Million Dollar Loan

Last updated
"Million Dollar Loan"
Single by Death Cab for Cutie
from the album 30 Days, 30 Songs
ReleasedOctober 10, 2016 (2016-10-10)
Recorded2016
Genre Indie pop
Length4:38
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s) Ben Gibbard
Death Cab for Cutie singles chronology
"Good Help (Is So Hard to Find)"
(2016)
"Million Dollar Loan"
(2016)
"Gold Rush"
(2018)

"Million Dollar Loan" is a song by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie. It was released on October 10, 2016, as the first song in the Dave Eggers-headed project 30 Days, 30 Songs . Like the other songs in the project, the song lyrically takes aim at Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president in the country's 2016 election. The project aimed to release one song every day from October 10 until Election Day, all of which are, according to its website, "written and recorded by musicians for a Trump-free America." [1] It is the band's first new song since the 2015 album Kintsugi . [2]

Contents

Composition

In a statement, Death Cab for Cutie's singer and songwriter Ben Gibbard explained why he wrote the song:

Lyrically, 'Million Dollar Loan' deals with a particularly tone deaf moment in Donald Trump's ascent to the Republican nomination. While campaigning in New Hampshire last year, he attempted to cast himself as a self-made man by claiming he built his fortune with just a 'small loan of a million dollars' from his father. Not only has this statement been proven to be wildly untrue, he was so flippant about it. It truly disgusted me. Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unworthy of the honor and responsibility of being President of the United States of America, and in no way, shape or form represents what this country truly stands for. He is beneath us. [1]

Music video

A music video was also made for the song to coincide with its release, in which a wall is gradually built around Trump. The video was directed by Kyle Cogan of Simian Design. [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Postal Service</span> American indie rock band

The Postal Service is an American indie pop supergroup from Seattle, Washington, consisting of singer Ben Gibbard, producer Jimmy Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis on background vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Cab for Cutie</span> American rock band

Death Cab for Cutie is an American rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997. Death Cab for Cutie's music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock. The band is currently composed of Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper, Zac Rae, and Jason McGerr (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Gibbard</span> American musician (born 1976)

Benjamin Gibbard is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, with whom he has recorded ten studio albums, and as a member of the supergroup The Postal Service. Gibbard released his debut solo album, Former Lives, in 2012, and a collaborative studio album, One Fast Move or I'm Gone (2009) with Jay Farrar.

<i>Transatlanticism</i> 2003 studio album by Death Cab for Cutie

Transatlanticism is the fourth studio album by rock band Death Cab for Cutie, released on October 7, 2003, by Barsuk Records. At this point in their career, the group had toured and recorded for nearly a half-decade. With tensions rising, the band decided to take time away from one another; notably, Ben Gibbard collaborated with electronic musician Dntel, and released an album, Give Up, under the name the Postal Service. Death Cab regrouped in late 2002 to create Transatlanticism, which was recorded in a leisurely manner over five-day stretches until June 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Walla</span> American musician

Christopher Ryan Walla is an American musician, record producer, and film music composer, best known for being a former guitarist and songwriter for the band Death Cab for Cutie.

<i>Plans</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Death Cab for Cutie

Plans is the fifth studio album by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie, released August 30, 2005 on Atlantic Records. Emerging from the Pacific Northwest in the early 2000s, Death Cab first rose to prominence on the strength of its confessional lyricism and textured indie rock sound. Following a longstanding partnership with indie label Barsuk, the band made the leap to a major label, Atlantic, for Plans. The LP was the band's first time recording outside of their Seattle home; it was produced at Long View Farm, a rural Massachusetts property.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crooked Teeth (Death Cab for Cutie song)</span> 2006 single by Death Cab for Cutie

"Crooked Teeth" is a song by indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, the second single from their fifth album, Plans, released on April 11, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Possess Your Heart</span> 2008 single by Death Cab for Cutie

"I Will Possess Your Heart" is an alternative rock song recorded by the American band Death Cab for Cutie. The song depicts a one-sided obsessive relationship, which led Paste to name it one of the 25 creepiest songs about love. It is notable for its five-minute instrumental introduction as well as its music video which required location shooting across four continents. The song was the lead single from their sixth studio album, Narrow Stairs (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Cab for Cutie discography</span>

Death Cab for Cutie has released ten studio albums, five extended plays (EPs), a demo tape, a digital album, one live album, thirty-two singles, nine music videos, and two DVDs. Death Cab for Cutie is an American indie rock group from Bellingham, Washington and was formed in 1997 by Ben Gibbard as a side project from Pinwheel. After releasing a demo tape, he added guitarist Chris Walla, bassist Nick Harmer, and drummer Nathan Good to the band. Death Cab signed to Barsuk Records and released four extended plays (EPs) and four studio albums through the label. The fourth album, Transatlanticism, reached number 97 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified gold in the United States. The group also issued nine singles and a demo tape through Barsuk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign</span> 2016 presidential campaign

The 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump was formally launched on June 16, 2015, at Trump Tower in New York City. Trump was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2016 election, having won the most state primaries, caucuses, and delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He chose Mike Pence, the sitting governor of Indiana, as his vice presidential running mate. On November 8, 2016, Trump and Pence were elected president and vice president of the United States. Trump's populist positions in opposition to illegal immigration and various trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, earned him support especially among voters who were male, white, blue-collar, working class, and those without college degrees. Many voters in the Rust Belt, who gave Trump the electoral votes needed to win the presidency, switched from supporting Bernie Sanders to Trump after Hillary Clinton won the Democratic nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FDT (song)</span> 2016 single by YG featuring Nipsey Hussle

"FDT" is a protest song by YG featuring Nipsey Hussle, and is the second single from YG's second studio album Still Brazy. The song is a criticism of the policies of the Republican candidate in the 2016 US presidential election, Donald Trump, who will eventually win the election.

