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Heart Attacks McCain Over 'Barracuda'
Wilson Sisters Follow Mellencamp, Browne, Halen in Snubbing GOP

(Sept. 5) - Rock group Heart is furious with John McCain for bucking a request to stop playing their 1977 hit, "Barracuda," and is puzzled by the use of a song about "soulless" executives as the theme for his running mate, Sarah Palin.

"I feel completely [expletive'd] over," the band's Nancy Wilson told EW on Thursday night after their song was played following McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. According to TMZ -- which broke the scandal, the band has filed a cease and desist order.
The tune was first played as a theme song for Palin, and the band acted swiftly. They issued a statement asking the campaign to stop use their music. "We hope our wishes will be honored," the band said. Tough luck. Following McCain's speech on Thursday night, what pumped through the speaker system? That's right ... "Barracuda."

Palin got the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" for her fierce presence on the court with her high school basketball team.
After the speech, Nancy and her sister Ann issued the following statement to EW:
"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."

Other hits for the still-active band include "Crazy On You," "Magic Man" and their chart-topping Eighties power ballads "These Dreams" and "Alone."
This is just the latest musical "no way" for McCain. In the early stages of his campaign, John Mellencamp ordered that they stop using his tunes "Our Country" and "Pink Houses." In August, Jackson Browne got riled up when Ohio Rebublicans used his song "Running on Empty" in an Obama attack ad.

"In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible," Browne's lawyer said.
Van Halen also doesn't want their music used in the campaign. Their (worst?) song "Right Now" was used as the uplifting finale to last week's rally announcing Palin as McCain's running mate.

"Permission was not sought or granted, nor would it have been given," the band's spokesman told TMZ.
But expect a similar reaction from the Halen brothers if Barack Obama were to use their music as well.
"Van Halen are not political, they're just rock and roll."
Right-leaning pop musicians can be hard to come by, leaving few safe choices for Republicans on the campaign trail. Political Machine pointed out a few GOP-friendly stars whose songs could possibly be cued up without objection: Donny Osmond, Ted Nugent, Gene Simmons, Kid Rock and Wayne Newton. (PopEater respectfully suggests "Cat Scratch Fever" by Sweaty Teddy)

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2008-09-05 07:04:48

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Exclusive: Heart's Nancy Wilson responds to McCain campaign's use of 'Barracuda' at Republican convention
Sep 5, 2008, 01:44 AM | by Whitney Pastorek

Thursday afternoon, Heart e-mailed out a statement regarding vice-presidential candidate Sarah "Barracuda" Palin's use of their similarly monikered song at the Republican National Convention: "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission," it read. "We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."

But after McCain finished his speech accepting the GOP's presidential nomination tonight, Palin joined him on stage, and the song was used again: Heart's "Barracuda" played as balloons fell. With that elephant in the room, Heart's Nancy Wilson felt compelled to personally respond. "I think it's completely unfair to be so misrepresented," she said in a phone call to EW.com after the speech. "I feel completely f---ed over." She and sister Ann Wilson then e-mailed the following exclusive 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."

The Heart-McCain incident isn't the only example of music-related controversy on this year's presidential campaign trail. Click here (see next article I posted) to read Chris Willman's report about Barack Obama's eyebrow-raising use of Brooks & Dunn's "Only in America" after his nomination-acceptance address last week.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/09/heart-responds.html?iid=top25-20080905-Exclusive%3A+Heart's+Nancy+Wilson+responds+to+McCain+campaign's+use+of+'Barracuda'+at+Republican+convention

'Only in America' could Obama borrow the GOP's favorite Brooks & Dunn song
Aug 29, 2008, 06:26 PM | by Chris Willman

Last night, Barack Obama’s exit music at the close of his historic Democratic convention acceptance speech was “Only in America,” a song by country’s foremost multiplatinum duo. Meanwhile, rival John McCain has been traveling the country blasting another stirring hit by the same act, “That’s What It’s All About.” At last, it’s become clear what this election is really about: a battle for the hearts and souls of Brooks & Dunn!

Forget the audacity of hope, for a moment. How about the audacity of the Democrats stealing the Republicans’ favorite song? If you’re not aware of the history of the GOP using “Only in America,” a refresher is in order: Brooks & Dunn played it at the Bush inauguration in 2000. At the 2004 GOP convention, Dick Cheney used it as his exit music after his speech. And President Bush frequently used it on the campaign trail four years ago, even asking Brooks & Dunn to come out and play it live at rallies in the final week of the race. So you have to think its sudden repurposing served two purposes for the Democrats. Number one, it told millions of Americans that Obama is heartland-friendly enough to use a country smash rather than a Will.i.am ditty to cap off perhaps the most critical moment of his career to date. And number two, for anyone aware of the tune’s political history, it was also a subtle, funny, knowing tweak — too benign to really count as an old-school dirty trick, but almost in that risible spirit. Click through past the jump for the full analysis:

I wrote about the partisan use of "Only in America" by the Republicans in a book I penned shortly after the 2004 election called Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music. Here’s how I described it then: "...Bush's recorded intro and exit music — along with an occasional live rendition straight from the horsemen's mouths — was Brooks & Dunn's 'Only in America,' the unofficial Bush theme song. Funnily enough, that number was cowritten by a buddy of theirs, Don Cook, who went on to found a fledgling organization called Music Row Democrats. Having 'Only in America' drafted as the new 'Hail to the Chief' wasn't really what Democratic activist Cook had in mind for his song (which isn't even that gung-ho — listen closely, and there's an ambivalence about the American dream to be found in the lyrics). But in Nashville, even of you're on the other side of the aisle, sometimes it's hard not to give at the office."

