By The Beachwood Political Misrepresentation of Songs Affairs Desk
The GOP quickly picked up on the high school nickname of Sarah Palin and started playing Heart’s “Barracuda” at their convention, which wrapped up last night. In fact, after John McCain’s closing speech, “Barracuda” was the second song to play, after “Raising McCain.” And boy is Heart pissed.
“The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission,” Heart said in a statement. “We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored.”
Nothing like Republicans stealing private property and not respecting the rule of law!
“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.”
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Released: 1977
Format: 7″
Album: Little Queen
Charts: Peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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From Wikipedia: In a season 2 episode of Reno 911!, the cast plays “Barracuda” after kicking out a local garage band for being too noisy and “playing crappy music.”
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From Songfacts: According to the band, this is a statement about the record industry in general. It was written at a time when there was friction between the band and their label. Little Queen was the first album they released for the CBS-Portrait label. Their old label, Mushroom Records, sued the band and in 1978 released Magazine, an album made up of previously recorded material Heart did not want released.
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Lyrics:
So this ain’t the end – I saw you again today
I had to turn my heart away
You smile like the sun – kisses for everyone
And tales – it never fails
You lying so low in the weeds
I bet you gonna ambush me
You’d have me down, down, down, down on my knees
Wouldn’t you, barracuda? Ohhh
Back over time we were all trying for free
You met the porpoise and me, uh huh
No right no wrong, selling a song
A name whisper game.
And if the real thing don’t do the trick
You better make up something quick
You’re gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick
Ooh, barracuda ohhhh yeah
“Sell me sell you” the porpoise said
Dive down deep down save my head
You…I think that you got the blues too.
All that night and all the next, swam without looking back
Made out for western pools – silly, silly fools
The real thing don’t do the trick, no
You better make up something quick
You’re gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick
Ohhh, barra-barracuda yeah
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From 1977:
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Previously in Song of the Moment:
* Iron Man
* The Story of Bo Diddley
* Teach Your Children
* Dream Vacation
* When The Levee Breaks
* I Kissed A Girl
* Theme From Shaft
* Rocky Mountain High
* North to Alaska
Posted on September 5, 2008