Donald Trump <i>Access Hollywood</i> tape Recorded discussion between Donald Trump and Billy Bush in 2005

On October 7, 2016, one month before the United States presidential election, The Washington Post published a video and accompanying article about then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and television host Billy Bush having "an extremely lewd conversation about women" in September 2005. Trump and Bush were on a bus on their way to film an episode of Access Hollywood, a show owned by NBCUniversal. In the video, Trump described his attempt to seduce a married woman and indicated he might start kissing a woman that he and Bush were about to meet. He added, "I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab 'em by the pussy. You can do anything."

1,000 Days, 1,000 Songs is a musical project launched on October 10, 2016, by Dave Eggers which was originally supposed to release one song per day from then until November 8, 2016, which is Election Day in the United States. Each of the songs is performed by one of 40 musicians or projects, and the songs all advocate against voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Eggers worked on the project with Jordan Kurland, the owner of Zeitgeist Artist Management. The two of them previously worked on two similar election-related projects, including the "90 Days, 90 Reasons" campaign in 2012. Eggers originally got the idea for the project when attending a Trump rally in Sacramento, California in June 2016. The first song in the project was "Million Dollar Loan" by Death Cab for Cutie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Trump in music</span>

Multiple songs, albums, bands and performances have referenced Donald Trump or his various brands, including Trump Tower, his TV show, his hotel chain, and his casinos. While recent songs refer to Trump's campaign, election, and tenure as President of the United States, more than 200 songs refer to Trump prior to his campaigns for president. Most earlier references to Trump in lyrics revolve around his status as a business tycoon, but then shifted toward a stance more critical of his politics as he attempted to attain public office. With his victory in the 2016 presidential election, Trump's prominence in hip-hop music has been likened to that of Ronald Reagan's in hardcore punk during the 1980s.

Jordan Kurland is a founding partner of Brilliant Corners Management, a music and artist management company with offices in San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. He is the co-founder of the Treasure Island Music Festival and a partner in the independent music festival, Noise Pop.

<i>Thank You for Today</i> 2018 studio album by Death Cab for Cutie

Thank You for Today is the ninth studio album by American indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie. The album was released on August 17, 2018, on Atlantic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wealth of Donald Trump</span>

The net worth of Donald Trump is not publicly known. Various news organizations have attempted to estimate his wealth. Forbes estimates it at $2.6 billion as of 2023, with Trump making much higher claims. Trump received gifts, loans, and inheritance from his father. His primary business has been real estate ventures, including hotels, casinos, and golf courses. He also made money from Trump-branded products including neckties and steaks. Money received through political fundraisers is used to pay for guest stays at properties owned by the Trump Organization and to pay his and his allies' lawyers.

<i>20/20 Vision</i> (Anti-Flag album) 2020 studio album by Anti-Flag

20/20 Vision is the twelfth studio album by American punk rock band Anti-Flag from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was released on January 17, 2020, via Spinefarm Records. Recording sessions took place at Dog House Studios and at MDDN Studio from July to August 2019. Production was handled by Matt Good.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lincoln Project</span> American political action committee

The Lincoln Project is a centrist American political action committee (PAC) founded in December 2019 by moderate conservatives and former Republican Party members who oppose Trumpism and 45th U.S. president Donald Trump. During the 2020 presidential election, it aimed to prevent the re-election of president Donald Trump, and to defeat incumbent Republican candidates running for re-election who had been loyalists to Trump. In April 2020, the committee endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. As of 2023, the committee is focused on preventing the non-consecutive re-election of Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

"Stay Young, Go Dancing" is a song recorded by the American rock band Death Cab for Cutie for their seventh studio album, Codes and Keys (2011). It was released as the third single from Codes and Keys on September 26, 2011, through Atlantic Records.

References

  1. 1 2 Kreps, Daniel (10 October 2016). "Watch Death Cab for Cutie's Anti-Trump 'Million Dollar Loan' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. Cush, Andy (10 October 2016). "Death Cab for Cutie's "Million Dollar Loan" Sure Sounds Like a Song About Trump (Updated)". Spin. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  3. Strauss, Matthew (10 October 2016). "Listen to Death Cab for Cutie's New Anti-Trump Song "Million Dollar Loan"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  4. Death Cab For Cutie (2016-10-10), Death Cab For Cutie - "Million Dollar Loan" [Official Video] , retrieved 2016-10-23