"Sell me, sell you," the porpoise said

They never seem to get it, do they?

My interest in music just collided with the upcoming election. Seems like every candidate's got a theme song or at least something to play when they come out on stage. When I saw Obama speak in Springfield a few years back, they played "Shout" and "Suddenly I See." (If I had the nerve and funding to run, they'd be blasting "Activity Grrrl" as loud as they can.) All fitting songs for said folks. However, I can't exactly say the same about the other side. I thought it was bad when that paragon of hatemongering and bile Rush Limbaugh used the Pretenders' "My City Was Gone" for his talk radio theme song (and without paying them or asking if he could!). That song is very anti-conservative and not exactly fitting with what he preaches, but he wound up using it for many years. It's scathing and sharp, as only Chrissie Hynde can do it.

Now I know I should be bi-partisan, but I haven't run into the same problem with the Democrats. This article is more about the music and the message. I thought the use of "My City Was Gone" was bad. But just today I discovered something just as bad, if not worse for an audiophile like me!! Apparantly, during the RNC, they played (the horror the horror) "Barracuda" before Palin came out!!! And it was the Heart version, the REAL version, not the rotten old Fergie version. Now this is unforgiveable!!! Yes, I know that was her nickname when she was playing basketball, but (1) she didn't have permission to use it and (2) the song is nothing like her. It's about the corporate and soulless nature of the music business, and how record execs will do anything to make a profit (there's a line in there that goes, "And if the real thing don't do the trick, you're gonna make up something quick"). Then again, politicians will do anything to get elected...but that is still BEYOND unforgiveable!!!

[I just found out that the girls in Heart issued a cease and desist order to the McCain campaign, saying that they didn't want him illegally using a their song to endorse a candidate they didn't support. You go girls! No word on what happened with "My City Was Gone."]