Last week Barack Obama gave an address to a joint session of Congress on the subject of health insurance reform. The speech was notable for many things, among them the congressional douchebag who had such little respect for the Office of the President that he heckled Mr. Obama while he was addressing Congress. So much for even the pretense of civility in the current political environment.

Health insurance is something that hits me close to home. For reasons that are only interesting or important to me and my family, if I didn’t have excellent insurance through my wife’s employer I would be bankrupt and giving hand jobs down on Division Street to pay my medical bills. There aren’t really any good covers about giving hand jobs, but there are a few that deal with sickness and healing.

Neil Finn “Sexual Healing” (Marvn Gaye)
Whether or not the government will mandate that insurance companies pay for sexual healing is a hotly debated issue. I’m all for it, it would make going to the doctor a whole lot more fun.

Scums “Heal The World” (Michael Jackson)
With a band name like Scums I was expecting hardcore punk. Instead I got earnest acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. Normally I get annoyed when this happens but this song it so chipper I can’t get too upset.

Blackstrap “St. James Infirmary Blues” (Traditional)
The blues standard sounds pretty good played on an accordion.

John Scofield “I Don’t Need No Doctor” (Ray Charles)
The cover by Humble Pie became a payola-fueled nine-minute-long classic rock radio staple, but the song started out as a hit for Brother Ray. John Scofield delivers a version that is funky and cool at the same time. That’s a feat of musical gymnastics that carries a high degree of difficulty.

Richard Cheese “Down With The Sickness” (Disturbed)
Leave it to the legendary Mr. Cheese to cuss like a teamster with a cocktail in his hand and a smile in his voice. Be careful with this one at work.