heartless

[megotelek]

Well, I guess I won't be listening to Heart anymore...

Let me clarify. I think it's fine for them to say they don't want someone to use their songs without permission. That's perfectly within their rights as artists and while I think it's a little silly, again, they wrote the song. Theirs. They can say who gets to use it.

My problem is with this statement they sent:

"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...[It] was written in the late '70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women...There's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."

Wait. "in NO WAY represent us as American women"? Are they saying that Sarah Palin does not represent American women at all? That she isn't an American woman? Are Ann and Nancy Wilson claiming to speak for ALL AMERICAN WOMEN? That seems...awfully presumptuous. They couldn't just have said, "Her positions don't represent us, so we ask that our song not be used to promote her"?

No. They're claiming to speak for all American women and telling us that we don't like Sarah Palin. Except that the last time I checked, I am an American woman. A Republican American woman. A Republican American woman who likes Sarah Palin and what she stands for and who will be voting for McCain in November.

Oh, right. We don't exist. Thanks for reminding me, Heart.

Comments

[rolley2001.livejournal.com]

*stands and claps*

Here! Here! I like Heart and I can understand about not getting permission and ticking them off; however, you are completely right that they DO NOT represent ALL AMERICAN WOMEN! I was raised by a union member, card-carrying Democrat. I didn't agree with Dad and he didn't force it down my throat. We never even discussed who the other voted for. It was a private matter (according to Dad).

Political views are an individual's choice. If Heart didn't want the RNC using their music, fine (the RNC should be getting permission and paying for the right to use it). But to say that Mrs. Palin isn't who THEY WANT using their music (as opposed to Mrs. Obama, Mrs. Clinton, or any other woman Democrat) is a bunch of bull.

[slew6.livejournal.com]

I think that saying "us as American women" is directed towards them as a band. I think they are saying: as American women, they don't feel that Sarah Palin represents them (hence the us).

Kind of a vague use of the English language there and definitely up for interpretation.

This also comes from a raging liberal, so who knows haha.

Just out of curiosity and for the sake of discussion, may I ask why you are voting for McCain and Palin?

[megotelek.livejournal.com]

But again, they're implying that she should represent all American women? Or that if a woman is running for office she automatically becomes the representation of all women?

I don't know, their phrasing just REALLY rubbed me the wrong way and I think they should just get over themselves.

I'm not ignoring that last question, but I'm trying to get my thoughts organized into another post so I can lay it all out and start a proper discussion. Yay for discussion!

[megotelek.livejournal.com]

Discussion post re: McCain/Palin is here (http://megotelek.livejournal.com/95069.html).

[warden96.livejournal.com]

They couldn't just have said, "Her positions don't represent us, so we ask that our song not be used to promote her"?

I think they did except they phrased kind of poorly.


Confession time. "There's the Girl" is a guilty pleasure of mine.

[jeeperstseepers.livejournal.com]

It's more of the same "anyone who disagrees with us is an idiot, and a bad person" attitude that I despise. They didn't say it outright, but it's there.