Heart condemns McCain-Palin use of 'Barracuda'

ST.PAUL MINN- Blasting through the Republican convention hall is the 1977 hit "Barracuda" by rock band Heart.

It's a shout-out to Sarah Palin. When she played basketball in high school, the soon-to-be Republican vice presidential nominee earned the nickname "Sarah barracuda" for her fierce competitiveness.

Some of her opponents revived the "Sarah barracuda" nickname after she became mayor of her hometown, Wasilla, in 1996, defeating a three-term incumbent.

UPDATE: Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart said Thursday night that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease and desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign over their use of 'Barracuda.'

"We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We
hope our wishes will be honored," the group said in a statement that said they "condemn" the use of the song at the Republican convention.


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.''