I got Don Cook, the cowriter and Democratic stalwart, on the phone today to talk about the tune… and about how Brooks & Dunn themselves reacted to Obama’s use of it. Since Cook was a little taken aback when the GOP adopted it, does this feel like turnabout is fair play? “That’s exactly what Kix Brooks said to me when he called,” said Cook. “He said, ‘You had to endure George Bush using it, so it’s only fair that I would have to endure Barack Obama using it.’ But he said it in a real light-hearted way. For us as writers and them as performers, truthfully, we’re proud when anybody uses our song for something that’s substantial. Even if you’re diametrically opposed politically to the person who’s using your song, the fact that they like it well enough to use it at an important place in their life, you have to love that.” But not everybody necessarily feels the same way. Cook related to me a story about John Rich, the one country star who’s been a strong campaigner for John McCain already. “John Rich sent an angry text message to Kix last night, saying why did Kix allow that song to be used? And Kix said ‘I had nothing to do with it — that was their right.’ I sent John a text message today saying ‘If you enjoyed last night, you’re gonna love Kix’s version of ‘Ba-Rock My World, Little Country Girl’” (taking off on another Brooks & Dunn hit).

Kix Brooks released his official response in a benign statement: “Seems ironic that the same song Bush used at The Republican Convention last election would be used by Obama and the Democrats now. Very flattering to know our song crossed parties and potentially inspires all Americans.” Of course the tune isn’t partisan by nature; it’s become a staple of 4th of July fireworks shows as well as political rallies. As Ronnie Dunn told me when I interviewed him for my book four years ago, the song “was apolitical. It was written before 9/11, and it was just talking about the American dream, what’s out there for all of us, what’s attainable—the sky is the limit. And that’s it. It’s just ironic that the first line is ‘the sun coming up over New York City.’ I think that just had a kind of a freaky little coincidence” that gave it some extra resonance.

Cook reminded me of just what a 9/11 anthem the tune became: “It was at the top of the charts when 9/11 happened, and after that it became a rallying point and had another life. I think it spent 18 or 19 weeks in the top 10 after 9/11, which is an unheard-of amount for a single these days. It was a bittersweet thing for me, and always will be, because of those circumstances. For me, the bitterness that I associate personally with my own song diminishes every time I see it used in a positive way like last night. It was a lot of fun to be talking about the song in positive terms even when Bush was using it—better than talking about it immediately post-9/11,” Cook said.

Brooks & Dunn may be flattered by Obama’s use of it now, but it’s hard to imagine the Ronnie Dunn I interviewed four years ago having been okay with it if John Kerry had wanted to use “Only in America.” (Kix Brooks, by contrast, has always been more recalcitrant about getting into his political views.) Of all the Republican country stars I spoke with in Nashville, Dunn came off as the most intelligent and informed—very nearly a foreign policy wonk, in fact—and was quick to articulate why the Republicans were better prepared to stand up to the threats of terrorism, which was his primary concern, far more than any social issues. But a few weeks ago, Brooks & Dunn told CNN they were sitting out making any endorsements in this election. I’ve sensed far less passion for the GOP cause among country stars in general than there was four years ago, when I was writing Rednecks & Bluenecks—with the exception of Big & Rich’s John Rich, a true believer who wrote a campaign song, “Raising McCain,” for his preferred candidate. Toby Keith, who performed at an election eve rally for Bush in 2004, has come out and said he thinks Obama is a good man and worthy candidate, so I suspect we won’t see him playing any McCain rallies this year. Is everybody backing off over career concerns, not wanting to tick off significant parts of their audience? Or is there genuine ambivalence, even among some reliably conservative country stars, over the slate of candidates this time? Hard to tell for sure just now.

One thing that’s certain is how neither Republicans nor Democrats seem too worried about whether the songs they’re drafting as anthems are by artists who line up on their side. Just as the Democrats have developed a sudden love for Brooks & Dunn, the music that was playing after the announcement of Sarah Palin as GOP VP pick this morning was “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” by Bon Jovi (a prominent Democratic supporter) and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles (who played a Democratic convention event earlier this week). But then, that same Bon Jovi song was also played by the Dems this week. As these musical tug-of-wars continue, we can only hope for more rock and country turf wars. Will Palin try to wrest Tom Petty’s “American Girl” away from the firm grasp of Hillary Clinton? Will Obama get really audacious and start playing Charlie Daniels songs on the trail? To both sides, we say: Bring it on!

