09/05/2008
Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart Feel F*cked Over by John McCain
Nancy Wilson of Heart told EW that she feels completely "f*cked over" after Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG sent a cease-and-desist letter to the McCain campaign over their use of the group's song "Barracuda" (presumably in reference to Alaskan governor Sarah Palin, who's had that nickname thrust upon her).
Nancy and Ann released the following statement last night after they heard it again following McCain's speech.
"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."
Posted 10:55 AM EST by Andy Towle in Election 2008, John McCain, Music, News, Sarah Palin | Permalink
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I'm so glad to hear this news. I've always loved these ladies and was horrified to hear the song played last night. The Repubs should just stick to selections by the few musical acts that actually support them.
Posted by: Mark in NYC | Sep 5, 2008 11:03:12 AM
The McCain campaign has been called out like this by a number of musicians. They use songs whenever they want, and then the artists and their music labels write letters and issue statements saying, "Stop it. You didn't ask for permission to use our music, and we wouldn't grant it since you oppose everything we stand for." McCain=intellectual property thief.
Posted by: MAJeff | Sep 5, 2008 11:15:32 AM
Can we get on with some real news, instead of some dumb bitches complaining about a song?
Posted by: Joe | Sep 5, 2008 11:17:38 AM
As long as you have an ascap license, you can play whatever damn music you want. Most musicians don't own their own music anyways...
Posted by: MIKE | Sep 5, 2008 11:19:14 AM
No new Pat Boone albums? No re-neck country-western singers out there? Come on!
You mean they could not even get Jessica Simpson to sing adoringly to McCain the way she did to the fuck-head in office at his last coronation?
Posted by: Rad | Sep 5, 2008 11:25:40 AM
Anne and Nancy Wilson = pure class.
Posted by: mike | Sep 5, 2008 11:26:43 AM
Pick ONE screen name, Joe/Mike/Douchebag/Troll.
Posted by: 24play | Sep 5, 2008 11:27:33 AM
Respect for the integrity of private property? Not Republicans. Just as they have shown no respect for truth on Iraq, torture, the environment, the budget, the housing mess...all made worse under Republican rule. For them, it is much more fun to celebrate the hockey mom and her ssarcastic rants.
Posted by: Brian | Sep 5, 2008 11:28:28 AM
Poor JOE a.k.a. MIKE.
Can you smell the Republican desperation?
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Sep 5, 2008 11:30:54 AM
musicians should have the right to state endorsement of the use of their music in a political campaign.
@joe:
this isn't the same kind of "borrowing " as when you post other people's photos on you manhunt profile.
Posted by: my2cents | Sep 5, 2008 11:35:46 AM
The irony here is that this is the same party that has and will continue to pass legislation criminalizing the alleged misuse of such materials under the law of copyright against everyday citizens employing fair use.
Kudos to Heart btw. They are excellent songwriters.
Posted by: Bastian | Sep 5, 2008 11:38:08 AM
Why steal from the talented Wilson sisters when you have the entire HOOKERS AND BLOW catalog of family values hits at your disposal?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWerT-eO8_I
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Sep 5, 2008 11:41:30 AM
McCain's Voice Mail to Palin Leaked to Press (Listen):
http://www.236.com/blog/w/lee_camp/mccains_voice_mail_to_palin_le_8644.php
Posted by: my2cents | Sep 5, 2008 11:47:15 AM
YEA, so great to see this news story. I heard the song last night and thought, "Is there ANY way Nancy Wilson could be in favor of this?" I had an entire 3-minute dialogue about it in my head. I could only imagine that some corporate wonk had given the go-ahead without Heart's permission. I hope this news story gets picked up by someone like Entertainment Tonight!
Posted by: GMB | Sep 5, 2008 11:47:23 AM
Uh, it's completely legal, bozos. Do you understand how the music business works? Anyone who publicly plays music gets an ascap license, then ascap pays the publisher a royalty. Artists might get a royalty, but they don't own the music, so they have no say. It's no different than playing music in a bar/club. An artist can't come in and say "don't play my music here!" This whole issue is BS.
