Ann and Nancy Wilson Of Heart Filet The Republicans
I just saw the band Heart a few weeks ago backing up Journey in Boston. Heart?has been pretty washed up as a band for about 20 years now. But there in the news whining about the Republican Party playing their song “Barracuda” (a song they made in the 70’s)?during the convention. Read the story here.
Why do these bands complain that a group, any group, is playing their music in front of say 40 million people? 40 Million?people haven’t heard that song in the last 30 freakin years. Their thinking is so ridiculous and shortsighted. Especially since they’re trying to make a comeback.
Here’s what Ann Wilson of Heart had to say:
“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…[It] was written in the late ’70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women…There’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”
It’s a freakin song people? You don’t have to agree with a party or their beliefs. The song means something to them, you should be proud that they connected with it. And you just missed an opportunity to sell a lot?of downloads. Imagine if they just sat back and did nothing? Downloads of Barracuda could have skyrocketed? Politics has nothing to do with record sales folks, nothing.
When?Heart sold the record did?they say everyone but Republicans could buy it? I think not.
Here’s another great post on the subject.
Good luck with the comeback. You just pissed off half of the country!
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September 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I don’t see a problem at all with their stance - they wrote, they performed it, they should decide if they want it to be used to promote something they don’t agree with. I wouldn’t want my name or anything I’ve done attached to something I vehemently disagreed with. If they sat back and collected money from the downloads, they’d be selling their principles for 99 cents a download.
They are not saying that Republicans can’t download it - they’re saying they do not want the songs use to promote Palin. I have no problem with that whatsoever. In fact, they’ll probably sell as many songs because of the additional publicity.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
You’re probably a Cheap Trick fan…
That song is played three and four times a day on classic rock radio all throughout the country. It’s been licensed for two different car spots in the last 10 years. The bimbet Fergie covered the song along Gretchen Wilson. Maybe you should check your facts before you spew next time. You just make yourself look DUMB!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I for one used to love Heart’s music. But their intolerant views of Republicans just made me realize that my Ipod will not be sporting their songs. Ann Wilson can get her money from the download of her songs for her Ding Dongs and Ho-Ho’s from someone else, thank you!
This is what is so typical of the Democrat party. The socialist left have taken over and derailed the party of John F. Kennedy. Now no one but Democrats can use music written by any left wing artist, which is 95% of the entertainment industry. You just lost hundreds of millions of dollars in concert ticket sales, music downloads, etc from us conservatives. Rock on!!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hey Heart-Fan,
Actually I really like the music of Heart just not their shortsighted business moves. I’m really not sure why musicians inject their political views into anything. Over 60 million people were watching the convention. That’s a lot of new sales but not now. Now they just look like bad business people.
The point of the blog was they had a golden opportunity to bring Barracuda back into the mainstream. Instead they use politics to bite their nose off to spite their face.
I’m a Journey fan and I like Cheap Trick as well. It was a great ticket!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
P.S. I’m a Republican but if any Democrats would like to hire my firm we’ll glady take a project! Any project. Even a project for your party that says “Republicans Stink”.
Then I’ll snicker all the way to the bank. We’re sellouts!
September 6th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Here’s the thing. Ann and Nancy Wilson did not want their song or their views misrepresented by being associated with Palin. They don’t agree with her views and it’s a song they wrote and performed and they asked that it not be used. The RNC ignored that prompting Heart to come out with an official statement explaining why they don’t want it used. If McPalin had just honored the original request, we would not be having this conversation. Most people are pissed because of the statement about Palin and not that Heart didn’t want their song used. But what choice did McPalin give them when they ignored the original request to cease and desist.
You can argue that it was a bad business move all you want. They’ve made plenty of those over the years; They’re human after all. But I respect the fact that royalties were not more important to them than them being misrepresented or the McPalin camp implying endorsement (no matter what you think, there WERE people who thought that when they heard it…that Heart MUST be for McCain). They stood up for what they believed in. Kudos to them for that.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
That’s where Heart is missing a beat
This has nothing to do with Republicans wanting Heart’s endoresement. Here is the simple basic reason the Republicans chose that song:
Palin’s nickname was Barracuda. That’s it. That’s why they chose it.
If Palin’s nickname was something else they would have selected a different song. They could care less about the song and it means nothing to them but a cute way to tie in Palin’s nickname.
