Saturday, September 08, 2012

YouTube weekend

Republicans are having a hard time with rockers


 FOX NEWS AND LOSING MY RELIGION

R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" was used in the Fox News coverage of the Democratic National Convention last night. R.E.M. today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song. Michael Stipe said, "We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there." 





              



THR: So far this presidential cycle, the Romney-Paul Ryan ticket has been slammed by rapper K'naan for using his "Wavin' Flag," rock band Silversun Pickups sent a nasty lawyer letter over the use of "Panic Switch" and Twisted Sister's Dee Snider objected to Romney pumping up his supporters with "We're Not Gonna Take It." ("There is almost nothing on which I agree with Paul Ryan," he said, "except perhaps the use of the P90X [workout routine].") Former candidate Newt Gingrich was even sued by Survivor member Frankie Sullivan for playing "Eye of the Tiger" at a rally.

In 2008 many artist objected: Notable musicians Jackson Browne, Foo Fighters, John Mellencamp, John Hall, and ABBA (?!?!) all demanded Sen. John McCain quit using their tunes during his 2008 campaign; the Wilson sisters from Heart famously reprimanded Sarah Palin for using “Barracuda” to promote herself that same year. Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist was sued by his doppelgänger David Byrne for using a Talking Heads song in 2010. And, of course, George W. Bush made a fair amount of enemies in Mellencamp, Tom Petty, and Sting.

I originally was going to post this REM song for Justin Vacula because he moved to a new platform.  
So I'll post another one for him.



2 comments:

Stephen Albert said...

Great version of a great song. This is the kind of song that no politician should "soil" by using in a campaign.

Pope George Ringo said...

Very simple reason for all of this: Republicans have no cool rock star supporters.

Ted Nugent is the only one I can think of...and he sucks.

Lots of country stars but no rock. ANd, apart from Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline adn Buck Owens...and Hank SR.--country music sucks.