Ramones: 15 Best Songs (That Weren't From The Original Lineup)
6. My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg)
Album: Animal Boy (1986)
Lineup: Joey, Johnny, Richie, Dee Dee
If Censorsh*t taught us anything, it's that the Ramones had no problem with taking shots at known politicians. And with the track Bonzo Goes to Bitburg (alternatively titled My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down) they took aim at president Ronald Reagan.
During the '80s, it wasn't exactly uncommon for punk rock bands to take shots at Reagan. Suicidal Tendencies did it, Reagan Youth did it, and the Dead Kennedys did it (a lot.) However, it only makes sense that the original New York punks the Ramones gave listeners one of the best and most memorable examples.
The song is a direct reference to the Bitburg Controversy, which saw Reagan receive massive backlash for seemingly downplaying the atrocities suffered by Holocaust victims. Joey Ramone, who was of Jewish descent, took exception to the president's comments.
What followed was one of the single most impassioned vocal performances of Joey's career, which was beyond melodious, in spite of the fact that it was born of genuine frustration. Joey's words in this song are also complimented wonderfully by the rest of the band's instruments, which ultimately culminates in a particularly intense finale.
In turn, Bonzo Goes to Bitburg was not only an exceptional single, but also the crown jewel of the 1986 album Animal Boy.