“Barracuda” Not Authorized

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I was in the tub last night during McCain’s speech because I would have rather drowned than hear another word of it. 

As he walks off the stage  my brain picks up the music and I nearly dropped my eBook Reader into the tub.  I knew that wailing.  I used to mime that wailing standing on my bed holding a broomstick for a mic.  I listened a little harder and thought out loud – “Wonder what Heart thinks about the RNC using ‘Barracuda’?”  If you subscribe to my Twitter feed, you would have seen it my awe in 140-characters or less.

Now I have my answer (hat tip to Eric Millikin):

Heart condemns McCain-Palin use of ‘Barracuda’
Posted: 08:41 AM ET
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) — 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.

This is not the first time the RNC has used music without permission.  ABBA and  John Cougar Mellancamp, are on the list of illegally used music and Jackson Browne is currently suing.

Really, using music without permission is a lot like pirating, which according to the RIAA is stealing.  Nice to see the RNC holding up to its own values of good citizenship.

I noticed that Sara’s nickname is “Sara-cuda”.  Does anyone else remember maybe twenty years back when “cuda” was a euphemism for lady bits?  I find this painfully hilarious.