Apparently, Ann and Nancy Wilson are suing the McCain/Palin campaign over use of "Barracuda"

TMZ ^ | 09/04/08 | TMZ

[Prime Mover]

Ann and Nancy Wilson are pissed at the Republican Party and have fired off a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign.

Specifically, the Heart women are upset that the GOP has used their classic "Barracuda" as a theme song for Sarah Palin. TMZ obtained a statement from Heart's rep, who says "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission."

The statement goes on: "We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."

We're told Ann was watching TV today and heard the song at the convention when Palin was touted.

[ModelBreaker]

That having been said, many composers have signed deals with ASCAP or BMI. Those agencies have fixed payment schedules, and will grant performance rights on payment of royalty with far less concern for context than what composers who control their own copyright might express. If a composer signs with ASCAP, he forfeits control over his music in situations like this.

I think that's right. ASCAP and BMI license radio and TV. But not movies--I said it had been a while. So if McCain used it in a Gov. Palin movie documentary, he would have to get a sync and performance license. But ASCAP and BMI handle TV royalties. So if the documentary showed on TV, that's the performance rigts societies. And, of course, grand performance rights let you use the composition in a public live performance (a convention, for example).

[Snurple]

Hard to believe that super strong voice came out of that little doll baby.

[Always Independent]

It was a $hitty song anyway.

[Fiji Hill]

The movie Dr. Strangelove concludes with a series of atomic bombs going off as Vera Lynn sings the 1954 version of her '39 hit "We'll Meet Again."

[Snurple]

Grace Slick singing White Rabbit at Woodstock 1969

[OKIEDOC]

They remind me of a couple of dopers my roommate used to date.

[Ol' Sparky]

Or McCain could use Ted Nugent's Stranglehold to describe what Palin is doing to Obama.

[TeddyConAZ]

LOL! Thanks.

[Myrddin]

I attended the farewell Loggins and Messina concert in San Diego. The warm up act was an unknown pair called "Heart". They zoomed up the charts the following week. They're being pretty petty. At best, they might get some good exposure over the next 60 days. At worst, they earn themselves a level of enmity reminiscent of Dixie Slits. Not too bright.

[Enchante]

I’d think “Running on Empty” should be Obama’s campaign theme song for the next 2 months.

[television is just wrong]

1977 should be public domain.

[FlingWingFlyer]

That was how they were using it. It was supposed to be about Obama “Running On Empty.” I think that was probably what got Browne’s Huggies in a knot.

[whitedog57]

A Great White Whale singing about Barracudas?

[Lancey Howard]

Ann was so upset she had to eat four gallons of Rocky Road ice cream to calm herself down.

[Lancey Howard]

Interestingly, the best song Heart ever recorded, ‘These Dreams’, was one of the few sung by Nancy Wilson.

[Lancey Howard]

Who’s the good-looking redhead with Liz Taylor?

[WildcatClan]

They need to get a Pat Benatar song for Sarah anyway. Benatar has a better voice, she is tough, yet pretty and has traditional conservative values. A classically trained voice or the caterwauling of drug-addled hippies?

[Skywalk]

You got it, Lisa started this trend you see in movies where vocalization is included with the traditional orchestral score.

She’s got an amazing and just beautiful voice. Ethereal.

[DesScorp]

Unless they bought back the rights, as long as the McCain campaign pays the ASCAP fee, they have nothing to say about it legally.

[driftless2]

"barracuda"

I know a co-worker who has a standing rule that no one should hum or sing that song in her presence. Naturally the temptation to do so is almost overwhelming. She should have kept her mouth shut. (Personally, I'm not a big fan of the song either).