Heart to McCain/Palin: Back off on 'Barracuda'

[CactusCarlos]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3472240

Heart to McCain/Palin: Back off on 'Barracuda'
Posted by catgirl on Fri Sep-05-08 10:08 AM

Source: 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 then and earlier in the convention, adding that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign, according to CNN.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/2008/09/heart_to_mccain.html?s_campaign=8315


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The Wilson sister's statement:

"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."

More of article on link.

[BannedFromDU]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3472240

Heart to McCain/Palin: Back off on 'Barracuda'
Posted by catgirl on Fri Sep-05-08 10:08 AM

Source: 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 then and earlier in the convention, adding that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign, according to CNN.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/2008/09/heart_to_mccain.html?s_campaign=8315


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

The Wilson sister's statement:

"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."

More of article on link.

      To the degree that 'Barracuda' is available via Muzak, I'm rather less impressed by Heart's ire.

[DixieBelle]

Oh FFS! I love Heart. I've seen them perform. Heck, barracuda is my ringtone on my phone and has been for several months now. I REALLY enjoy getting calls since Sarah came along.

But this is just silly. They are just afraid that it will ruin their liberal bona fides. Nothing more. I bet they will still cash their royalty checks.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

Oh FFS! I love Heart. I've seen them perform. Heck, barracuda is my ringtone on my phone and has been for several months now. I REALLY enjoy getting calls since Sarah came along.

But this is just silly. They are just afraid that it will ruin their liberal bona fides. Nothing more. I bet they will still cash their royalty checks.

Well as silly as I think Ann and Nancy are being about this{and I know this won't be a popular view}It is their right not to have their music used to promote something that they disagree with. I would say the same thing if the tables were turned except there are not many conservative rock stars out there!

[DixieBelle]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

Yes it is petty...but it is still their property and I really think its their right to be petty and small minded if thats what they choose!

[Duke Nukum]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

Yes it is petty...but it is still their property and I really think its their right to be petty and small minded if thats what they choose!

Hey, it's a solid strategery that worked well for the Dixie Chicks.  If there's a Heart backlash the sisters can appear nude on Entertainment Weekly with words written on them.  And then hardly anyone will ever buy their albums ever again.

[miskie]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

I have to disagree - If the song is available for sale, and if it can be played publicly as long as royalties and other fees are paid, I cannot see political affiliation as any valid disqualifier for usage.

What would happen if, Lets say, Limbaugh only allows people to purchase his latest book after displaying proof of Republican party membership, and denied everyone but Republicans from printing or airing a review on it ?

Cries of Censorship! Fascist! etc etc etc from the left.. that's what. But according to Heart, since this is Rush's work, this is his right, regardless of the willingness to attain the copyrighted work legally.  

[DixieBelle]

*must resist urge to make snide comments about appearing nude* 

[Red October]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

Yes it is petty...but it is still their property and I really think its their right to be petty and small minded if thats what they choose!

Hey, it's a solid strategery that worked well for the Dixie Chicks.  If there's a Heart backlash the sisters can appear nude on Entertainment Weekly with words written on them.  And then hardly anyone will ever buy their albums ever again.

Ann Wilson's been too afraid to apear onstage for twenty years.  I don't think an Entertainment Weekly cover is in the cards. 

[Zeus]

*must resist urge to make snide comments about appearing nude* 

You seen The Wilson sisters lately ? Would be a big cover  

Saw heart in Concert a couple decades ago. They could jam Zeppelin pretty good.

[Duke Nukum]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

Yes it is petty...but it is still their property and I really think its their right to be petty and small minded if thats what they choose!

Hey, it's a solid strategery that worked well for the Dixie Chicks.  If there's a Heart backlash the sisters can appear nude on Entertainment Weekly with words written on them.  And then hardly anyone will ever buy their albums ever again.

Ann Wilson's been too afraid to apear onstage for twenty years.  I don't think an Entertainment Weekly cover is in the cards. 

Plus nobody is already buying tons of Heart albums.

[GOBUCKS]

Yeah, big difference between Heart and the Chix. Heart had socialist hippie moron fans as well as normal people back in the day. Now they sell 10-15 CDs a month. The Dixie Chicks, at the absolute height of fabulous popularity, selling hundreds of thousands of albums, deliberately insulted and alienated their ENTIRE fan base. Or at least the little fat dumb one did. They instantly shut off the money spigot to almost the last drop. Maybe the most monumental stupidity in show biz history. Heart has nothing to lose. If they did a show now, they'd probably be opening act for TomInTib.

[Chris]

The RNC played a lot of music at their convention.  "Barracuda" is still registerd with ASCAP and is administered by Universal Music Group.  A blanket license would allow the RNC to play any song in ASCAP's catalog, and does not require the permission of the person that wrote it.

