Thursday afternoon, Heart e-mailed out a statement regarding vice-presidential candidate Sarah “Barracuda” Palin’s use of their similarly monikered song at the Republican National Convention: “The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission,” it read. “We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored.”
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.”
The Heart-McCain incident isn’t the only example of music-related controversy on this year’s presidential campaign trail. Click here to read Chris Willman’s report about Barack Obama’s eyebrow-raising use of Brooks & Dunn’s “Only in America” after his nomination-acceptance address last week.
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The Wilsons should sue for royalties plus damages from the GOP — and then donate the funds to the Obama campaign.
Nancy Wilson, Tell it like it is!
Thank God for the Wilson sisters!
Well shucks!! I just spend the last hour+ listening to Heart and enjoying what I was hearing… because I WAS watching the RNC…and heard your music playing. After it was over, I went on a search for the song I heard (knowing it was Heart) and eventually found this statement. I’m floored!!
I totally disagree with your statement above: “Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women.” On the contrary, I believe they DO!!! I was so proud to see a fully rounded and grounded woman stand on that stage declaring truth and her heart and soul for all to see!! I didn’t see an angry, hardened politician. I didn’t see a frumpy, masculinized, sell out shell of a woman, but saw instead, a beautifully radiant, feminine woman who steps up to the plate, speaks her heart and mind and walks in integrity!! WOW what a concept!! She’s awesome!! Go Sarah!!! Go McCain/Palin!!! You made the women of AMERICA proud tonight!!
Heart should be happy just to have their music played…anywhere!
Get over it!
That’s a bit redic don’t cha think! Palin is awesome!!
Yet another reminder of how freaking awesome the Wilson sisters are. I’ve always admired them, and I am so glad to see them taking a stand here!
Oh, and Mary, for those of us American women who believe in things like choice, evolution, and global warming, Sarah Palin does NOT represent our views or values. So glad you discovered the genius of Heart; now shut the hell up.
Wow it’s nice to see EW actually covering SOMETHING from the RNC convention. It’s not like EW spent all of last week giving free buzz anf puff pieces to the DNC convention or anything…….oh wait…..
On another note, who actually knew Barracuda had any meaning? I always thought it was a subpar song about fish. Who knew.
Frankly, these Heart ladies need to grow up. People don’t care about you or your song that was written like 30 years ago. They sure as hell don’t care about the meaning of the song. If someone fairly gets the rights to use a song, tough beans.
Uh.. Lucy? Hey, as long as I have a choice, I will speak my mind and the truth, and not be silenced by the likes of those who are NOT fully enlightened!! I believe in a woman’s right to be fully informed about the facts and make a choice she can live with the rest of her life!! I believe I have a “right” to speak my mind and convictions without being told to shut up!! Like I said, I admire integrity, truth, honesty.. and applaude the likes of Sarah Palin for having the CLASS to stand for what she does believe in!! Go Sarah!! Thank GOD we still have that right!!
What’s sad Mary, is that you opted to insult other female politicians on their appearances and their attitudes and little else. Someone doesn’t have integrity just because you agree with their views. Someone lacks it sorely when they ask for privacy in the press regarding their daughter’s CHOICE while running on a platform that plans to remove everyone else’s same right to choose. She should be scrutinized and questioned about the decision if she wants to take abortion rights away from even rape victims. Hypocritical republican moron (that’d be Palin).
That choice you were talking to Lucy about… better pay a little more attention to the party and people you support before they rip it away from you.
Pahleeze! It’s a sexy tune and it DOES describe Sarah role . Like someone said before…..HEART BE GLAD ANYONE IS LISTENING TO YOUR SONG. I was going to go out and buy it but now that I know your views…. I can’t … I plan on doing what Mc Cain has always done….the right thing.
It’s no wonder the public is confused about copyright when copyright isn’t respected in the highest office of our land.
The law is clear about public performances. It’s a sad day for the world when the incumbent of the Oval Office sets an example that it is OK to steal.
So Mary, YOU know what represents Ann and Nancy’s views and values better than they do themselves? You are an idiot.
