The newly reunited Ginger Ninjas were practicing late one night in April 2004. Our friend Amber Cone showed up, heard someone mention the vice-president, and related the story of an outrageous 5 and 7-year old sister and brother named Quinn and Jared who are great young friends and fans of the band.
The two had been arguing. Quinn, the younger, smaller, and feistier of the two began chasing her big brother around the house. She called him some names; he taunted her, unfazed. Then he used his til-then-secret weapon. "Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney," he teased. Unable to cope, Quinn broke down crying. "I am not," she protested, arms folded, face reddening. "Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney," Jared continued, until forced by their mom to stop. "Fine," said Quinn, with the biggest pout she could muster, "Then you're George W. Bush!"
Wow, we thought. Even the hearts of children fill with terror at the idea of personifying poor Mr. Cheney. That man needs some love. So we wrote a song.
It became an anthem everywhere we went. Encouraged to make a single, we went to the studio with ace producer Borrina Mapaka, and made the hit.
The song was engineered by Paul Kraushaar, who has worked the knobs for Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett, ZZ Top, and Jay Leno.
The b-side is the beautiful “why not just be happier when it’s hard” anthem, “Dreams”, and features the African flavors of World-music chart-topper Mapaka singing in Congolese, as well as Bodhi Busick on guitar.
