Posted on 09/16/2008 8:46:30 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
16-Sep-08
Eddie Van Halen Reaches Out To Sammy Hagar Over The GOP's Use Of Their Song "Right Now"
Rolling Stone magazine reports that days before Heart served the GOP campaign with a cease-and-desist letter for playing their 1977 hit "Barracuda" to introduce VP pick Sarah Palin (high school alias: “Sarah Barracuda”) at the August 31st Republican convention, Van Halen sounded off against McCain and Co. for blasting their tune "Right Now" at a rally in Dayton, Ohio. “Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given [to use the song]," Alex and Eddie Van Halen said in a statement. But not every VH member agreed.
"I got goosebumps from it — my fur went up," says the band’s ex-frontman, Sammy Hagar, who co-wrote and sang the song — and said he’d be "just as happy" if Obama played it. "I was honored that a potential president of the United States used those words in a positive sense, like, 'We gotta act now!' "
Hagar, who’s tight-lipped on his presidential endorsement ("I vote for the man, not the party," he says) heard that McCain used the tune via a deluge of phone calls. "I got calls from relatives, friends, doctors, lawyers… everyone thought it was so cool," he says. "Then I started getting excited. Those words are an old Zen philosophy — it’s totally cool that they’re timeless." Even former bandmate Eddie Van Halen rang Hagar up.
"I got a message on my cell phone and it was Eddie’s voice," Hagar recalls. "He goes, 'Sam? This don’t sound like you. I got the wrong number.' And he hangs up! So I hit redial. He didn’t answer, but I left a message: 'Ed, it’s me. If you would like to talk about the 'Right Now' situation I'd love to speak to you about it.'"
The two never connected, which raises some lingering questions. "Why didn’t [Van Halen] say no when Pepsi Cola gave us a million dollars to use the song in a Pepsi Light commercial?" asks Hagar. "That’s when you say no. That isn’t the message of this song." But when a potential future president is using it to bring a message to the world, he says, "I’m going, 'Hell, yes!'"
"Right Now" is on Van Halen's 1991 album "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge."
Just saw Sammy last month at Foxwoods, he kicks a$$! One of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time.
I don’t know about VH, but the Wilson sisters, while very good musicians and lyricists, are short a few bulbs. Some years back in an interview, Ann claimed of the two that “Music is our god.” That was the end of the road with them for me. Too bad because I got pretty good at playing their old stuff.
Mellancamp is a loudmouthed ass... I expect better from Indiana. He’s turned into a real numb skull... That is why they call him John “Melon-head”
Wait a minute baby Stay with me awhile
Said you’d give me light
But you never told me about the fire
Drownin’, in the sea of love
Where everyone would love to drown
But now it’s gone, it doesn’t matter what for
So when you build your house, then call me home
Oooooooo..
And it was just like a great dark wind
Within the wings of a storm
And I think I had met my match
He was singin’ to me
And undoing and undoing
The laces, the laces
He said “Sara, you’re the poet in my heart
Never change, never stop...”
But now it’s gone, it doesn’t matter what for
And when you build your house, well then, call me home
Hold on baby the night is comin’
And the starling flew for days and days
And I would stay home at night all the time
When I could go anywhere - anywhere - anywhere
Ask me and I’m there, yeah
Oooh, you ask me and I’m there, ‘cause I care
In the sea of love where everyone would love to drown
But now it’s gone, it doesn’t matter what for
When you build you house I will come by
Ooooooooo, Sara
Ooooooooo
Ooooooooo
All I ever wanted was to know that you were dreaming
Sara
Oh...
Oooooooo, Sara, baby
Well, there was a heartbeat and it never really died
The anejo is the finest sipping tequila out there. Waboritas would bring world peace!
I don’t believe old Ted Nugent has many liberal fans.
What happened to Free speech, free expression, fair use, napster?
I think the younger people may listen to the newer music that is politically speaking to their generation. Just as we did.
But these 60’s, 70’s..80’s and even early 90’s muscians are grasping. Maybe they are trying to grab the young audience by “protesting”. And maybe they are genuine.
I think the younger people may listen to the newer music that is politically speaking to their generation. Just as we did.
But these 60’s, 70’s..80’s and even early 90’s muscians are grasping. Maybe they are trying to grab the young audience by “protesting”. And maybe they are genuine.
“...but let’s face it, most rock stars ain’t too bright...”
News Flash: Most country singers are not exactly shining lights these days. Their all trying to turn C&W into hard rock... Too bad. I miss the old gang... Williams, Cline, Cash, Robbins, Haggard, Price... RIP
Just try reading through his guitar and amp tech pieces. If you're not an electric musician, it'll make your head spin.
Actually, the first three albums (70’s)were quite good... then it was downhill.
As long as Sammy keeps putting out the good music and selling his Cabo Wabo Tequilla, his politics aren’t much of an issue. Anyone who votes for the man and not the party is my kind of friend.
Sure he does... their cooking in those big pots out behind his house.
If you write a song and sign with ASCAP/BMI, you will in theory get some money every time someone performs your song publicly, but you will give up authority to decide under what circumstances it may be used.
If you do not sign with ASCAP/BMI, you will retain the right to decide under what circumstances, if any, your song may be performed and what royalties are required to play it. In practice, your song is almost guaranteed to be played in countless venues without permission or payment; nonetheless, you would retain the right to forbid its use at something like the DNC or RNC.
I’d never beg nor argue with anyone over a silly song.
If the music is played for people other than invitees at a private gathering, permission is required. Most composers sign with ASCAP or BMI; the venues where music is played pay those entities, who in turn pay composers. Payment of the ASCAP or BMI fees entitles on to perform any and all music written by ASCAP or BMI composers with no further permission required.
If a composer is not signed with ASCAP or BMI, the composer would retain the right to decide if and when he wanted his music played. Enforcing his rights would generally be difficult, although he count prevent the DNC or RNC from including it in a broadcast.
Van Hagar was definitely superior to any other version of Van Halen.
Probably... but not at 55.
Well, that depends on if the rally or the local beach has any firearms ordinances in effect. If you have a safe enough backstop, the albums could be stood up on a typical wooden frame. If you are facing out over open water, it might be reasonable to launch them with a clay launcher. I suspect CDs would fare better going through a clay launcher. Some nice #7 shot would do the trick.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.