HEART TO McCAIN/PALIN: BACK OFF ON 'BARRACUDA'

Posted by David Beard, Boston.com Staff September 5, 2008 09:03 AM

The rock group Heart has sent a message to John McCain and Sarah "Barracuda'' Palin: quit playing our 1977 hit ''Barracuda.''

Soon after the presidential nominee finished his acceptance speech late Thursday and running-mate Palin joined him on the Republican National Convention stage in St. Paul, the sound system pumped the throbbing introductory guitar licks to "Barracuda.''

It seemed the cleverest musical choice of both conventions. Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, like Alaska Governor Palin, are outspoken products of the Pacific Northwest, and the sisters's tune also could refer to Palin's Dazed-and-Confused-Era nickname of Sarah Barracuda, given for her intense high-school basketball play.

But the Wilsons condemned the usage then and earlier in the convention, adding that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign, according to CNN.

UPDATE Friday morning: here's a statement by Ann and Nancy Wilson from EW.com:

"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."

No word so far on whether the tune would be dropped from the GOP playlist. "If the real thing don't do the trick,'' Ann Wilson sang in "Barracuda,'' "You better make up something quick.''

The song seemed a much better fit than several played during the Democratic convention in Denver. After ailing US Senator Ted Kennedy made it to Denver for a pro-Obama speech, the Denver house band played "Still The One,'' the 70s hit from Orleans. (Clearly intended to reflect Kennedy's vigorous effort, it was still risky to evoke any possible reference to ''The One,'' being used as anti-Obama term. After former President Bill Clinton's ringing speech last week, the band struck up the intro to Robert Palmer's 1985 hit, "Addicted to Love.'' C-Span showed a group of delegates dancing to the opening strains and singing along until stopping on the chorus, "Might as well face it/I'm addicted to love.''

I wonder if McCain tried to recruit one of the Wilson sisters for his VP?