[DixieBelle]

Yeah, big difference between Heart and the Chix. Heart had socialist hippie moron fans as well as normal people back in the day. Now they sell 10-15 CDs a month. The Dixie Chicks, at the absolute height of fabulous popularity, selling hundreds of thousands of albums, deliberately insulted and alienated their ENTIRE fan base. Or at least the little fat dumb one did. They instantly shut off the money spigot to almost the last drop. Maybe the most monumental stupidity in show biz history. Heart has nothing to lose. If they did a show now, they'd probably be opening act for TomInTib.

They are touring as we speak with Cheap Trick and Journey. Triple-header.

[Gwitness]

Neither Ann nor Nancy wrote Barracuda anyway.....it was written by the guitarist and drummer.....and they stole the main riff from Nazareth's "This Flight Tonight".

[CactusCarlos]

The RNC played a lot of music at their convention.  "Barracuda" is still registerd with ASCAP and is administered by Universal Music Group.  A blanket license would allow the RNC to play any song in ASCAP's catalog, and does not require the permission of the person that wrote it.

I found this little gem...

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/27906389.html?elr=KArks3EyiU0EyiUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhU

Copyright law may not be on the Wilsons’ side as the song is licensed for public performance under a blanket fee paid by the venue to ASCAP, the firm that collects royalties on behalf of composers and copyright owners.

Despite the Wilson sisters’ objections, one of the song’s co-writers said he was “thrilled” that the song was used.
In an e-mail to Reuters, the band’s former guitarist, Roger Fisher, said it was a win-win situation. Heart gets publicity and royalties, while the Republicans benefit from “the ingenious placement of a kick-ass song,” Fisher said.

[Red October]

Oh FFS! I love Heart. I've seen them perform. Heck, barracuda is my ringtone on my phone and has been for several months now. I REALLY enjoy getting calls since Sarah came along.

But this is just silly. They are just afraid that it will ruin their liberal bona fides. Nothing more. I bet they will still cash their royalty checks.

I'm a Heart fan, too.  What pisses me off is now, not only will I no longer be able to listen to my favorite Heart songs without being reminded of this petulant snub, but I now have that hypothetical EW cover burned into my brain.   

[CactusCarlos]

hI'm a Heart fan, too.  What pisses me off is now, not only will I no longer be able to listen to my favorite Heart songs without being reminded of this petulant snub

Same here.   

[Red October]

hI'm a Heart fan, too.  What pisses me off is now, not only will I no longer be able to listen to my favorite Heart songs without being reminded of this petulant snub

Same here.   

I'd like to hear Barrack Obama use Toby Keith's Courtesy of the Red White & Blue on his campaign trail.     After all, he admits the surge worked, now. 

[PatriotGame]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

So does this mean that permission must be given and royalties be paid every time "Another One Bites The Dust" is played during local high school, semi-pro, college, and professional football, tennis, hockey, and basketball games?
I doubt it!

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

Yes it is petty...but it is still their property and I really think its their right to be petty and small minded if thats what they choose!

Hey, it's a solid strategery that worked well for the Dixie Chicks.  If there's a Heart backlash the sisters can appear nude on Entertainment Weekly with words written on them.  And then hardly anyone will ever buy their albums ever again.

As fat as the one Wilson sister got?? YIKES! Screw hardly anybody buying their albums, hardly anybody will be able to see after viewing that if it appeared on the cover of RS! lol

[NHSparky]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

Only one problem--they don't own the song--CBS Records does.  McCain's campaign can tell them to take a flying **** at a rolling donut and there isn't much they can do about it.

Think of it this way--if Chrissy Hynde had one iota of say over her music from back in the day, don't you think that she would have sued to get Rush to quit playing My City Was Gone?  Ditto with Bruce Hornsby suing Hannity for using That's the Way it Is?

On further investigation, Hynde did get Rush to pull the song temporarily, but did end up allowing use of the song provided the money he paid for use was donated to PETA.

[NHSparky]

hI'm a Heart fan, too.  What pisses me off is now, not only will I no longer be able to listen to my favorite Heart songs without being reminded of this petulant snub

Same here.   

I'd like to hear Barrack Obama use Toby Keith's Courtesy of the Red White & Blue on his campaign trail.     After all, he admits the surge worked, now. 

Toby probably wouldn't mind--after all, he's a 'Rat.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

The only ground they have to stand on is the legal one. If they used the song without permission (if required) then I agree with the cease and desist letter. If it's out of principle because of their political beliefs, it's downright petty.

So does this mean that permission must be given and royalties be paid every time "Another One Bites The Dust" is played during local high school, semi-pro, college, and professional football, tennis, hockey, and basketball games?
I doubt it!

Nope.

As long as the venue is not-for-profit which counts sports and political events.