that we have.' We're going to shut the city down, we're going to close the port, and from there, we're moving on."

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Tom Morello as the Nightwatchman

​Apologies for the late notice, but those you political rock/Rage Against the Machine/protest-folk fans will appreciate knowing that Tom Morello will be performing twice in S.F. today. First up, Morello is playing Occupy SF at 4 p.m., according to several different tweets (and SFist, which first put this together).

Then, later tonight, Morello will be joined by the Coup's Boots Riley -- with whom he also records as part of Street Sweeper Social Club -- for a show at Great American Music Hall. It's not Street Sweeper playing the Great American, though, it is Morello's folk/protest music alter ego, the Nightwatchman. In lieu of whammy pedals and electrified fretboard acrobatics, there will be harmonicas, acoustic strumming, and lyrics about the sorts of things that the Occupy crowd is fighting against. All-in-all, a night of highly socially relevant tunes here in S.F. After the jump, check out a few videos of Morello speaking about the Occupy movement and doing his thing.

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It's been over two weeks since the protest in SF's financial district commenced -- prompted by the occupation of Wall Street that started almost a month ago -- and four days since Oakland joined this now apparently worldwide movement. As we all know, Occupy Wall Street was outright ignored by mainstream media for the first two weeks of its existence and now that the major news channels aren't turning a blind eye anymore -- they've taken, instead, to playing dumb and repeatedly wondering aloud with wide-eyed faux ignorance what all these pesky protesters want.More >>

Boots Riley. Photo by John Duah

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So, so fitting: On a day when his bandmate in Street Sweeper Social Club, Tom Morello, performed at Occupy Wall Street, politically conscious Oakland rapper Boots Riley of the Coup is bringing his boisterous rhymes to Occupy Oakland for a free performance.

But you better hurry if you want to catch it: Riley's performing as part of a live show at Occupy Oakland that's set to start at 5 p.m. More details after the jump.

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Lupe came to Occupy Oakland

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Okay, so he might be kind of a whiner. But Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco is also down for the cause. Prior to performing last night at the Fox Theater in Oakland, Fiasco dropped by the Occupy Oakland encampment and offered a few words of support and solidarity -- along with food, supplies, tents, tables, and a generator, according to a witness writing on IndyBay. He gave a brief statement during the group's evening meeting, then took off to play the Fox, where he also gave a shout-out to the Occupy movement. Watch videos of his Oakland appearances after the jump, courtesy of IndyBay.

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The duo is already known for compelling and profound works such as "Yes" -- an unflinching exercise in self-affirmation -- and the allegorical "I'm in Miami, Bitch," which analyzes the relationship between a physical location and a state of mind.

But with "Sexy and I Know It," the Pacific Palisades-based uncle-nephew outfit LMFAO have created a sociological masterpiece: a video that delves into the deeply internalized feelings of physical objectification -- a phenomenon often directed toward women that these two men deftly turn upon themselves.

To the untrained eye, the video may appear to consist simply of men shaking their genitalia in lamé Speedos. But the subtext of this work -- which practically begs for close analysis -- speaks to the struggles of objectified women everywhere.

​Filmmakers over the decades have examined the concept of an unflinching male gaze directed at women. But here, DJs Redfoo and Sky Blu explore how thoroughly unsettled those stares would make men feel when directed in a way that never fades.

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via yfrog

​The London riots began with a fatal police shooting, but the latest casualty may be independent record labels.

Protesters burned down a CD and vinyl stock warehouse in North London last night that was owned by Sony DADC and used by the PIAS Group, a marketing and distribution firm that works with over 200 labels, many of which are beloved U.S. and U.K. indies like XL, 4AD, Fact, Drag City, and Matador.

These labels are home to numerous S.F. and Bay Area artists, including Girls (True Panther), tUnE-yArDs (4AD), and Wooden Shjips (whose Thrill Jockey-released new album, West, may face a delayed release in the U.K. as a result of the fire). The massive three-story building, more than 200,000 square feet in size, also housed DVD stock.

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​Admittedly, it sounds pretty dorky to get all yee-haw excited about some new permit they're giving out at City Hall. But the Limited Live Performance Permits S.F. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi is proposing would help lots of cafes, restaurants, and bars host live music that can't now, basically by making a cheaper and simpler process for venues that aren't the Warfield.

Live music is better than not-live music, so it sounds like a good idea to us. Also sounding good to us is a little shindig that supporters of the legislation are holding on the steps of City Hall today -- a party that will feature (naturally) live performances from Bourbon Kings Brass Band and Jazz Mafia. Because what better way to celebrate more live music than with, uh, more live music?

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"Really, Georgia?"

​Beware, people of states with drastic immigration laws: Santana is angry with you.More >>