I’m not big on sharing my political viewpoints in public….but I make no bones about the fact I enjoy watching the process unfold. The elections in America yesterday (whether you agree with the outcome or not) were a fantastic historical event for many reasons and I hope it is the start of positive changes for America and the rest of the World.

I managed to stay awake until 2am GMT to watch the first few results come through….it was all very exciting. This morning I watched Obama’s victory speech on the BBC website with my daughter Robyn (aged six). I think it important she understands what’s going on in the world and that exercising a democratic right to vote is extremely important thing to do….She was pretty interested and asking lots of good questions like “can I be president when I grow up?” etc etc….but then 4 or 5 minutes before the end she turned to me and said “so is this Louis Hamilton?”….DOH!!

I then set off for work and on the way was listening to the blues brothers on my ipod…this bit from green onions I thought almost relevant.

“All right people. The rest of the hard working all star Blues Brothers are gonna be out here in a minute, including my little brother Jake. But right now, I’d like to talk a little bit about this tune you’re hearing. This is of course the Green Onions tune. It was a very big hit in the early sixties in this country. And of course it was composed and recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, right here in the United States Of America. You know, people, I believe that this tune can be acquainted with the great classical music around the world

Now you go to Germany, you’ve got your Bach, your Beethoven, your Brahms… Here in America you’ve got your Fred McDowell, your Irving Berlin, your Glenn Miller, and your Booker T & The MG’s, people. Another example of the great contributions in music and culture that this country has made around the world. And as you look around the world today, you see this country spurned

You see backs turned on this country. Well people, I’m gonna tell you something, this continent, North America, is the stronghold! This is where we’re gonna make our stand in this decade! Yeah, people, I’ve got something to say to the State Department. I say take that archaic Monroe Doctrine, and that Marshall Plan that says we’re supposed to police force the world, and throw ‘em out! Let’s stay home for the next ten years people! Right here in North America and enjoy the music and culture that is ours. Yeah, I got one more thing to say

I’m just talking about the music, people, and what it does to me. And that is, as you look around the world, you go to the Soviet Union or Great Britain or France, you name it, any country… Everybody is doing flips and twists just to get into a genuine pair of American blue jeans! And to hear this music and we got it all here in America, the land of the Chrysler 440 cubic inch engine!”

- Elwood J Blues (aka Dan Akroyd)
- Everybody needs the Blues Brothers (1988)