[SONGS OF THE DECADE] #83 Tom Waits – Day After Tomorrow

Posted on | October 9, 2009 | No Comments

SONGS OF THE DECADE #83

[For more info, read the Ground Rules of The Song of The Decade List]

Tom Waits – Day After Tomorrow (2004)

The single most disillusioning musical moment I have ever had was seeing thousands of people at David Byrne’s 2009 show in Prospect Park singing along to the chorus of “Life During Wartime” with two wars raging overseas. My God, how did we get here?

Perhaps it was the same reason that Tom Waits’ war ballad was mostly appreciated by those who had never been to war. The song’s major political accomplishment was being featured on a MoveOn compilation tape. It’s main musical accomplishment was being listened to by fans who were devoted enough to go beyond downloading Rain Dogs. Because Waits is “establishment” simply by being older, he’s already got a wider audience, even if this song’s main appeal is to younger people who have never head it. Could it be that the man who Rolling Stone declared the most underrated musician in rock ‘n’ roll history is still underrated today? It may be that he’s the right man for Rolling Stone to declare underrated, even if it’s for the wrong reasons.

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