Sonoma’s local politicians pick their ‘Walk-Up Song’

Last week’s entertainment page featured a story about the walk-up songs local musicians might select if they were ever were to accept the Office of President of the United States. An unlikely scenario, yes, but it’s good to be prepared. Stranger things have happened, you know?

This week, the politicians representing the Valley of the Tunes and surrounding area let their choices of walk-up song be known.

Sonoma’s ex-mayor Ken Brown, visible man about town, was quick to name his walk-up song. He e-mailed, “’All Along the Watchtower,’ Jimi Hendrix or Bob Dylan. I wait for the day.” Was Brown hinting at a run for the Oval Office someday, or referring to the lyric “There must be some kinda way out of here…”?

Current City Council member and mother Amy Harrington gave her nod to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Teach Your Children,” a lovely song to warm a crowd. Sing-along choruses always bring an event together.

Sonoma’s current mayor, Logan Harvey, responded to the question with, “I'm not sure! Maybe, ‘Ain't No Stoppin’ Us Now,’ by McFadden and Whitehead.” Released in 1979, it proves that Harvey is a student of history, and will serve Sonoma with wisdom - and a funky groove.

Sonoma’s current voice in the U.S. House of Representatives is Mike Thompson, who was recently re-elected with a 78 percent vote of confidence. He was reached while working on Capitol Hill. Through an aide, Thompson answered that he would select the infectious dance number from 1993, “Ain’t Nothing Stopping Us Now,” by Tower of Power. There is no doubt TOP played the song at their shows at the old Cabaret Sauvignon club on the Plaza back in the day.

No indication that the similarity of those two songs inspired any litigation by either band. Confusing things more, The Doobie Brothers covered the TOP version in 1993, or was it the other way around?

The other representative for the Sonoma area in the House is Jared Huffman. Huffman was also just re-elected to office with a whopping 78 percent vote. He does a good job and he knows good music. He has been spotted in the crowd, and occasionally performs, at Terrapin Crossroads, the music devoted restaurant in San Rafael owned by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh.

Therefore, I thought he might choose a Dead tune (“U.S. Blues”?). Rather, from the turmoil filled halls of the U.S. Capitol building, Huffman said his choice would be James Taylor’s “Your Smiling Face,” an appreciative and upbeat tune for a celebratory gathering.

Another Mayor Brown chimed in with his choice(s) of a walk-up song. Willie Brown, ex-speaker of the State Assembly in Sacramento, ex-Mayor of San Francisco, lifelong dapper dresser, and current newspaper hack, was reached by phone from his office in SF. When I asked what song he would choose as his walk-up song, he said, “Are you kidding me? I have no idea. Probably something by Frank Sinatra. Like “It Was a Very Good Year,” Or “I Did It My Way,” he said, adding that “Very Good Year” ought to be Biden’s theme song.

Note that neither of Brown’s songs would get anybody’s toes tapping, but I am not going to advise him otherwise.

Idea: “What’s your walk-up song?” might be a good conversation topic for the Thanksgiving table, not too political or controversial. Unless someone chooses Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”… and things heat up from there.