From the ascap web site:
3. What Does the ASCAP License Do?
ASCAP gives you a license to entertain your customers, guests and employees with the world's largest musical repertory. One of the greatest advantages of the ASCAP license is that it give you the right to perform ANY or ALL of the millions of the musical works in our repertory. Whether your music is live, broadcast, transmitted or played via CD's or videos, your ASCAP license covers your performances. And with one license fee, ASCAP saves you the time, expense, and burden of contacting thousands of copyright owners.
Posted by: MIKE | Sep 5, 2008 11:50:37 AM
Can we get on with some real news, instead of some dumb bitches complaining about a song?
Posted by: Joe
------------
You misspelled your name SCHMO.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Sep 5, 2008 12:00:51 PM
Theres a difference between playing music in a club and broadcasting it over television. You can't even sing the Happy Birthday song on tv without paying royalties for it. And, ASCAP doesn't cover every single song ever written, it includes only those that are included in their sometimes limited catalog. How do you know any of Hearts songs are even available? This is also why the songs sung on American Idol auditions are almost always the same songs and they have very limited choices on what to sing.
Posted by: Chris | Sep 5, 2008 12:04:11 PM
MY2CENTS - That clip is hilarious!
Posted by: JP | Sep 5, 2008 12:14:45 PM
oh, and go Heart! I'm seeing them next week!
Posted by: JP | Sep 5, 2008 12:15:44 PM
Mike,
An ASCAP license isn't a blank check. They're negotiated individually. On top of that, the artist may belong to BMI (as I do.) Also, though most artists don't own publishing rights, most do own writer's share and mechanicals from which point they can complain from.
Posted by: what | Sep 5, 2008 12:19:56 PM
Hey Mike,
There is no mention of the word "legal" or "illegal" in this post or its comments until you chimed in.
Posted by: bastian | Sep 5, 2008 12:27:45 PM
Mike
Actually when aired over a live public broadcast the artist has power of the intellectual rights to their creation. The repubs could have gotten away with it at the convention if they had no tv cameras there.
Joe, this is news in that the fake feminist bull shiter repubs intellectually raped 2 female artists. It is also relevant in that it is now the 3rd time the repubs have done it this election cycle. They have been busted by utilizing the songs of artists in their commercials without the proper permision and or copensation to said artist.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Sep 5, 2008 12:34:18 PM
At this rate they'll be limited to public domain... Three Blind Mice seems appropriate.
Posted by: Dan | Sep 5, 2008 12:48:27 PM
white trash VP alert
Palin's home town and the place she started her political career = Wasilla Alaska
Wasilla Alaska the meth capital of Alaska
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/04/
wasillas-meth-problem-mad_n_123996.html
---------------------------------------
Hillary Clinton campaigning in FL on Monday for Obama/ Biden.
Clinton is going to play a prominent role in countering palin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/us/
politics/05dems.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&
oref=slogin
Per Terry Mcauliffe (Hillary consultant)revealed last night on Larry king Live that Clinton's schedule is all booked up now with campaigning for Obama.
-Wendesday Rep Debbie Wasserrman Schultz revelation that Hillary will be coming out soon to refute Palin
- Thursday TPM reveals Clinton campaigning Monday in FL
- Thursday right after mccain speech, Clinton releases statement reiterating "NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN-PALIN."
- Thursday mcauliffe revelation about Hillary's full schedule campaigning for Obama/ biden
- Thursday NYT article on heavy reliance on Hillary to counter Palin
The end of the repub convention and the media will be salivating on monday for something big in the news.
The dems are playing chess while repubs are playing tic tac toe. The publics' appetite is being wetted for Clinton and the media prepped to be begging for it and BOOM!!!!!
Hillary refuting anti-feminist Palin will dominate the news cycle next week.
:-)
In the spirit of Unity, support for a fellow dem, and thanks for all of Hillary's work and support I urge Obama supporters (former Clinton primary supporters and Obama primary supporters) to donate a few dollars to help offset Clinton's campaign debt. Go to her website and give a few bucks. Even $5 from many different people can add up.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
Palin a pitbull? LOL A mouse about to get chomped on by a lioness
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Sep 5, 2008 12:53:53 PM
PS
No way no how should palin be allowed to slip through one of those 18 million cracks that Hillary and her supporters created!
Donate to offset her campaign debt wether you supported her or not during the primaries.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
:-)
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Sep 5, 2008 1:00:02 PM