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Heart Attacks McCain Over 'Barracuda'

Wilson Sisters Follow Mellencamp, Browne, Halen in Snubbing GOP

PopEater
posted: 87 DAYS 11 HOURS AGO
comments: 904
filed under: Fight!, Music News, Politics
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(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.

Following McCain's Speech

Heart, Back in 1977


"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 using 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."

Sarah Palin Pics

    Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets the crowd as he arrives at a rally with his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (not pictured), Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    AP

    Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband Todd, and his wife Cindy, takes part in a rally in Fairfax, Va. Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    AP

    A polar bear and two cubs are seen on the Beaufort Sea coast within the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in this undated file handout photograph provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Alaska Governor and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has opposed the listing of the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because that status could hamper expanded drilling in remote regions. To match feature USA-POLITICS/ALASKA-ENVIRONMENT REUTERS/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Handout (UNITED STATES). FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

    Reuters

    Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., flanked by his running-mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, and his wife Cindy, gestures during a rally in Fairfax, Va. Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    AP

    Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is introduced to speak at a rally with his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, in Fairfax, Va. At left is Palin's husband Todd Palin, and behind McCain is his wife Cindy. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    AP

    US Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin waves as she leaves Republican campaign meetings at McCain campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia on September 10, 2008. It was her first visit to Republican campaign headquarters. At far right is her husband Todd Palin. AFP PHOTO Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    US Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin waves as she leaves Republican campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia on September 10, 2008. AFP PHOTO Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin waves as she leaves Republican campaign headquarters, in Arlington, Virginia on September 10, 2008. At right is her husband Todd Palin. AFP PHOTO/Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Republican presidential candidate Arizona Senator John McCain listens as his running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin addresses the crowd at a campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 9, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama late September 9 hurled an acidic attack at his Republican White House rivals' reformist credentials, likening their promise of change to putting "lipstick on a pig." AFP PHOTO Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Republican presidential candidate Arizona Senator John McCain and his running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin stand on stage at a campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 9, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama late September 9 hurled an acidic attack at his Republican White House rivals' reformist credentials, likening their promise of change to putting "lipstick on a pig." AFP PHOTO Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

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.

Casting the Sarah Palin Biopic

    Gov. Sarah Palin will be played ...

    Joseph Connoly, Getty Images

    ... by either Mariska Hargitay ...

    Peter Kramer, Getty Images

    ... or Lorraine Bracco.

    Evan Agostini, AP

    The role of "First Dude" Todd Palin ...

    Marc Lester, Anchorage Daily News / MCT

    ... is set to be played by Josh Brolin.

    Jim Spellman, WireImage

    The top candidates to play Bristol are ...

    Stephan Savoia, AP

    ... Katie Holmes ...

    Peter Kramer, Getty Images

    ... and 'The O.C.'s' Rachel Bilson.

    Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

    The biggest surprise so far? The role of Levi ...

    Levi Johnston / MySpace.com

    ... is set to be played by Adam Brody!

    Peter Kramer, Getty Images

"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)
2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2008-09-05 07:04:48
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GIGAWTM

02:30 PMSep 10 2008

Ophra has been hurting everone for years because of her promotion of her new age religion. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, if you are believe a lie you go to hell. God is no respector of persons. Spending eternity in hell or heaven is a choice. Ophra's endorsement is just another of Obams's Rev. Wright, Ayers companions. Wake up, white, black, yellow, tan people. Ophara has the power and people is falling into the spiders web. If you don't believe this, just check out what she believes. WAKE UP!

AVG RATING:
(0)

GIGAWTM

02:27 PMSep 10 2008

Ophra has been hurting everone for years because of her promotion of her new age religion. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, if you are believe a lie you go to hell. God is no respector of persons. Spending eternity in hell or heaven is a choice. Ophra's endorsement is just another of Obams's Rev. Wright, Ayers companions. Wake up, white, black, yellow, tan people. Ophara has the power and people is falling into the spiders web. If you don't believe this, just check out what she believes. WAKE UP!

AVG RATING:
(0)

RealWildC1039344

08:42 PMSep 08 2008

well if the real thing don't do the trickyou better think up somethinghow appropriate that mccain/palin picked up this song since they will say anything to get elected.

AVG RATING:
(0)

KLSmith09

06:25 PMSep 07 2008

Oh, btw...who is this ovation and noise for? A band who isn't relevent, old has beens, no one listens to them anymore? Well, it's the encore call-back for Heart. From last night. FYI...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EKfb8M6aaIYeah, you fools who are clueless really know what you're talking about, huh? 20,000 in attendance.

AVG RATING:
(2)

KLSmith09

06:02 PMSep 07 2008

You people are so funny. To all of you who think Heart is not relevent, is a bunch of "old has beens" obviously you live under a rock. They have been stealing the show from Journey all summer at sold out venues. This is just an example of a review from a Journey fan on Journey's own site to give you an idea of how off you are:"Heart of course was superb! They have a lot of fans, they did 3 encores. One of them is Barrucuda. I love watching people enjoying the song in their own world (if you know what I mean).Heart received the longest applause that night"Hmmmmm....right. Old has beens that aren't relevent and no one has heard of them or knows their songs. Your idiotic posts just make your so called argument pointless and give you no credibility or merit. So sad for you...

AVG RATING:
(2)

JacobsD51

03:09 PMSep 07 2008

GO SARAH BARRACUDA!

AVG RATING:
(3)

Wdothie

02:41 PMSep 07 2008

No politician should use an artist song unless permission is granted first. Some thing you have to considerate of.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Mteach777

02:17 PMSep 07 2008

aUNT jUDY aRE YOUR FOR REAL?????? Sarah is against woman's rights? You mean the right to MURDER innocent babies..... She's for BigOIL? She is the one who took them on! Against science? Where did you get that from I assume you mean b/c she beleives in God she's against science. Get informed b4 you preach false incoherent allegations. We are in much bigger trouble with a guy who has a brother in Africa living off a dollar a month in a hut (OBAMA) yet lectures us on Am I my brother's keeper.........keep up the smears b/c McCain and Palin will use what you and the media meant to destroy them to get into the white house

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(3)

Mteach777

02:10 PMSep 07 2008

REN724: It isn't STEALING music unless it's copyrighted usage is promoted for money making purposes. She did nothing wrong. I find it sad and not too surprising that the liberals Democrats who claim racism and sexism at every turn are now the very ones persecuting the very worthy admirable and tough honorable Sarah Palin. This choice is E-Z American Hero vs. American ZERO

AVG RATING:
(3)

AuntJudyW

01:18 PMSep 07 2008

This woman is dangerous. She is against women's rights, for shooting wildlife from helicopters, for big oil. Palin asked the local librarian if she would take certain books off the shelves. This is unconstitutional. She is against gays, and especially science..... she wants to teach creationism.If she is elected we are all in BIG trouble.