“If the real thing don’t do the trick…”
September 5, 2008
by Sheryl Lee
|“You better make up something quick”
Putting aside the ominous cynicism that those lyrics evoke, listening to Heart’s Barracuda booming through the hall as Palin joined McCain on stage after his speech, it seems clear that it’s aimed squarely at a particular demographic.
Heart was the first female-led rock band. I grew up listening to them. You, too?
No right no wrong, selling a song—
A name, whisper game.
Barracuda.
Whoa.
UPDATE:
Heart issued a Cease-and-Desist Order Thursday as well as a strongly-worded statement publicly criticizing the McCain campaign’s unauthorized use of their music.
“The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use that song, nor would they have been granted permission.” [. . .] “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.
Click here to read the article
Though more visible than the first, this is the second music-related embarrassment of the race. Kanye West and Jamie Foxx took the stage at the Democratic Convention, and after both spoke in support of Obama, they launched into West’s hit, Gold Digger, a song about deceitful, greedy women.
Hey, I grew up listening to Heart too!
Foo. Now I’m going to have “Dog and Butterfly” in my head for days.
You did NOT just do that. Now I’m going to have to hum Crazy On You until I shake it.
I’ve got a song too:
If you can’t be with the one you love [Hillary],
Love the one you’re with [Sarah].
LOVE those songs!
And, of course, this song
(by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton)
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor
No one’s ever gonna keep me down again
Oh yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
‘Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul
Oh, yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land
But I’m still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh, yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
Update to the Update:
The Republican Party did in fact obtain the necessary license to use the song, which can be played when a venue pays a blanket fee to ASCAP, the organization that protects music copyrights.
While the Wilsons are clearly upset, “Barracuda” co-writer and former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher (Nancy’s ex) has a different outlook. He’s happy to receive the publicity, he told Reuters last week, and he pledged to give part of the royalties from the song’s use to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s campaign.
So everytime the Republicans play the song, they are in effect contributing to the Obama campaign
Lizzy in CT on September 7th, 2008 9:06 am
LOVE those songs!
And, of course, this song
(by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton)
I kind of like the words I wrote for that song a few years ago…
“I am a man, hear me snore
Where’s the remote, what a bore
And I know it all – I’ll think so to the end…”
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