Heart Wants McCain/Palin To Stop Using Barracuda

Boston Globe:

The rock group Heart has sent a message to John McCain and Sarah "Barracuda'' Palin: quit playing our 1977 hit ''Barracuda.''

Soon after the presidential nominee finished his acceptance speech late Thursday and running-mate Palin joined him on the Republican National Convention stage in St. Paul, the sound system pumped the throbbing introductory guitar licks to "Barracuda.''

It seemed the cleverest musical choice of both conventions. Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, like Alaska Governor Palin, are outspoken products of the Pacific Northwest, and the sisters's tune also could refer to Palin's Dazed-and-Confused-Era nickname of Sarah Barracuda, given for her intense high-school basketball play.

But the Wilsons condemned the usage, adding that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign, according to CNN. "We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music,'' the group said in a statement.

Read the whole story: Boston Globe

Comments

[991199]

Hey all of you morons out there who think that if you buy a CD in a store you can play any song you want on National TV -

NOBODY has the right to play any music without first obtaining a license if you plan on using that music on TV or in a movie or on a DVD.

Calling HEART stupid for asking the RNC to cease the use of their song is IGNORANT. HEART is totally within their rights and is not erroding your freedom. EDUCATE YOURSELF FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

[BassCat]

Ahhhhhhh Dude, WTF televised it?? Was it the Repubs??? Not, it was MSM, sue them....

[honeygirl2]

What a bunch of has beens..Thi­s is the most attention they have had in 40 years and that is about the only song they recorded that was worth listening to...

[KNadine]

I heard the song (Barracuda) and asked my husband who sings it. He told me Heart. I knew what was coming next. Funny!!

[TexasRick]

These two old bags should just be happy that their song is being listened to by anyone. I still would prefer that our entertainers kept their political opinions to themselves. It is obvious that they hate Republicans. I hate how wealthy Hollywood and music celebs think they have to be Democrats because they feel guilty that they have all that money, but do you ever hear of them donating their money, no.....jus­t their unwanted opinions. Maybe they itune sales will go up. Peace out.

[supergranny]

Really, McCain/Palin should really be playing "Dueling Banjos" or perhaps the theme song for Green Acres.

[lokipuck]

Gotta love the ignorant. PEACE OUT!

[shadowjake6]

Wow thats really gay. But hey i guess thats what john mccain gets for downloading it straight from itunes. I mean come on heart how stupid can you guys get. I guess i cant drive my car and listen to barracuda with my radio turned up. I bet if Barrack Obama played this song at the Democratic National Convention no one would give a crap. This presidential race is just a bunch of Bull, the media is so taking sides with Barrack Obama just because he's black. I mean no one who is going to vote for him know his ideas. But whatever Heart you and Sony keep on bieng gay like you guys have been for the last 31 years since you guys made this song.

[Bluejay00234]

lol...good for them.

[sstreib1120]

Wow... Senator John McCain's party bought the CD and played it at a party. So what? Is everyone bent on giving up our freedom's that we can't even choose what music we are going to play at a party? Give me a break. I have lost all respect for the music groups that are making such a fuss about this. Isn't that why they sing? They sing to inspire people and when people use their music as inspiration they get offended!?!

[DemHippoCrits]

I totally agree. Did you see the spike in downloads of "Barracuda" today? If Heart is so adverse to the Republican party using their music then they should refuse all the money they make off of the renewed interest in that song because of the 39 million TV viewers who heard it last night. It would be easy. Use the royalty data from that song on Sept. 4 as the baseline. Anything you made over that on Sept. 6, give it back. Do you think that will happen? No way!!!!!!!! When forced to choose between their political ideology and an unforeseen financial windfall what do you think they will do? How they handle this will show their true colors. They are just another one of the typical Democratic hypocritical lemmings who jump on the Democratic "issue du jour" and believe that they are making a statement. Ok, Heart - put your money where your mouth is!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kishadawn]

Did it ever occur to you that they are getting more record sales because they said they don't support McCain?

If I were associated with McCain or Palin the first thing I would do is make it a point that I'm not supporter.

[mick7191]

Way to go, Annie.

[lynninny]

Aren't they the fourth or fifth musical entity that has recently asked the Republicans to STOP playing their music to promote their candidates?

[ezaxs99]

OOOPS!!

Forgot....­Republican­s buy Music Too!

[ezaxs99]

Hmmmm? Just thinking that if ALL bands want to take advantage of their copyright on ANY song or music, Perhaps they should ALL start with our Elementary, Middle and High Schools...­oh and let's don't forget, College bands too I'm sure have asked for permissions to use their (sic) songs and music. Man what a goldmine they're overlooking! Or perhaps they just stick with the sure money ticket and encourage the prosecution of 81 y.o. people for using music on their web sites. Has anyone from either political camp during ANY campaign asked for permission to use certain songs/music if the lyrics or format wasn't changed? What particular chairman or campaign committee handles the legal side of this anyway? Damn! 50 lashes with a wet noodle! Guess that manager or attorney ought to be dismissed.­...NOW! There are many ways to express your patriotism, other than showing yourself to be such angry, negative body of Americans.
By the way....a REAL MAN is needed in the WHITE HOUSE...On­e who is already quite adept at balancing budgets, keeping us fed and clothed and with a roof over our head.....A WOMAN

[Truth2powers]

Gosh, ezaxs99, that puts you at 0 for 2. That suggests that following Republican thought requires either ignorance or larceny.
1. Democrats buy music, but apparently Republican officials prefer to steal it.
2. This campaign will cost over $1 Billion dollars by early November. I trust you would recognize that as big business. ANY commercial use of someone else's property (physical, intellectual, artistic) requires both permission and compensation. Everyone from your local bar to National ad campaigns have to secure permission and provide compensation for ANY music they use. Not surprising that you would conveniently have that gap in your knowledge. The problem the Republicans have is that they lack the idealism that would encourage permission from these artists AND they lack the integrity to fairly compensate them. So, grasshopper, yes usage rights are regularly secured for commercial (that includes political) use, though the honorable campaigns make sure that the controlling artist philisophically agrees with them first.

This has been true since copywrite laws were put on the books, so this isn't new news. But then you support a president that also lives by the mantra: "Don't confuse me with the facts. I know what I believe."

[BigLib]

Why is the tubby one always hiding behind something? a tree, a person...

[justafarmer]

...a baby blanket...

[OldKnute]

Hahaha!!!!!

Hehehe!

Go Girls GO! This is wonderful. Stand Up and tellum.

Yeeeeeeeeee

Oh I found one on Youtube that McBush and Sarah (Palin) Cheney can use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SsFK3JJ_-E

Support our Gals,, HEART is awesome.

OMG,, what was he thinking?

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[drewtom]

Unbelievable! I guess the copywriter laws don't apply just like the Constitution does not apply to the Bush Administration. Love, what Ann Wilson said! What is like the fifth group who has told the stupid Republicans not to use their music? I heard the producers of Juno are also suing Palin for stealing their idea of a pregnant teen age daughter.

[meltingpot101]

First it was John Melloncamp, then Van Halen and now Heart. John McCain better just stick to that bad country song written just for him they played last night after his spe....his appearance.