I appreciate that you’re a Heart fan, I like their music as well. I grew up to Barracuda. But this blog post is about the missed opportunity and shortsightedness of injecting their political views into their business.
Here’s another take on it:
http://moblogsmoproblems.blogspot.com/2008/09/attention-heart-be-careful-youre-about.html
September 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I think we’re also missing a point here - They didn’t just use it for background music. They used it to introduce a candidate - a candidate quite frankly I wouldn’t want to be associated with either. The fact that McCain picked to help with the female vote and then using a song by 2 sisters also comes into play. If they had used “Freebird” because that was her nickname, it probably wouldn’t have created a buzz even if the rights owners of that song didn’t like it. But the Wilson sisters (and I imagine alot of other woman as well) do not agree with Palin’s views and therefore AS A WOMAN, do not want to be associated with it. Read their press release - they obviously do not want anyone to think that because they’re women,they support Palin.
I think we’re missing that point completely here.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I don’t see it that way. I think they used the song simply because the title was her nickname. No conspiracy, strategy or anything else. Her nickname was Barracuda and the song is Barracuda.
Did you read these great ideas Heart could have done if they had a brain? Leave politics out of music. Promote the Heart brand to new audiences, that sounds better to me.
http://moblogsmoproblems.blogspot.com/2008/09/attention-heart-be-careful-youre-about.html
September 6th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I did actually - I thought there were some cool ideas in there. And I agree, I don?t think the RNC picked that song other than that is was her nickname.
There is one other thing to remember - Heart did not start out talking politics. I can?t stand going to a concert and having the act tell me their political views. Shut up and sing! However, in this case, they simply requested the RNC not use the song. When they did it again, Heart got mad. This is not the Dixie Chicks that used their music as a political platform (and unfairly got completely blackballed for it).
I do think this has a lot to do with the woman angle. I can?t speak for the Wilson sisters, but I know my wife is unhappy with Palin?s stance on abortion. And if she hadn?t written a song, there is no way she would want played within the same city as Palin. I assume that was a primary thought behind their comments about Palin.
I?m not sure what you?re passionate about Scott - would hazard a guess you like the Red Sox. What if Steinbrenner decided to use your blog and likeness to promote the Yankees. Would that make you happy? Knowing that people would think you support them.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I’m passionate about the lost opportunity to build the Heart brand and make money. I’m bummed that playing a song any song can be taken so out of context. Heart blew a major branding and money making opportunity. Bummer.
Like I said above, anything I can do to build my brand and make money for my own company is a good thing. I’d gladly take on the Yankees as a client (and I’m a diehard Red Sox fan) or if they hijacked my blog as long as it furthered/built my brand and made the company money. Heart threw that opportunity away for their political beliefs and at the same time pissed some “normal” Republicans like me off.
No one ever agrees politicaly with every stance of their candidate. For instance I’m a Republican but I’m pro choice. Because I’m pro choice doesn’t make me less a Reublican, I just disagree on that ONE issue.
I’d bet you that if her nickname was “Freebird” we’d be hearing from LYNYRD SKYNYRD.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Actually, I would beg to differ - in this case it would make you less of a Republican, you’d never get the presidential nomination as a pro-choice Republican. Never. But that’s the besides the point.
There must be some issue you feel really strongly about - one that you would not be happy if someone hijacked your blog to promote. It’s not the Yankees obviously.
I am pro-choice as well and I’ll tell you that there isn’t a chance in the world I would use my own branding and marketing skills to help a pro-life candidate. Since you’re a McCain supporter, what if Obama wanted to hire you to help his campaign. Are you going to say yes?
Maybe no one would have thought that Heart supported Palin. Even if that was true, why would you want your intellectual property to help someone you don’t like.
From a strictly business perspective, sure, Heart made a mistake. But I can easily see understand their point - I would not want to use my brand to help someone else’s. Yankees/Sox is really not a big deal in the scheme of things. Another 4 years of a pro-life presidency is a HUGE issue.
I don’t mean for this to degrade into a left vs. right discussion - my point is just that I would never allow my brand to be used to promote an agenda I was strongly against. If Palin called me and wanted me to help her, while my wallet may say yes, I would feel guilty the rest of my life if I allowed myself to sell my principles for $$$.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Gosh, run for President? Not with my criminal history