Jim Sullivan reports the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight holds a hearing Tuesday on a bill that would make "Roadrunner" the official rock song of the Commonwealth.
Among those expected to testify: Joyce Linehan, whose earlier campaign to get the song enshrined in the list of official state things led to her to then state Rep. Marty Walsh, who agreed to lead the pro-Roadrunner campaign only to have it interrupted by him getting elected mayor.
This time, state Sen. Bob Hedlund (R-Weymouth) and state Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick) are the ones going faster miles an hour to elevate Jonathan Richman's song to the state pantheon.
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Comments
I know it shouldn't
By anon
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 4:37pm
but this crap pisses me off. There's plenty of actual problems waiting to be addressed by our local government and even a minute spent on this nonsense is too long.
Of course then Rep Marty Walsh was involved in this. I guess we now know why he hasn't 'thought at all' about replacing the bridge to Long Island. Or meaningful BRA reform. Or really doing anything of merit other than appointing Tommy Chang.
They can Multitask, right?
By BostonDog
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 8:36pm
This only pisses me off as the "discussion" should have lasted about as long as it takes a legislator to pull up the video on YouTube and watch it. It's a great song by a real local kid and about local places. Done and done.
I don't think this is pulling them away from more important topics only because I don't think most of our local elected officials have the power or desire to work on "hard" problems anyway.
So why this can't go to a quick vote and be done with it is the real question. Yea or Nay and move on. No reason to keeping this going back to committees and votes.
You know...
By AnneR
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 5:42pm
...Marty is Joyce's puppet. Joyce is running the show.
Puppet!
By Joyce
Sun, 10/18/2015 - 10:24am
Ha! I can't wait to tell him!
Note to the critics: the Mayor had nothing to do with the re-file, and neither did I. I do LOVE the song as our song though, so I am going to take a couple of hours of vacation time and head up to the Hill to testify. No City taxpayer money has been harmed in the furthering of this caper.
The Bee Gees
By E
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 6:13pm
What about [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_(Bee_Gees_song)]
Massachusetts[/url]?
We already have an official song called Massachusetts
By adamg
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 6:20pm
The official Folk Song of the Commonwealth.
Also, Roadrunner gets bonus points because Richman is really from here (the Stop & Shop he sings about is the one on Rte. 9 in Natick).
But why is the Square Dance the official state dance?
By bibliotequetress
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 7:41pm
Pu-lease.
And extra points to Jonathan Richman...
By moxie
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 9:10pm
For calling Route 128, 128.
There are worse things that the Great and General Court could be spending their time on. And yes, Senators Gallucio and Wilkerson, and the three-peat Mistah Speakah convictathon, I'm talking about you!
I'm all for it. Going faster miles an hour.
Oh, for God's sake, this has
By Finn
Sat, 10/17/2015 - 11:37pm
Oh, for God's sake, this has gone on too long...either make it the official rock song or not - there is more important work to do.
Well,
By boo_urns
Sun, 10/18/2015 - 1:26am
I know this night not be as classic, but I'd at least hope Mass Pike by the Get Up Kids would get an honorable mention.
Ylvis
By Cantabrigian
Sun, 10/18/2015 - 10:55am
Why not Massachusetts by Ylvis?
What the rest of the country will think
By Refugee
Sun, 10/18/2015 - 11:16am
[youtube]OwYQsZuh2CM[/youtube]
Rest of the country?
By anon
Sun, 10/18/2015 - 12:42pm
You think anybody pays attention to "state songs"?
The question everybody should be asking
By roadman
Mon, 10/19/2015 - 12:34pm
is "WHY do we even need an official state rock song (or an official state ANYTHING for that matter)?"
And shouldn't these decisions be made by the state tourism council, and not the Legislature?
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