When JD Vance Was Announced as the Republican Nominee for VP, a Song Got Stuck in my Brain
It is a twisted tale of music, politics, and a dancing girl
A hit song from 1965 caught my attention when JD Vance became the Republican nominee for VP.
There is a story that connects the dots. I know it's a stretch, but bear with me.
The song is Hang On Sloopy, by the McCoy's. It's a catchy tune. I listened to it on AM radio in the '60s.
It was originally sung by The Vibrations under the name My Girl Sloopy. The Yardbirds performed it as Hang on Sloopy, as did many local garage bands. Rick Derringer and the McCoys quickly picked it up.
McCoy's version was the biggest hit, reaching #1 on Billboard, a position it held for a month until it was edged out by the Beatles recording of Yesterday.
Remarkably, Sloopy became the official rock song of Ohio and was adopted by the Ohio State University, fueling the upbeat spirit and energy of the Buckeyes' marching band and fanbase.
As an alumnus, it would not surprise me if JD Vance started dancing when he heard the song. It's a fifty-year Buckeye tradition. The band plays Hang on Sloopy at its football games, and the fans go wild. I'm surprised it wasn't played…
