Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Give him shelter

by Aaron Wherry on Saturday, September 5, 2009 10:24am - 34 Comments

The Prime Minister seeks solace in song.

But there he was, playing ever more earnestly on the piano. He picked up tempo and volume for a few moments, tapping his foot under the piano bench, before turning around to look at everyone watching him.

“Recognize the tune?”

No one said anything for a moment.

“Gimme Shelter,” said Sun Media photographer Bob Tymczysyn.

Harper grinned, nodded and said, “Rolling Stones!” and turned back to the piano to keep playing.

Let us now wildly over-think this random moment and consider what the lyrics to the Rolling Stones’ ode to the apocalypse may say about Mr. Harper’s current mindset.

Oh a storm is threat’ning my very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away

War, children, it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away

See the fire sweepin’ out very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet, mad bull lost its way

War, children, it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away

Rape! Murder! It’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away
Rape! Murder! It’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away

The floods is threat’ning my very life today.
Gimme, gimme shelter or I’m gonna fade away

War, children, it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away

Love, sister, it’s just a kiss away, it’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away, it’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away, it’s just a kiss away

Tags: Gimme Shelter, Rolling Stones, Stephen Harper

More by Aaron Wherry

Eva

This shouldn't happen, but I feel more connected to Harper as a real human being (not just a politician/robot), because of his playing of the Rolling Stones. Very cool.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

"Very cool."

On piano? :)
John

Now suppose he had played "Angie" instead.

Reverend Blair

Wouldn't "Sweet Neocon" be a more fitting song to define Steve Harper with?
Anon

From hockey-book author to sweater-man to piano-man. Yeah, I can see this working with all the out-of-work or underemployed people out there relaxing in their living rooms with their pianos.

I guess the telling part in this story is that the SUN reporter knew the tune, but apparently none of the other handpicked guests. You'd think Dimitri would have remembered to provide a talking point to some of the "regular" people, not just to his go-to guys in the press.
hosertohoosier

Lots of great songs have been accidentally used in this way. Devo's "Whip it" was a criticism of a fast-paced, disposable consumer culture… but it made a great catchy jingle for the Swiffer. Alternately Microsoft paid the Rolling Stones to have "start me up" play when Windows loaded… of course the song continues, expressing a sentiment more typical of Windows users ("you make a grown man cry").

http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

.. of course the song continues, expressing a sentiment more typical of Windows users ("you make a grown man cry").

Hilarious!!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Stewart_Smith Stewart_Smith

Actually nice to see the human side to Mr. Harper … and I think a little impromptu tinkling the ivories will play better than a sweater vest this fall.

Jenn

Careful, though Stewart. You wouldn't want anybody getting the impression he's one of those artists!
http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

That was nice, wasn't it.

That single item has done more to improve my impression of the PM than any of the 'chess' moves that he has made in the last year or so.

But that's just me.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Harbles Harbles

Worked for this guy, and this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqB7UEdhKug" guy too!
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Harbles Harbles

Worked for this guy, and this guy too!

hosertohoosier

http://www.charmaineyoest.com/uploads/lauren_baca…
Jenn

Those were great, Harbles, thanks. I wonder if Harper could compete with them? Not that it matters at all, but I just think its interesting if world leaders show a tendency for musical talent.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SisyphusThis SisyphusThis

Depends on the background chorus. Ya need a good one.
Greg

We should just be glad he wasn't playing Helter Skelter.
Dot

When asked fopr requests, I have yet to find any piano player that can do a good rendition of Wipeout.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Harbles Harbles

Using only his forehead to hit the keyboard!

tobyornottoby

Careful Steve, if you take too much of those you will have an overdose!
http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

Hmmm….I Don't Get No Satisfaction……..

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

Cuz we're Under His Thumb?

http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

Harper has to be careful on this one otherwise people might not believe he is hitler re-incarnated and eats baby kittens and then where would his media image be?

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

As someone who inexplicably becomes a venomous dick when he punches in for work every day?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Gimme Shelter is a great tune. Scorsese made an inspired choice when he used it in the soundtrack for The Departed.

[youtube LJMnES7WoT4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJMnES7WoT4 youtube]

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Crit, here's a project…try to find a Scorsese movie that doesn't use that song.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Heh. You're right – it was in Goodfellas and Casino, too.

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Mean Streets as well. He's directing a Stones documentary too.

kcm

Nothing wrong with Steve indulging his artistic side – long as he eschews the fuffy blue sweater. Somehow i can't quite see him at a stone's concert though. Maybe the fluffy sweater does fit.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DeliciousLattes DeliciousLattes

All of Sun Media, save the photographer, lose serious cool points for not being able to identify Gimmie friggin' Shelter. This brings Sun Media's collective cool points to…well, still zero.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

On a piano?

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Harbles Harbles

Big City Lib 'r not so amused.

.alt..binary. perspective.
John

Don Covay said it best…

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRGHba7rntQ ]
http://intensedebate.com/people/DaveFromToronto DaveFromToronto

At this point, I am so cynical about Stephen Harper that I always wonder: when he appears to be more human, is he actually being a real person, or is this is a carefully crafted photo/journalism opportunity?

And I would have been more impressed if he had played something recorded in his youth, such as something by Joy Division, R.E.M. or U2. He's 50 years old, not 60.

hosertohoosier

That Stephen Harper likes classic rock has been out there for some time if anybody cared to pay attention. His "favourite movie" selections on facebook were also the only ones that looked like they weren't written by some anonymous staffer. Raising Arizona is his favourite movie. I am pretty sure that there is no Coen brothers swing demographic on that one. The original Star trek is his favourite show, so that one is even more damaging.

Also, why should Harper have to like the music of his youth? I came of age in the 90's – does that mean I should like Britney Spears?