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| Roadrunner to be Massachusetts state song? Local politicians say Dream On | Roadrunner to be Massachusetts state song? Local politicians say Dream On |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Guardian-inspired plan to make Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers the official state song of Massachusetts has hit an obstacle in the form of Aerosmith-loving state legislators, who have countered with a proposal that Aerosmith's Dream On receive the honour. | The Guardian-inspired plan to make Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers the official state song of Massachusetts has hit an obstacle in the form of Aerosmith-loving state legislators, who have countered with a proposal that Aerosmith's Dream On receive the honour. |
| An article by the Guardian's Laura Barton, in which she drove along every road mentioned in every version of Roadrunner, inspired the movement to enshrine the song about driving "Route 128 when it's late at night". After reading Barton's 2007 article about Roadrunner and the state, Joyce Linehan – an active figure in both Massachusetts music and politics – began to lobby for the tune to be named the state's official song. As her campaign gathered steam a local politician, Martin Walsh, filed a supporting bill with the state legislature. | An article by the Guardian's Laura Barton, in which she drove along every road mentioned in every version of Roadrunner, inspired the movement to enshrine the song about driving "Route 128 when it's late at night". After reading Barton's 2007 article about Roadrunner and the state, Joyce Linehan – an active figure in both Massachusetts music and politics – began to lobby for the tune to be named the state's official song. As her campaign gathered steam a local politician, Martin Walsh, filed a supporting bill with the state legislature. |
| Not everyone felt the same love of the Modern Lovers' anthem. In the wake of Walsh's bill, two other state representatives, Josh Cutler and James Cantwell, have filed their own proposal: that Aerosmith's Dream On, not Richman's Roadrunner, become Massachusetts' official state rock song. "With all due respect, Aerosmith is the bestselling American rock band of all time," Cantwell told the State House news service. "No band is more closely associated with Massachusetts." | Not everyone felt the same love of the Modern Lovers' anthem. In the wake of Walsh's bill, two other state representatives, Josh Cutler and James Cantwell, have filed their own proposal: that Aerosmith's Dream On, not Richman's Roadrunner, become Massachusetts' official state rock song. "With all due respect, Aerosmith is the bestselling American rock band of all time," Cantwell told the State House news service. "No band is more closely associated with Massachusetts." |
| On his first point, Cantwell is factually incorrect: the Eagles, not Aerosmith, are America's biggest-selling rock band. And regardless of whether Aerosmith are "closely associated" with Massachusetts, Dream On is not: whereas Roadrunner has the line "I'm in love with Massachusetts", Aerosmith's 1973 hit is about dreaming, and singing, and hoping that the good Lord will take you away. | On his first point, Cantwell is factually incorrect: the Eagles, not Aerosmith, are America's biggest-selling rock band. And regardless of whether Aerosmith are "closely associated" with Massachusetts, Dream On is not: whereas Roadrunner has the line "I'm in love with Massachusetts", Aerosmith's 1973 hit is about dreaming, and singing, and hoping that the good Lord will take you away. |
| Asked about this proposal, 61-year-old Jonathan Richman told the Boston Globe: "I don't think the song is good enough to be a Massachusetts song of any kind." | |
| • This article was amended on27 February to correct a reference to a Boston newspaper from the Phoenix to the Globe. |