The State of the Union Songbook (The New Yorker Radio Hour)

Michael Friedman is engaged in an unusual form of journalism. The composer, who has worked on shows including “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” and “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play,” is travelling the country talking to voters about what’s on their minds in this election, and then turning his interview transcripts into original songs. “The New Yorker Radio Hour” has been documenting his work. In California, Friedman spoke with a network-news producer whose jaded feelings about political coverage was shocked by Donald Trump’s hijacking of politics for entertainment      

The composer Michael Friedman has been talking to voters across the country and turning his interviews into songs. Recently, he met a college student in Colorado Springs who is supporting Bernie Sanders. When she looks into her future, she sees roommates, no kids, and no retirement; she says she’ll be working forever—“if I’m lucky.” Friedman spoke with The New Yorker’s Sarah Larson, who is following his progress across the country.

Michael Friedman, the composer of many successful shows on and off Broadway, is writing music in real time on the campaign trail, and The New Yorker’s Sarah Larson has been charting his progress. Friedman's latest song tells the story of a Trump supporter from Charleston, a self-proclaimed redneck who was nevertheless glad to see the Confederate flag come down from the South Carolina state house. Listen to Friedman’s song here: Listen to some of Friedman’s other 2016 songs: “Undocumented” and “Mock Circus.”

Michael Friedman is the composer of many successful shows on and off Broadway. Now he’s following the campaign circus, creating songs based on voters’ reflections on our current political moment. The lyrics of his song “Undocumented,” for instance, were taken verbatim from a conversation with an undocumented immigrant in Dallas, who told Friedman about his fears of Donald Trump’s “giant wall.” The New Yorker’s Sarah Larson spoke with Friedman about his project. Michael Friedman performing his composition "Undocumented"  

The campaign playing out in the political world may seem like theatre—part drama, part comedy—but Michael Friedman wants to make it a musical. Friedman, who wrote the music and lyrics to “Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson,” has been following the primaries, interviewing voters, and making songs out of the transcripts. The result is a series of musical snapshots that capture how people are thinking about politics in 2016. He talks to The New Yorker’s Sarah Larson. Michael Friedman performing his composition "Mock Caucus" Produced by David Krasnow.