Liberal Rock Stars to McCain-Palin Campaign: Stop Using Our Songs

I hate how the right is now taking OUR Civil Rights songs, and FREEDOM, to mean hate and bigotry!! The artist who wrote this songs, do not believe in the Republican hate machine.

Mr. Tapper, are you sure that all of the musicians you named in your post are politically liberal?

As I recall, David Lee Roth is right of center.

from Gopmamma:
This is just another example of ABC's movement toward tabloid journalism. Why not stop pretending to be a news outlet and call itself Gossip Central?

Ohhh, that's why Palin's exclusive interview on 9-11-2008 was with ABC; they have no integrity & won't ask real questions

On top of that...the song Only In America was co-written by Don Cook who is a staunch Democrat. The guy even founded an organization called "Music Row Democrats" so there is no surprise that Brooks and Dunn can't really complain.

Brooks did comment on Obama's use of the song.

"Instead Brooks said, “Seems ironic that the same song Bush used at the Republican Convention last election would be used by Obama and the Democrats now. Very flattering to know our song crossed parties and potentially inspires all Americans.”

Brooks & Dunn both supported President Bush's re-election in 2004, and Bush chose their hit "Only in America" as the theme song for his campaign. At the end of Obama's speech at Invesco Field in Denver on Aug. 28, the Obama campaign played Brooks & Dunn's "Only in America." I haven't heard any complaints from Brooks & Dunn, but then again, liberals are champions at whining and complaining. Jon Caldara of 850-KOA in Denver attended the Obama spectacle and compared it to a Hannah Montana concert. Her songs would have fit in well with his shallow message!

Pam
A friendly F.Y.I. Check out Heart's recordings of early live performances (Magic Man etc.) on U-Tube where Anne introduces herself and band as Canadian. It's right there.

Leonard Peltier,
I did'nt say Heart should'nt express political opinions and even think they are right to do so but they would do well by themselves to be gracious when others appreciate their art/music. Some might be swayed by talent with grace.

You are right Lynne...the election should be about the issues. Where you are wrong is when you say it's the "liberals" that don't want a campaign on the issues. The Republican party has been running this entire election against their assertion that Obama is an elitist, Hollywood loving, self annointed, media darling "liberal". If you can explain to me how ANY of those are issue based arguments I'll tip my hat to you.

The McCain campaign is solely responsible for this being an issue. All they have to do is seek prior approval to use a song and this never hits the papers at all.

Get over it Liberals! Is this campaign about who plays what music or real issues! The media is playing in your favor anyway, so what are you crying about!!!!

Truth be told, anyone who acquires an ASCAP license can use any copywritten material from another member. This ensures proper royalties are paid to the original composer.

HOWEVER, I think an artist has EVERY right to request their work not be used in an manner not befitting of what they consider parallel to their creative expression. It's really no different than the 527 groups that take statements from political figures out of context to use for the agenda they wish to promote.

How would you feel if you were a successful painter, and found your work printed on toilet paper? Think about it.

From a personally biased standpoint, I hope the Bush -er- McCain/Palin campaign continue to use the songs - it just makes them look more ridiculous, by feeding more money to Obama's! LOL

As Canadians???

Huh???

For your information, the Heart sisters are AMERICAN from Seattle. HOWEVER they recorded their music at Vancouver, B.C.'s Mushroom Studios and thus grew much of their success from Canada. But they are American.

Just to clarify.

Nevertheless, looks like they just squashed a good chunk of their audience and a potential audience.

Their perogative one can only suppose.

GOP knows that if they have to ask for permission to use a song they probably wont get it so instead just use it and then deal with the issue which in most cases does not get them in trouble really.
So unless the Musicians collectively issue a statement that GOP cannot use any of their material preemptively they will never be able to stop them.

I can't believe people are actually arguing FOR McCain in this instance.
He's using copyrighted material without the consent of the artists who own those copyrights. How can you brandish them liberals simply because they want to control the use of the music they created? Does that mean that any band that doesn't want Obama to use their music must be right wing religious nutjobs? In the case of Van Halen...they also said that they wouldn't have approved of the use in any campaign and that they simply aren't a political band and don't want their music used in such a manner. Sports teams aren't allowed to play music at games without the musicians prior approval...why should politicians be any different?

I guess McCain should read legislation he votes for, then he would have known better. Or maybe McCain did read the law is acting like the typical conservative who has more in common with gang bangers than the typical American because they think the law doesn't apply to them

Welcome to Hollyweird

Posted by: America loses again
"The GOP will steal the election again anyway with voter fraud."

Um, when did they do it the first time?

Tool.

Addendum: for all of you people who keep saying Heart should be "grateful" for the attention, they've been getting plenty of attention on their own - BEFORE all of this you could turn on any classic rock station and bet on hearing a Heart song at least once a day; they also had Barracuda in Guitar Hero 3, and Nancy Wilson has been getting plenty of work on films.

Again I'll state that artists are people too. Of course, I'm sure all of you who think they're not are voting for McCain, which explains also why you're so pissed at the wrong people that HE made a mistake.
Really guys? Really? Grow up.

I think this is hilarious.
I am a musician, and I would be really upset if ANY one used one of my songs without permission in any setting; even more so in the case of something like a political campaign, without my explicit permission and knowing exactly how the song was intended to be used.
There seem to be people even on this very board who don't understand that as a musician, if your song is being used as a "theme" song for a public figure, it gives the impression that the recording artist also endorses that person.
Look guys, just because we're musicians doesn't mean we're not Americans and human beings. We are just as entitled to speaking out on our political views as much as the guy down the block.
I'd be interested to see how all of these people bitching about the "Crazy Liberals" would feel if Obama used a song by say, Toby Kieth or some country star without permission and he did the same thing Heart has done. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that all of you would be okay with that...

Since when did the smut of our race i.e Hollywood Celebs (drug and look at me addicts) become so concerned? Aren't they normally about being free with everything? I suppose if Oprahbama had used the song it would not would have been a prob. It was so refreshing to have these clowns out of the limelight for a while due to the Olympics and Politics. Be lucky that your song is still being played ladies.

None of this matters anyway.

The GOP will steal the election again anyway with voter fraud.

They have already put the "fix" into the electronic voting machines. Pay very close attention to the Ohio and Florida "votes".

The GOP has turned the USA into a banana republic,