Obama! What happens to music now?

On my favorite messageboard someone has posed the question: "Is this the day punk rock dies?"

After all, punk - and rock in general - is far more rambunctious and alive when it's reacting to a Bush or a Reagan. While George Jr.  was making a mess of the world and the country, punk rock, folk-rock, hip-hop, metal, they all fed off the anger with provocative (although sometimes obvious) music.

Now, almost miraculously, we have Barack Obama, choice of everyone from NOFX to Anti-Flag to Bruce Springsteen to Bright Eyes to the holographic will.i.am.

Might as well go ahead and cue U2's "Beautiful Day."

Young people, some of whom can't remember ever being proud of their government, are talking about how they've wept tears of joy since Tuesday night.

Will this be a time when we all hold hands and sing songs of togetherness? Will people retreat into their own stupid angst like in the Clinton grunge era? Or -- and let's hope this isn't the case -- will Obama disappoint and get the punks all *** again?

Stay tuned...

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