You know you’ve hit a classic rock station as you punch the seek button when you hear the 1977 Heart hit, “Barracuda.” And probably the last thing the song connotes in your mind is the Republican party.
Heart cried foul after the first time the song was played at the Republican convention, in Sarah Palin’s honor on the night of her speech. When it was played again after McCain’s speech, the Wilson sisters issued a cease and desist notice to the McCain campaign.
“The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission,” [an email issued by Heart] read. “We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored.”
Nancy Wilson: “Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women”But after McCain finished his speech accepting the GOP’s presidential nomination tonight, Palin joined him on stage, and the song was used again: Heart’s “Barracuda” played as balloons fell. With that elephant in the room, Heart’s Nancy Wilson felt compelled to personally respond. “I think it’s completely unfair to be so misrepresented,” she said in a phone call to EW.com after the speech. “I feel completely f—ed over.” She and sister Ann Wilson then e-mailed the following exclusive statement:
“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.”
Ironic indeed. With Palin’s creds so seriously in doubt that the McCain handlers are barring her from direct contact with the press, it seems an odd song selection. While most of us hum through a majority of the indecipherable lyrics, we can all belt out the chorus:
If the real thing don’t do the trick —
No? You better make up something quick
Heart was preceded by Jackson Browne in resorting to lawsuits to get the McCain campaign to stop distorting their work.
Barracuda? Actually, it’s fairly appropriate but a bottom feeder theme would be more accurate.
As far as fish go, Ann Wilson (the big brunette) would be a blowfish, like Mrs. Puff on Spongebob Squarepants.
It’s funny just how clueless the GOP are when it comes to procedure and protocol for selecting theme music for their candidates. There is a licensing process involved for these matters, and it’s amazing that they refuse to use it in the name of getting votes.
what a joke, they say Sarah Palin doesn’t represent them as American women. Is that because she is intelligent, and has morals? If so, then I would agree she in no way represents them as American women.