The brash comments subsided somewhat when George W. Bush took over as commander-in-chief. But now that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is making a go for the presidency, cheap shots from barflies who think they're throwing original one-liners - like “Where's Monica?” - are back.
“There's no way around political references, but come on. Are you kidding me?” said singer-songwriter John McLellan, reacting to the new onslaught of remarks.
The Clintons wrote Hillary Clinton a love song.
The slow, sweet melody is accompanied by a chorus that goes: “Hey, Hill, if you ever dump Bill, come date me.”
“We feel her pain,” McLellan said. “We can't get no love, so let's love each other.”
The band spontaneously filmed the music video to “Hey, Hill” on a very cold, snowy February afternoon in Great Falls alongside the Missouri River.
The band didn't intend to capitalize on the heated Democratic presidential primary race, but just last week, that video earned 15 seconds of fame on CNN as part of a story about wacky YouTube video tributes to the 2008 presidential candidates.
“That's a first for us,” said drummer Levi Kujala of the national media attention. “It's a nice feather to have in our hat.”
Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, are expected in Missoula this weekend. Obama is holding a free, public rally at the University of Montana's Adams Center on Saturday. Clinton will hold a fundraising event Sunday at Missoula's Hilton Garden Inn.
It just so happens The Clintons are also in Missoula this weekend, playing a gig at the Other Side on Friday, and then in Bozeman on Saturday.
“If we get connected somehow to see her, or play a song for her, or take a photo, that'd be pretty cool,” said bass guitarist A.J. Miller, 23.
Contrary to popular belief, the band is not named after Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinton or any other Clinton family member, though the band did get together when the family occupied the White House.
How The Clintons got its name, however, is the most frequently asked question band members get.
“We were hell-bent about making up a story about a dog,” said Kujala. “It's not true, but it shows how much no one (in the band) wants to be associated.”
The name came at random, with no rhyme or reason - much like the band's creative spirit.
The sugary love ballad to the senator from New York is not an attempt at a political statement or a gesture of support. It's not trying to make fun of Clinton either.
The band is using its name as a means to make fans laugh - kinda like when they decided to call their fan club “The Interns.”
“We love Hillary Clinton. Not the political Hillary Clinton necessarily, but the woman Hillary Clinton. And a woman she is. Hot, sensual, sexy, kinky,” reads an explainer of the love song on the band's Web site.
It was a Wednesday when Kujala, 31, awoke suddenly out of deep sleep, convinced McLellan, 30, should write the love song.
“This beautiful melody starts pouring out and it's so illegitimate because it's a love song to Hillary,” said McLellan, laughing in hindsight.
A few days later, the band sat staring out the window of Mackenzie River Pizza in Great Falls after playing a gig at Machinery Row the night before.
“It was cold. It was dark. It was gray. It was an industrial background,” McLellan said. “Everything lent to this desperation feeling.”
What a perfect time to shoot the video “Hey, Hill.”
Kujala filmed in minute-and-a-half segments from a window of the band's 30-foot RV while the others walked around outside “trying to make ourselves look as pathetic as possible,” which wasn't too difficult considering the subzero temperatures, Miller said.
“The mind-set was, there was no mind-set,” Kujala said. “There was no plan. The moment hit us.”
So far, the band has heard mostly good feedback. On Thursday, the YouTube video had 4,452 hits. Fans seem to love the crazy, wacky, spontaneous and hilarious music the band produces in between albums. The band relies heavily on the Internet to promote their music, posting some 60 music videos on YouTube and MySpace, Kujala said.
But what do they think Hillary's reaction would be to the sweet love serenade?
“I'd hope that she would laugh,” Miller said. “That'd be best-case scenario. Maybe give us a handshake, too. That'd be nice.”
Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com
It's a love song
To check out The Clintons' “Hey, Hill” video, go to the band's Web site at www.clintonsband.com/news
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