FameCrawler : barracuda

Sarah "Barracuda" Palin and the Heart of the Matter

Whit Honea — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:24:00 GMT

According to Sarah Palin's sister (CNN interview) the VP nominee's nickname of Barracuda was a result of tenacious d. on the hardwood (we're talking basketball, not Jack Black).

Ann and Nancy Wilson, the sisters/mothers/working women behind the rock band Heart have a different opinion of the name, and as such wrote a little song about it (Like to hear it? Here it go!).

The song "Barracuda," as anyone that has ever been in the same room as me and a radio can attest, is quite possibly my least favorite song ever- or at least second, sandwiched between Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," and the entire catalog of Jethro Tull.

Last night at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention the McCain-Palin ticket blared Heart's song "Barracuda" into the arena. Obviously they were playing on Palin's nickname and yada, yada, yada, we get it.

Heart also got it, and they didn't like it. The sent a cease and desist letter to the GOP and contacted Entertainment Weekly to voice their grievances.

A quick aside- when are politicians doing to start asking for permission? This has been happening more and more, usually to the Republicans as they are using music created by the stereotypical leftness that is the recording artist. It can't be good to have celebrities bust your chops every time you turn on the stereo. I'm sure John Rich would love to provide the entire soundtrack. Maybe some Jethro Tull?

Perhaps you may think, as the GOP must have, that the Wilson sisters, both working mothers (Nancy had twin boys in 2000 with husband Cameron Crowe) would be delighted to have their hit played behind Sarah Palin and, according to Wolf Blitzer, "an excellent balloon and confetti drop," but no, they weren't.

Here is their statement:

"The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission. We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."

They then told EW, "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."

What do you think? Is the artist entitled to say who can listen to their music and where, or is a large, organized and televised event subject to the same rules that govern other TV shows?

To be fair, Obama also used a song without permission, but the artists in that case, Brooks and Dunn, chose to be flattered despite not endorsing the politics of it.

Here's my humble opinion, I think that Brooks and Dunn rolled with it because the use of their song at the DNC probably opened them up to a new audience. I think Heart is upset because a) it's Sarah Palin, and b) the best way to stretch their thrust back into the spotlight is to grab said spotlight. There is no such thing as bad publicity and even though their anger may be geniune and justified, the cynic in me knows a good marketing ploy when I see it.

I just hope "Barracuda" doesn't go back into heavy rotation.

Source/Photo

Vetting Sarah Palin: Like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but Funnier: UPDATED!!

Whit Honea — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:01:00 GMT

There is some speculation in the media, by which I mean the real media- that being people with neckties and make-up artists, not unshaven bloggers in their underwear (and some men, too) that John McCain's team dropped the ball regarding the vetting[1] process of Sarah Palin.

We're inclined to agree.

That's why we here at FameCrawler, home of all things fameish and crawlesque have decided to help you, the voter. We've done some pretty extensive ~~drinking~~ vetting ourselves over the weekend (McCain, you owe us a house each) and have some interesting information on Mrs. Palin, some of which is actually true!

Here is a list of the items we uncovered without ever stepping foot in Alaska (not that there is anything wrong with that):

The Original Palin Post: John McCain Picks Sarah Palin as VP

Bristol Baby: Sarah Palin's Teen Daughter Pregnant!

Bristol Palin's Baby Daddy Identified!!!

Bristol Palin's Baby Daddy - I Don't Want Kids (Oops!)

Pregnant Teen Bristol Palin - Photos

Bristol Palin Pregnancy Scandal: Babygate Lives! (Photos)

Bristol Palin Pregnancy: Is Sarah Palin's Baby Really Her Daughter's? (Photos)

Sarah Palin in a Bikini!

Sarah Palin Compared To Angelina Jolie

Diddy on Palin: Good Intentions, Bad Script, Ugly Production

Sarah Palin's Days as a Sportscaster...Video!

Sarah Palin Is A Hunter! Photos!

Seven Things You Might Not Know About Sarah Palin

Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin was Runner Up in 1984 Beauty Contest

Sarah Palin's Husband Arrested For DUI

Sarah Palin Being Investigated (Child Custody,Threats & Lies)

Lindsay Lohan Blogs About Sarah Palin

NUDE! Sarah Palin Naked Photo?!

Bristol gets her drink on

Sarah Palin's Dark Secrets (Photos)!

Proof that Baby Trig is NOT Sarah Palin's Baby!?

Palin's First Baby Daddy to Attend Republican National Convention: Will Bring Mullet

Trig and Bristol: Palin Family Names Run Amok

Political Nanny: Obama Offended by Implied Link to Palin Family Rumors

'Palin Should Go Back to the Kitchen' and 4 More WTF Comments About the VP Pick

McCain, Palin oppose teen pregnancy aid and sex education

Sarah Palin's acceptance speech at the RNC video

Palin family online: real or fake

Piper & Trig Palin: A Pretty Cute Video

The "Barracuda" Scandal(ish)

9 Most Disturbing Beliefs

Palin on Newsweek (and a dead bear)

Palin Affair?

Affair is False!

Robin Williams is Still Funny?!

When Hairy Met Pali

Sarah Racist?

Trailer Trash?

Todd Palin Subpoenaed!

Tina Fey is Sarah Palin on SNL! Video!

This list will be updated for your browsing and vetting pleasure. McCain, we're serious about the houses!

[1] From Wikipedia:

Vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determine their usefulness.

In the United States, a party's presidential nominee must choose a vice-presidential candidate to accompany him or her on the ticket. Prospective vice-presidential candidates must undergo thorough evaluation by a team of advisers acting on behalf of the nominee. In later stages of the vetting process, the team will examine such items as a prospective vice-presidential candidate's finances, personal conduct, and previous coverage in the media.

To vet was originally a horse-racing term, referring to the requirement that a horse be checked for health and soundness by a veterinarian before being allowed to race. Thus, it has taken the general meaning "to check."

Photo

Starbucks Closing Today: WWBD? (What Would Britney Do?)

sweatpantsmom — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:05:00 GMT

Starbucks will be closing all of it's locations for three hours tonight to retrain some 135,000 employees in an effort to re-vitalize it's sagging image.

This had me in a sweat-infused panic until I stopped and thought about another Starbucks fanatic, and what she might do in such a crisis. And how I might emulate her.

What Would Britney Do?

I'm thinking Britney might take the time to play a game of Chutes and Ladders with Sean and Preston, who she was recently reunited with. Me, I'll play Guitar Hero with my daughters and try not to brag when I kick their asses at "Barracuda."

Then Britney might take those hours from 5:30 to 8:30 to have all of her "I Heart Sam Lutfi" tattoos removed. I'll get my "Peter Frampton 4Ever" lasered out.

Britney might use all three long hours to sit and contemplate life. I'll lay in bed and try and upload YouTube videos to my iPhone.

Three hours will be over before I know it, and I'll be clutching a hot double-tall-dry-cappuccino once again. Praise Britney!