Things aren't looking up for the McCain campaign. Polling numbers have shown that people have finally set aside their lust for Palin and cannot accept the idea of her taking second highest office in the land. His lackluster performance at the last two debates have given Obama a clear edge.Yes times are tough for McCain. Recently Jackson Browne has filed a lawsuit against the campaign for using one of his songs without permission. Having not learned that lesson the Foo Fighters are upset about him using 'My Hero' without consulting them.
This is not the first time an artist was upset with a candidate using their songs. Reagan used Springsteen's 'Born in the USA', which I find amusing since it's really about the hellish life of a Vietnam veteran. I do wonder if Strom Thurmond ever strutted out to a campaign stop to Wagner.
So today I bring you the Foo Fighters 'My Hero', a song I'm not that thrilled with, but knowing what it's used for brings a whole new meaning to it.
"The saddest thing about this is that My Hero was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song." - David Grohl
3 comments:
Those bastards! I love the Foo Fighters...
We just had a discussion in Psychological Anthropology about how the nation will vote based on America's egalitarian views. It was stated that the average American does not want anyone in office that seems to be on a "higher" level than they. It was followed with the comment that this is the reason Palin appeals to the masses. She is just like everyone else. Whereas most see Obama as a person who thinks he is better than everyone else. These statements, shockingly, came from my extremely liberal professor.
The McCain campaign was also using Heart's "Barracuda" as intro music for Palin, and Heart bitched about it...but the McCain camp claims they paid the appropriate royalties. That's what happens when you let someone else have the rights to your song.
As far as "Born in the USA" being (mis)used by Reagan, that's what happens when you are an unintelligible singer and write a song mostly for a catchy hook to get radio play. People have misunderstood the meaning of that song since it came out, mostly because about the only part you can understand is the chorus.
As for Foo Fighters, well, McCain is claiming to be the "average Joe" compared to Obama's "elitism", so the song really fits as intended for the message McCain is trying to deliver.
Added humor: at Burning Man this year, I saw a guy play a parody of "My Hero" called "Guitar Hero" making fun of people who play that game, and as I was typing this, my wife just happened to be playing a Foo Fighters song on Rock Band.
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