Mellencamp Asks McCain to Stop Using Tunes

[no name 1]

2/4/08, 1:56 pm EST

At some recent John McCain campaign rallies, John Mellencamp’s “Our Country” and “Pink Houses” have been booming out over the speakers. Uplifting heartland rock must have seemed like a smart pick, but there’s just one problem: Mellencamp is an ardent Democrat. And, until recently, he supported John Edwards – who had been playing “Our Country” and “Small Town” at his rallies. Mellencamp hasn’t yet made a public response, but his reps are quietly reaching out to McCain and asking him to stop playing his tunes. (McCain’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Not to mention that the far-right types whose votes McCain is seeking won’t love the mildly progressive lyrics to “Our Country,” which call on the government to “help the poor and common man” and suggest that “there’s room enough here for science to live/ And there’s room enough here for religion to forgive.” And does McCain really want to associate himself with those “Pink Houses” lines about the “simple man” paying for the “the thrills, the bills and the pills that kill”?

link

[Jenn! 918]

[Chica Yeyé 41]

This made me feel like when I found out Michael Jackson had acquired the rights to the best of Lennon & McCarntey.... [pukey smiley here]

[Fandango 1,439]

JCM is sh!t anyways.....

[no name 1]

JCM is sh!t anyways.....

Maybe so, but Edwards & McCain liked him well enough to both use the song!

[Fandango 1,439]

JCM is sh!t anyways.....

Maybe so, but Edwards & McCain liked him well enough to both use the song!

Just for that, I'll vote for neither

[Teacher Mark 53]

This reminded me of Rush Limbaugh using the riff from "My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders:

The distinctive riff from this song is used as theme music for Rush Limbaugh's popular American talk radio program since 1984 with no protest from Hynde. In 1999, Rolling Stone magazine reported that, according to Hynde's manager, Limbaugh had neither licensed the song nor asked permission to use it, although this charge has been denied. Purportedly, Hynde took action after Limbaugh told a pair of reporters in 1997 that "it was icing on the cake that it was [written by] an environmentalist, animal rights wacko and was an anti-conservative song. It is anti-development, anti-capitalist, and here I am going to take a liberal song and make fun of [liberals] at the same time." This led Hynde to demand that Limbaugh stop using the song, which he did, temporarily. Nonetheless, according to the article, Hynde and Limbaugh came to an accord that would permit Limbaugh to continue using the song in exchange for his donating the royalties due Hynde to PETA. She later wrote to the organization saying, "In light of Rush Limbaugh's vocal support of PETA's campaign against the Environmental Protection Agency's foolish plan to test some 3,000 chemicals on animals, I have decided to allow him to keep my song, 'My City Was Gone,' as his signature tune...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_City_Was_Gone

[almaty 19]

why does mellencamp hate america?

[Teacher Mark 53]

why does mellencamp hate america?

I don't think he hates America! He is exercising his right to free speech. He has done some pretty good things for Farmers with his fame. I know that if I were in his position and someone that i disagreed with were using my work as an Artist I would object also (we don't ever have to worry about that happening)!

Edited February 8, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA