No. I don't think they are. I went through most of the playlist last night, and all of the songs touch on the same basic themes: be happy with what you've got. Enjoy simplicity. Be docile and tractable. Give up. Knowing WalMart and their standard approach to employee indoctrination, I don't think any of the lyrics were chosen by accident.

A child does not worry about health care and unions. Oh, Ye Associates of Walmart, be like unto a child.

Sam Walton, the founder, refused to comply with Federal minimum wage. When a court finally ordered him to start paying minimum wage. He was also ordered to pay the employees the back wages for when he should have been paying them the new minimum wage.

He wrote the checks, but threatened to fire any employee who cashed one.

Well, here's something. Taken from the official WalMart writeup:


-------------------------------------------------------------- --------
The Walmart Associate Choir was formed in 1995 as a very small, informal group of people who loved music and loved Walmart. The Choir debuted the same year at the 1995 Walmart Shareholders Meeting with "Wal-Mart Pride," a song written by Verl Mason, Guest Choir Director. Today the Walmart Associate Choir is comprised of approximately 134 associates that work in Walmart Stores, Neighborhood Markets, Supercenters, Sam's Clubs and Distribution Centers from 32 states across the USA. Choir members are held to high standards as representatives of Walmart culture.

Through the years the choir has performed at meetings such as Shareholders, Merchandising, Year Beginning, Saturday Morning, Holiday, and countless other corporate events. The choir has visited stores of all formats, Clubs, and Distribution Centers to *******share the culture and positive outlook that make this company great.*******

The choir regularly reinforces their strong commitment to the community. They have performed at Hospitals, Senior Centers, and Children's Shelters in Arkansas and Missouri. The choir performed at events ranging from a Kansas City Royals baseball game to local town Tree Lighting ceremonies. They helped a community heal with song after the tragic tornado ripped through Joplin, MO. *******Songs of patriotism help the choir extend the Walmart culture beyond the boundaries of their Walmart family to the Nation.*******

As evidence of Walmart's commitment to children, the Walmart Associate Choir is now releasing "Eyes of a Child" as a benefit CD for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. Following up their first CD in 1998, associates have come together as one voice to sing 9 original songs, written by their long time friend Verl Mason. 100% of the purchase price of each CD sold will go to CMNH. *******All songs on the CD have positive, encouraging, motivational lyrics that fortify the Walmart culture and will appeal to all ages and musical tastes.*******

-------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------


Asterix'd emphasis my own. I haven't been able to dig up much on who Verl Mason is, how the choir operates, or even if it still exists, but WalMart seems pretty forthcoming about having selected the lyrics specifically to promote their culture of corporate indoctrination.

It's nice that they donate the proceeds to charity, but I'm still not buying one.

How many could possibly be sold? There's hardly much of a market for this sort of thing.