Of course, many of the songs that candidates trot out, from “Born in the USA” to “Pink Houses,” are fraught with undertones that may actually contradict the message the politicos want to convey. When Stevie Wonder sang “Signed, Sealed and Delivered” on Thursday night in Denver, I kept waiting for a Republican commentator to seize on lines like “Like a fool I went and stayed too long/Now I'm wondering if your love's still strong” and “I’ve done a lot of foolish things that I didn’t really mean.” Petty’s “American Girl” had a few lines that fit Hillary, but her supporters might have have wanted to hit the mute button when the lines “He crept back in her memory/God it’s so painful/Something that’s so close/And still so far out of reach” came on. And when Brooks & Dunn sing, “One kid dreams of fame and fortune/One kid helps pay the rent/One could end up going to prison/One just might be president,” it does open the door for either side’s loyal opposition to suggest that the campaigner in question is headed for the wrong big house, of the two mentioned in that verse.

Entertainment Weekly

Rock group Heart says Barracuda use is fishyFrom correspondents in Los Angeles
September 06, 2008 05:53pm

SEVENTIES rock group Heart is taking aim at Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin over use of the hit single Barracuda as the Alaskan Governor's unofficial theme song.

The song, a nod to the nickname of "Sarah Barracuda" that Ms Palin earned on the basketball court in high school, was dusted off for her appearance at the Republican National Convention in St Paul this week.


Heart singers Ann and Nancy Wilson said a cease and desist letter had been sent to the Republican Party asking it not to use the song again.

"The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission," the sisters said in a statement.

The McCain campaign said it had obtained the appropriate licenses to play the song.

"The McCain campaign respects intellectual property rights," said spokesman Brian Rogers.

"Accordingly, prior to using Barracuda at any events, we paid for and obtained all necessary licenses."


Copyright law may not be on the Wilson sisters' 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.

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".

However Fisher later said he strongly endorsed the Democratic ticket, and would donate a portion of royalties he received from the Republicans' airing of Barracuda to the campaign of Senator Barack Obama.

"With my contribution to Obama's campaign, the Republicans are now supporting Obama," he said.

Fisher and the Wilsons wrote Barracuda with drummer Michael DeRosier. It appeared on the group's second album, Little Queen, in 1977. The song was inspired by the band's anger over an obnoxious record label executive.

Last month, rocker Jackson Browne sued Republican presidential candidate John McCain, the Republican National Committee and the Ohio Republican Party, accusing them of using his 1977 hit Running On Empty in a campaign ad without permission.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24304638-5012572,00.html

NASHVILLE, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Nashville songwriter Gretchen Peters says she will donate royalties from her song, "Independence Day," to Planned Parenthood in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's name.

Peters said on her Web site she decided to donate the song's royalties during the current election cycle after the Republican Party used the song as accompaniment when Palin went on stage following Thursday's vice presidential debate in St. Louis.

"Independence Day," a hit for Martina McBride in 1994, is about a woman dealing with domestic abuse, sung from the point of view of her daughter.

Peters -- whose songs have been recorded by Bryan Adams, George Strait, Shania Twain and Randy Travis -- said it was "beyond irony" that the GOP campaign was using the song "as a rallying cry for (Palin), a woman who would ban abortion even in cases of rape and incest."

"They are co-opting the song, completely overlooking the context and message, and using it to promote a candidate who would set women's rights back decades," Peters said.

She urged fans to donate to Planned Parenthood in Palin's name as well.

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/10/05/GOP_aids_Planned_Parenthood_with_song/UPI-57201223256821/

Bon Jovi anger on Palin song use

Singer Jon Bon Jovi has become the latest musician to disapprove of the use of his songs in John McCain's presidential campaign.

Page last updated at 15:17 GMT, Thursday, 16 October 2008 16:17 UK

Bon Jovi song, Who Says You Can't Go Home, was used during rallies held by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin this week.

In a statement, the star said the band "do not approve" of the song's use.

Foo Fighters, Heart and Jackson Browne have all asked Mr McCain to stop using their tracks in his presidential bid.

Bon Jovi, a Democrat supporter, threw a $30,000 (£17,000) per person, fund-raising dinner for Democratic candidate Barack Obama at his New Jersey home in September.

'Not asked'

"We are surprised to hear that our song, Who Says You Can't Go Home, was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today," the statement said.

"We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past 25 years.

"The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the de facto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities.

"Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of Home."

Earlier this week, the Rolling Stones' track, Start Me Up, was played at a McCain rally in Pennsylvania.

A spokesman said: "The Stones were not asked permission by McCain to use their song Start Me Up."

In September, Heart singers Ann and Nancy Wilson said they had sent a cease-and-desist letter asking the Republicans not to use their 1977 track Barracuda after it had been used at a Sarah Palin rally.

And, in August, it was announced that singer Jackson Browne, 59, was suing McCain for using his hit song Running on Empty in an advert for his campaign without the singer's permission.

Soul star Sam Moore has also asked for his songs to not be played at Obama events.

Musicians often have little control over how their music is used because of the system that licenses songs for public performance under a blanket fee paid by venues to ASCAP, the firm that collects royalties on behalf of composers and copyright owners.

BBC News