While Michele Bachmann may be the GOP’s hot candidate du jour, the tea party’s best shot at a presidency and Sarah Palin’s "serious" antithesis, but she is no American Girl. At least, according to Tom Petty.
The singer issued a cease and desist letter to Bachmann following the use of his hit "American Girl" on the campaign trail in Waterloo, Iowa yesterday. This, however, is not the first time Petty has asked a Republican politician to back away from his creations. In 2000, then candidate George W. Bush was asked to stop using Petty's "I Won't Back Down." Petty later went on to perform the song himself at Al Gore's home the night Mr. Gore gave his concession speech.
Using classic rock songs, and subsequently being asked to stop using classic rock songs, is unfortunately not new to the Republican Party. After the McCain/Palin ticket of 2008 began using the 1977 Heart hit "Barracuda,” the Wilson sisters issued their own cease and desist. The 1984 Reagan re-election campaign’s use of “Born in The U.S.A.” caused a stir with The Boss.
Charlie Crist should serve as the ultimate lesson to Bachmann. The former Florida governor was slapped with a big lawsuit by Talking Head’s frontman David Byrne and had to issue a clearly-forced public apology.
— By Peter Carril
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Cease and desist, that should be the order for her entire campaign. Doesn't she know she has to pay the talent?
Republicans get what they deserve. They're totally out of line, on everything.
Most of these politicians are lawyers, and should know better than to use other people's work without permission. Or is it that they don't respect artists, so they don't bother with the law?
Hey Michelle: Isn't it painful when something that's so close is still so far out of reach?
If Tom Petty can issue a cease and desist order why can't American History teachers? While they don't 'own' history, they certainly have an interest in seeing it not distorted just to fit someones' political ambition.
Better yet, why doesn't someone send Bachman a 5th grade history text.
Leno could have her on his show and ask her some basic history questions. Her answers couldn't be anymore stupid then his person on the street interviews.
I agree with you totally! You would think someone running for President would at least brush-up on their history facts before opening their mouth!!!
Why can't American History teachers issue a cease and desist to Bachman? While they don't "own" American history they do have an interst in keeping it factual.
Better yet, why doesn't someone send Bachman a 5th grade hstory text?
Still looking for that perfect one nighter, Michelle, after all these years? Slow down, honey, make it last all night! Nice advice, but the song implies she can't. The description seems it would also fit quitter Palin. I can see the scene: "Okay, Buster, you've got five minutes to get me off. Then I'm outta here."
This offers a truly interesting opening into Michelle's psyche. (tongue in cheek)
Ultimately, it's immortality they think they will find at the end of their rainbow curve. Run fast enough and you'll get there, Michelle, Sarah... These yearnings you have, they are not healthy, no? (tic)
I'm sure Ted Nugent would let her use one of his songs. For a fee.
I mean, seriously, don't Republicans know what rock and roll is all about?
Bachmann thumbed her nose at Petty, using his song a second time after receiving the cease and desist letter. Something similar happened to be when Rockwell told me they were going to use my software, even though it was forbidden for military use. They said "F--- you. We are going to use it anyway." I have never been so angry in my life. I saw red, little red fringes around everything. I hope he sues her for every penny she has.
Rock and Roll is all about male fantasies of women. As such, it's not appropriate as a woman's political theme song.
In the sixties, Dylan wrote a lot of songs about an American princess on a pedestal, the pretty thing who thinks she owns it all... Dylan especially loved telling about the moment when she falls off the pedestal and becomes real, and learns how it really is to be. A new twist on Pygmalion and Galatea - Dylan's persona not as Pygmalion but as the thief who has something better to offer Galatea after she falls on her face - reality.
When I was a kid, none of my friends who later became conservatives or were at the time conservative gave a thought to lyrics. To them, R&R was all about the music. Has nothing changed?
But even they knew that Rock and Roll is about male fantasies of sex and women. It is not, strictly speaking, "family" material.
Apologies to gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered, and women friends, but that's Rock and Roll in my experience of it.