A commission, with the help (third item) of nearly $11,000 of Senator Emmett Hanger's personal campaign funds, then tried to find a new state song. It listened to more than 400 tunes, but alas, many were awful. Senator Richard Saslaw recounted (second item) his reaction to one constituent's song, telling the Washington Post, "I wanted to jump out the window of my sixth-floor office, it was so bad." The commission disbanded without ever making a recommendation.
This year, lawmakers, seeking closure, considered "Shenandoah" as a new official song. Some senators pointed out a pesky problem, however. The song doesn't mention Virginia, although it talks an awful lot about the Missouri River. The solution, as adopted by the state Senate this week: name "Shenandoah" the "interim" state song, while the search continues.
The real scandal, however, is that any new state song might prompt state lawmakers to sing. You can hear them trying here, but be warned, your ears will bleed. I fear for Senator Saslaw's safety.
