Kanye West, Wilco, Beyonce, Mellencamp Shout Out Historic Obama Victory

In the wake of Barack Obama's historic victory Tuesday night, a steady stream of rockers and rappers have spoken out in favor of the president-elect. In addition to new songs from Thom Yorke and Will.i.am, Common also released a new Obama-inspired song entitled "Changes." Chicago natives have also posted messages on their Websites to their former homestate Senator: Wilco put up a photo of themselves and Obama with the caption "Congratulations to our Senator, our friend, and our President-elect Barack Obama on his historic victory last night," while Kanye West posted on his blog "Hi Mom. Obama won!"

Madonna and R.E.M. also paid tribute to Obama during their Tuesday-night concerts, with Madonna telling a San Diego crowd, "This is the beginning of a whole world" before revealing that Obama had been elected. R.E.M.'s manager informed the crowd in Chile that Obama had been elected before the band played "I Believe."

John Mellencamp reflected on the election on his Website, saying "This for me is something I never thought I would see in my life," while Coldplay posted a message read, "Barack Obama is elected and all feels right with the world. It's pretty amazing to be in America while it's all going on and we are grateful to be here." Mavis Staples released a statement, saying, "To come up in a time when there was slavery, racism, the KKK, and Jim Crow, I'm just so grateful to still be here to enjoy this historical time in our lives. It is so surreal, so completely overwhelming." Beyoncé has even volunteered her services by offering to play Obama's inauguration in January. Judging by Obama's giant fan club in the music industry, there'll be no shortage of artists eager to welcome Obama into office.

Related Stories:
• Barack Obama in Rolling Stone
• Campaign '08 in Rolling Stone
• Thom Yorke Celebrates Obama Victory With Free Track
• Will.I.Am Celebrates Obama Victory With New Song

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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