Sometimes the simple questions in politics can be all the more revealing. The City Cast Portland podcast asked the leading mayoral candidates to pick a campaign theme song.
Being put on the spot for something light-hearted revealed at least their music tastes — if not a little more:
“There's one song I love that's — oh, what is it? Sorry, I'm trying to remember the name of this song. I listen to this all the time, but it's like, ‘Better days are coming.’ Which one's that? [Dermot Kennedy? ‘Better Days’] Yeah, that's it. I wasn't sure about his full name, but I like that song. And it's got a nice jive, man. We've had a tough couple of years. Let's go have some fun and celebrate here a little bit.”
When asked, Mapps didn’t answer.
“‘Rich Man's Dream’ by Portland's Neo Boys. I love that band. They don't have as much notoriety as The Wipers. They're from, I'd say the late 70s, early 80s. I think it was a female trio. And it's kind of lo-fi punk. Reminds me of the Satyricon. Speaking truth to power in a poetic and perverse way.”
“I love the Pitbull song, ‘I Believe We Will Win.’”
“‘Brandy [You’re a Fine Girl].’ I tell this story about how I first ran into Portland: I was working the halibut season up in Homer, Alaska, and camping out on the Homer Spit. And my neighbors were from Portland and they had a turntable that was powered by a car battery and the song I remember hearing is ‘Brandy.’”
“I would have to go with ‘High Hopes’ (from Panic! At the Disco). Both hope and action in the song’s name and the band name, respectively. Two things we desperately need in Portland. I must say ABBA’s ‘Take a Chance on Me’ is a close second, but I am certain I can help lead Portland out of this mess our leaders have gotten us into.”
