QUIET RIOT ~ 10.19.2020
Alternate title: If I Were a Copywriter on the Biden/Harris Campaign
Doesn’t have the same ring as Quiet Riot. And I’m certainly no copywriter for the Biden/Harris campaign, but I am a copywriter who is sensitive about words—especially the kind that can be used as weapons of mass connection.
*quiet *riot *quiet *riot
QUIET RIOT: THE ROOTS
You don’t need to be a copywriter to see that the Biden/Harris campaign has been getting its ass kicked in the arena of words. Can you tell me one Biden slogan that resonates with you?
I saw a commercial where Biden said something like, “I’ll take care of your family the way I would my own.” (It was something like that anyway, I can’t quite recall ...)
I mean, Build Back Better is pretty good—wait, that is the slogan right? Hand-on-Bible, I had to Google/fact check it before writing.
And that’s my point. And that’s our problem.
Where I’ve been waiting, pleading, pining, craving connection like a lovesick teenager and searching for any damn words from the Biden/Harris campaign that stick—that actually resonate—the kind of words that speak volumes and awaken our conscious and stir deeply in our souls—I’m starving.
We’re starving.
We’re out here in the words wasteland waiting for something, anything, we can sink our Biden-loving blue hearts into—while the Trump campaign zings America red with masterful, emotional precision.
Like this.
This banner took my breath. It’s so damn good. Could you strike a nerve any harder—slam any straighter directly into one’s deeply held beliefs and values—than these three beautifully placed words do? God. Guns & Country, words as weapons of mass connection.
How about this billboard I drive by every morning?
Save America Vote Republican
Save. America.
My God—where are they?
Where are the Biden/Harris WORDS we need to actually save our country?
Where are the words we can all speak, and be saying the same thing? Where are the words that unify us all—where are the words that represent all of what Biden/Harris actually means to America in this election?
And then I saw this.
Spray painted in my hometown of Saginaw, Michigan
BYEDON, like Biden. But, more.
“Clever,” I thought.
I spoke it out loud to myself, and kind of chuckled.
BYEDON. Ha.
And, then, you guys, it kinda stuck.
Like, I couldn’t un-remember it. (In the realm of words, let me be the copywriter to tell you: It’s a very good thing when this happens.)
Turns out it isn’t WORD(S) that we need—it’s one word: BYEDON
CUE THE MUSIC
I can no more explain this portion of the Quiet Riot than to proclaim “Big Magic” like Elizabeth Gilbert herself has so eloquently defined.
{Music} Na Na Na Na—Where the thought came from?—Na Na Na Na—Big Magic—Hey Hey Hey—OMG—ByeDon
A writer on fire, consumed by an idea not even understood, I searched the tune and found (felt?) this:
A writer on fire and an excitable person, I stopped-dropped-and-rolled — immediately fired off this text to my political partner, my safe zone, my voice of reason, my brother:
Anti-Trump or Pro-Biden?
Now it’s your turn to stop, drop, and roll.
Nah—I need you to stand up.
*quiet *riot *quiet *riot
I mean, physically—in your cubicle this very second—from your home office in sweatpants—stand right on up and say this out loud and proud because I know you know the answer.
WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH
*yasssss
*quiet *riot *quiet *riot *quiet *riot
QUIET RIOT!
QUIET RIOT! QUIET RIOT!
Our nation may be watching debates on TV, and the slogans and closings coming to our mainstream mailboxes are stop-drop-roll — done, believe that, and we can’t change that.
This riot?
This Quiet Riot takes place behind-the-scenes, in the neighborhoods that we hang in — this happens at our playground — this Quiet Riot goes down and rises up in the streets of the Internet.
SAY BYEDON
SHARE
BYEDON
We need unifying words right now—we are under fire, 19 days from this very second to the election —there’s no time to split hairs—it’s BYEDON.
What does BYEDON really mean, to you? Share it.
What are you, personally, individually, saying Hello to when you say Goodbye to this administration? Share it.
BYEDON. Writers. BYEDON. Artists. BYEDON. Poets. BYEDON. Creators. SHARE all of what BYEDON means.
*quiet *riot *quiet *riot
REMEMBER: WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH
ONE HASHTAG: #byedon2020
If you’re a hairstylist, color up some BYEDON, shave into hair one word that means everything — and share it. #byedon2020
Metalsmith? Jeweler? Envision BYEDON, create your art, I can’t wait to see it — and share it. #byedon2020
Videographers unite! Show us what Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey BYEDON looks like, create the videos that should be playing on Instagram @byedonald2020 that ignite passion and propel connection — and share it. #byedon2020
Quiet rebels, I love you, please join Quiet Riot and share this blog with the person/people who will further share BYEDON — you can be revolutionary, quietly.
*quiet *riot *quiet *riot
When Biden/Harris take that stage and deliver the acceptance speech we’re nail biting to hear after the most dangerously important election of our lifetimes — when we feel Hope in our souls again and cheer for our American values that President Joe Biden and Vice-president Kamala Harris will uphold — we’ll together be chanting:
Na Na Na Na — WHEN THEY GO LOW — Na Na Na Na — WE GO HIGH — Hey Hey Hey — THANK GOD