Ugh. I’ve always loved Heart. I’m sad that they weren’t honored to be associated with Sara. I think she’s awesome.
This Wilson chick says she feels f___k’ed over…naw…she’s only f___k’ed up!
I would have thought this would be good for Wilson. Remind’s me of relative getting rid of his Haliburton stock because of his support of Kerry. Then watched it rise from 18 to 82. These people should use their heads instead of their heart.
Sarah will improve their value.
Oh please. She should be happy their music is getting played to such a nationwide audience. I never hear Heart songs on the radio anymore. Get over Nancy Wilson. PALIN ROCKS!
For those of you who are uninformed as to the likes of Heart, a lot of people know who they are. They have been releasing albums for a very long time, and are still doing so today. Ann Wilson released a solo album last year, they are currently on tour with Journey and Cheap Trick, are releasing yet another album next year, and will be touring the globe to promote that album as well. Heart doesn’t “need to be happy that anyone is playing their music,” because A LOT of people are playing their music. JC, the point of the article was to say that McCain and Palin didn’t fairly get the rights to use the song. The rights cannot be handed over for anyone’s use if the songwriters have not given that permission. Obviously, Heart DIDN’T give that permission. Mary, what Nancy was saying was that Palin’s views don’t represent THEM (Ann and Nancy) as American women. In fact, I know a great deal of women whose views she does not represent. Fighting with a Republican is like talking to a brick wall.
Keep jamming that tune! I’m voting for McCain.
mary-
cant the wilsons feel like palin doesn’t represent them, even though you feel like she represents you? after all it was their song she chose to use. maybe you should write a song that she can use and then she wont have to steal music from those who dont like what she stands for, which we guess includes stealing others material for her own use.
Well I *WAS* going to download this song and others from Heart this morning on iTunes. Thanks for making that decision for me Nancy Wilson NOT to be sending any $$$ your way. She hardly needs your song to make any statements anyways, she’s doing that just fine on her own.
Hopefully, the GOP will have Heart onstage playing that song when they win. (LIke Fleetwood Mac playing Don’t Stop for them Clintons). Let’s rock this country!
Oh please Nancy Wilson – get over yourself. It’s a song. There are more important things to worry about in this world.
Um, Mary? You don’t see the incredible hypocrisy in Palin bragging about her daughter’s “choice” about her own baby, meanwhile pushing an agenda that would END that same choice for every woman in America? I also think it’s interesting she spent most of her speech bashing Barak or stroking McCain, yet barely spoke of her own agenda or beliefs. This whole Barracuda fiasco (note that they used the song AGAIN after being asked publicly NOT to, by the artists!) is yet another example of how the GOP just doesn’t get it. It would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.
Honestly who gives a sh!t about Nancy Wilson? She’s an old washed up guitar player. Once again, a (former) rock star celebrity trying to make a political statement with her stance here. WHO CARES! ROCK ON SARAH PALIN! Former Hillary voter voting for McCain/Palin! Yeah!
I’ve been a Heart fan since 1977. They must be getting bitter in their old age. Sarah is HOT!
The second I heard “Barracuda” at the convention I KNEW it was unauthorized; Ann and Nancy are pacifist and pro-choice, with open hearts and minds: certainly not GOP material! I’m glad they made a public statement and told McPalin to back off. They have another band called the “Lovemongers” – ’nuff said. Rock on, ladies, you’re the best!
Oh, Amanda, she’s still VERY MUCH a relevant rock star. You’ve obviously never seen them in concert. You shouldn’t talk about people you know NOTHING about. And it’s very shallow and simple minded to insult someone personally because she doesn’t agree with your views politically.
Okay flip-it to the opposite party:
If it were your song, & you held the rights AND personally your political leanings did not fall to the right…how would you feel if Barack had taken a song of yours and taken it without permission?
If McCain can steamroll over a corporation (Heart’s published music/rights)…he will do what he pleases with anything he wants.
Another 4 yrs of the Republicans?
Think hard. Think about your personal situation or your friend/family, jobs/health care. Are you happy/secure with what the last 8 yrs have brought?
Truly,
A Canadian who loves Americans and their pride.