It’s the testimony heard ‘round the world: Former FBI Director James Comey’s Senate Intelligence Hearing today (June 8) captivated the public, thanks to the possibility that the fired director could somehow, maybe, possibly, perhaps trip up the Presidency of Donald Trump. But as the old adage goes: no Senate Testimony is complete without a kick ass soundtrack.
While the Trump campaign song of choice — The Rolling Stones‘ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” — is likely spinning long and hard in the White House today, here’s a specially curated playlist in honor of Comey’s string of political bombshells. From tracks from the perspective of the beleaguered Trump administration, to anthems that seem to be written for Comey himself, below are ten tracks to complement the biggest event to hit Washington D.C. since Trump tweeted “Covfefe.”
Nino Rota, “The Godfather Waltz”
It could have been the perfect song to set the mood for Comey’s dinner with Trump in which the President asks for loyalty from the then-FBI director. You can almost imagine a dark room filled with smoke with Trump in the Vito Corleone role. In the words of Corleone himself: “Never tell anybody outside the family what you’re thinking again..”
Julia Michaels, “Issues”
Comey. Flynn. His cherished Muslim ban. It’s safe to say that President Trump has his fair share of issues when it comes to attempting to govern, many of them self-inflicted. In honor of the trials and tribulations of our beleaguered President, he might find some solace in the fact that Julia Michaels can commiserate.
Kanye West, “Famous”
It was President Trump’s kiss of death. During a now-infamous interaction between him and Comey, Trump jokingly remarked, “He’s become more famous than me!” In Trump world, that’s a no-no, and the FBI director was later given the old heave-ho. The White House has yet to confirm whether or not he listened to this Kanye jam beforehand.
The Rolling Stones, “Get Off of My Cloud”
According to Comey’s testimony, Trump was urging the former FBI director to alleviate the “cloud” that’s gathering over his administration. While the “cloud” he was referring to was the investigation into Russia, it’s important to note that this is the one time President Trump cared about anything having to do with the environment.
Green Day, “Espionage”
Did members of the Trump team collude with Russia? Why is Donald BFF’s with Vladimir Putin? What the hell is going on? While the answers to those questions may still be murky, allow Green Day to soothe your fears with this peppy track named after a political act in everyone’s minds.
The Beatles, “Don’t Let Me Down”
Throughout Comey’s initial statement and subsequent testimony, it’s become clear that Trump was lobbying Comey to — in the immortal the words of the Beatles (later borrowed by The Chainsmokers) — not let him down. When Trump realized Comey would probably do the opposite of that, Comey was given his walking papers. And the rest is modern political histoy and cable news catnip.
Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”
We all know our current president doesn’t have a filter, a fact that both drives his adversaries crazy and emboldens his supporters. In fact, regardless of whether or not it helps or hurts him, Trump seems to be constantly thinking out loud… which both got him elected and also could result in his downfall. Take it away, Ed!
Billy Joel, “Pressure”
Leave it to Billy Joel to craft the perfect song that could be used to describe how his fellow a certain businessman-turned-politician is feeling these days, whether it’s from the public at large, his inner circle, or all those pesky scandals. (Could the next Joel track to capture Trump be “Movin’ Out”?)
Beyonce, “Flawless”
If there’s one song that sums up the way Trump feels about himself — or the way Kellyanne “Alternative Facts” Conway or Sean “Help Me” Spicer feels about their boss — it’s this Beyonce banger. We’re all on the same page that Donald has never made a mistake in his entire life, right?