Ten 1982 Songs For Newt Gingrich's Theme Music, Now That "Eye of the Tiger" Is Out

Ed Murawinski via Wikimedia Commons

Newt reacts to the call from Survivor's lawyers. Originally from a 1995 New York Daily News cover.

It's a time-honored tradition: A candidate for political office starts walking out for stump speeches to the strains of a hit by a band that doesn't agree with his views. Cease-and-desist letters follow. This week's episode stars one Newt Leroy Gingrich, who has been using "Eye of the Tiger" dating back to 2009. Frank M. Sullivan III, who co-wrote the song for his band Survivor, has sued the most rotund playboy this side of Ron Jeremy, and now the latter will have to choose a new tune.

He might as well stick with 1982, the year "Eye of the Tiger" was released -- the GOP was riding high on Ronald Reagan's first term, and awesomely cheesy pop songs rained like wealth trickling down to the common folk. Here, then, are the ten most appropriate theme-tune replacements.

10. "Africa" by Toto
Would surely secure the coveted karaoke-enthusiast demographic.

9. "Der Kommissar" by After the Fire
"Newt" is never going to be our fearless leader. "Der Kommissar"? OK, still probably not going to make him electable. But it's a better nickname than Newt.

8. "Heat of the Moment" by Asia
Too easy?

7. "Dancing in the Streets" by Van Halen
Clearly, Newt likes to party.

6. "Stand or Fall" by the Fixx
We could read the Euro-theater bit as a swipe at Obama's handling of the global debt crisis. Plus, if the band took Newt to court, the trial might finally put to rest the question of whether it should be "speak your piece" or "speak your peace."