What's on Fintan O'Toole's iPod?

Readers of my other blog will know I have strong opinions when it comes to the subject of Fintan O'Toole as a political analyst.

What I've never really considered is that Fintan started out as - and, indeed, was acclaimed as - an Arts critic. These days he confines himself mainly to the theatre and fine arts, so it was interesting to see him dip into pop music in this week's Culture section, for a hypothetical a Celtic Tiger musical.

I have to say I'm quite impressed.

There's some of the usual oul lad stuff like the Boomtown Rats and Smiths (former a bit dodgy, the latter very legit), but he had me at hello when he threw in Miley's 'Party In The USA':

Sung by Mary “Boston not Berlin” Harney, dancing with charts showing the Clinton boom: “Got my hands up, they’re playin’ my song/ And now I’m gonna be okay/ Yeah! It’s a party in the USA!/ Yeah! It’s a party in the USA!”

Even better, he also included Motley Crue, albeit the admittedly shit 'Planet Boom,' which even dedicated Crueheads have forgotten about. There was a recent Manics number, two (confusingly) from the Prodigy and Black Flag's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme.' But the best pick has to be Martha Wainwright's 'Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole':

Sung by the Plain People of Ireland as showers of excrement fall on their heads: “You bloody motherf***ing asshole(s)/ Oh you bloody motherf***ing asshole(s)/ Oh you bloody motherf***ing asshole(s).” Repeat ad infinitum.

Personally, I can't believe he missed 'Don't Stop Believing'...