He seems like a political conservative, having supported Fred Thompson in the 2008 Republican presidential primary and then John McCain in the general election. He even wrote a campaign song for McCain, called “Raisin’ McCain”. Now, however, country singer and songwriter John Rich has taken a quite un-Republican populist approach, and written and released a song expressing outrage at the economic plight of the workers and farmers of this land, while the big bankers continue to receive astronomical handouts from Washington.

It is called “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” and features in the video a country music legend who is known more for his left wing views, Kris Kristofferson, and acclaimed actor Mickey Rourke.

The story of the video, which is implied by the song’s lyrics, is about a 32-year veteran of a factory, Kristofferson, who is being let go by the bosses. It has certainly struck a chord, because as of May 7, it was number two on the list of the top 10 most streamed videos on CMT.com.

Here, embedded from CMT.com, is that video of “Shuttin’ Detroit Down”:

(Hopefully CMT won’t take it down anytime soon.) You can also see below a live version of the song, performed in Madison, Wisconsin, where John begins by talking a little about the conditions in which he grew up in Amarillo, Texas.

I don’t think John Rich – whose work I’ve admired for many years although I don’t share his politics, at least possibly up until now – is exactly ready to raise the red flag. If he ever is, however, here is another song he just might consider covering, from a film that also could use a good remake:

Whatever else we may say about politicians, and it usually is deservedly not good, they still know how to reach the voters whom they are trying to rope in through hiring popular music acts.

This year’s Democratic and Republican national conventions will both feature numerous singers, with both including country music legends for their receptions.

The Democrats, whose party runs August 25-28 in Denver, have Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker, along with the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, N.E.R.D., Jennifer Lopez, and Melissa Etheridge. (One wonders if the rappers will be using their omnipresent “N” word.)

The Republicans, although a party generally with a richer base than the Democrats, have a musical lineup heavier on the blue collar-oriented country music than their political rivals. Their show begins September 1 in St. Paul, MN, and includes country stars Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, John Rich, and the Charlie Daniels Band, along with non-country acts the Beach Boys and Sammy Hagar.

So far, there is no word where Merle Haggard will be. He, surprisingly, seemed sympathetic to Hillary Clinton during the primaries, and even wrote a song called “Let’s Put a Woman in Charge” about her. That feeling may not have been mutual, so the Hag may be on tour, although his official web site has not been updated to include the convention season. This site does promise that the Hag Editorial is “comming soon,” so we hope its content is sharper than its spelling.

The Black Crowes, a rock group classified by some as grunge and some as Southern rock, but not on the jukeboxes of any bars which get my business, are claiming that “Work Hard, Play Harder”, performed by redneck woman Gretchen Wilson, is a rip-off of their 1991 song “Jealous Again”.

The Gretchen Wilson tune in question recently was released to promote the TNT drama “Saving Grace”, and has been used in TV commercials for that show.

According to numerous reports, the Black Crowes have had their own rednecks in suits, i.e., lawyers, serve copyright infringement notices on everyone in sight, including our darling redneck woman, TNT, record company Sony BMG, and publishing company J Money Music.

Videos of both songs are below, so you can make the call yourself. The opening few bars certainly do sound quite similar, but not the entire song. Whether or not that constitutes copyright infringement will be decided by people with whom you and I probably don’t want to have a beer.

According to another report, the songwriting was credited to Wilson, John Rich, and Vicky McGehee. Who wrote the lyrics, which do not seem to be an issue here, and who wrote the music, is not specified, but it seems likely that Gretchen had a hand in the lyrics, while Rich and McGehee had a larger role in the music as well as the lyrics.

Here are the two videos (and you can guess which one is better regardless of the copyright issue):

“Work Hard, Play Harder”, Gretchen Wilson

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASq-UZnErB0]

“Jealous Again”, Black Crowes

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjq5Rq4sSZc]