Gilmore about to face the music... literally

EAMON GILMORE is about to face the music.

Labour has appealed to members to suggest a song that will form the campaign anthem for the party leader in the general election.

Coincidentally, appearing on last Friday’s Late Late Show, Mr Gilmore admitted he’s a fan of “The Boss” – Bruce Springsteen.

And there is no shortage of Springsteen songs that Labour could pick from. Such as I’m on Fire in reference to his current poll standings. Or Eyes on the Prize, as he bids to win power.

Cynics, of course, could suggest a few other Springsteen titles. Worlds Apart, for instance, would neatly sum up the differences in policy between Labour and likely coalition partners Fine Gael.

Staff in Labour Party HQ said they wanted “a great song that can carry Eamon and his team all the way to Government Buildings”.

“Also to display our generosity to the boys and girls in Fianna Fáil, who are having a tough time of it at the moment, we’d like to give them a dig out.”

Well, Take That’s How Did it Come to This would surely be the song that would capture Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s mood right now.

But Fianna Fáil could also suggest a few songs for Labour in return. Sheryl Crow’s Hard to Make a Stand would perfectly sum up Mr Gilmore’s delay in spelling out a position on the Croke Park Agreement. Perhaps the Queens of the Stone Age song No One Knows would summarise how Labour will manage to cut the deficit while protecting social welfare payments and frontline services. And Fianna Fáil would feel the Smashing Pumpkins’ Zero would sum up the current Labour policies.

Fine Gael would also have its fare share of suggestions for Mr Gilmore. Go West’s King of Wishful Thinking might sum up the Labour leader’s claim that he can be the next Taoiseach. The Cranberries’ Just My Imagination might work just as well.

No doubt Mr Gilmore will want to retain an optimistic note on the campaign trail. So perhaps he should turn to The Streets’ Could Well Be In for inspiration. Sounds about right.