Posted on 09/06/2008 10:39:05 AM PDT by markomalley
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The rock group Heart, angry that its '70s hit "Barracuda" is being used as the unofficial theme song for Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, is taking aim at the Alaska governor.
The song, a nod to the "Sarah Barracuda" nickname Palin earned on the basketball court in high school, was dusted off for her appearance at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on Wednesday.
Heart singers Ann and Nancy Wilson said a "cease-and-desist" letter has been sent to the Republicans asking them not to use the song.
"The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission," according to a statement issued late on Thursday on behalf of the sisters.
There was no immediate comment from the Republican camp.
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.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I agree. It makes a person look very bitter. If you don't agree, just stay silent as they can't change it now. But they can start a conflagration that helps nothing.
You want to make Ann Wilson shut up and be thrilled too? Give her a gift certificate to the Cheese Cake Factory.
Nancy Wilson still looks good. And that necklace shows that she’s still a loyal Mercedes owner.
This means that as an ASCAP member, you can expect a royalty every time one of your songs is played on the radio, at a public event or even covered by another performing artist, whether it is a major rock band in a stadium or a cover band playing a gig at the local nightclub. Of course, this is dependent upon the radio stations and nightclub owners paying their ASCAP fees and ASCAP has plenty of agents and lawyers running around to make sure that happens. Even if you own a small restaurant and you play ASCAP licensed music for your patrons, you will eventually be paid a visit by ASCAP to ensure you are paying the appropriate fees.
To my knowledge, an ASCAP member (like Heart) cannot for example tell ASCAP to license their music to everybody except for Rush Limbaugh, the RNC and Sarah Palin. The entire purpose of ASCAP is to simplify the royalty collecting process, not complicate it.
So if Heart feels this strongly about the issue, they would need to leave ASCAP and thus "unlicense" their music accordingly. By doing so, they would also forfeit ASCAP royalty payments.
There is a very fine line now between being anti-McCain/Palin and pro-Obama and a few FReepers seem to have crossed it.
Oh, you think everyone in a family has the exact same genetic make up? If so, you would be wrong.
susie
Heart had a true life span of seven years...75-82...and I might count one more year between 82 and 88...where they did a mediocre comeback. The big cash flow since 1990....pretty much whats left over from the songs of the early 80s. They do some tour efforts with major bands of today....and I would almost label that as musical welfare...to keep some cash flowing into pot.
If I were these two...I’d keep quiet and hope for a nifty fall and a fair sized check by Xmas on airplay.
true
Perhaps some of that profit could go towards a YMCA membership.
Ann used to be totally beautiful. I had a crush on her as a kid. And I’m not trying to demean the woman for getting a little large... I’ve had that battle all my life as well. But when you are up there as a performer, aren’t you a more effective sex symbol if they don’t have to reinforce the stage? And wasn’t Heart all about being sex symbols?
Why not use “Sarah” from Jefferson Starship? Grace Slick is a Republican and would likely be thrilled.
Dat’s de one! Absolutely hysterical, especially wehen Belushi started choking on a turkey leg...
Very true. If it weren’t for ripping Led Zeppelin tunes, the Wilson sisters wouldn’t have a career. ‘Course Led Zeppelin recycled a lot of old tunes themselves without proper attribution.
I guess their hatred of McCain is stronger than their fear of Obama.
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.
Exactly.
That would be unworkable. Think about all the venues, songs & songwriters involved. There's no way that you could 'pre-authorize' song performances.
Perhaps John Rich can write the perfect “Raisin’ Sarah” song.
On the other hand, she sounds like a putz...(is that genetic?)
susie
I'm surprised they haven't turned up on Celebrity Fit Club or a GEICO commercial yet.
I thought republicans believed in private property rights, I guess in your case I was wrong.
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