35 Comments

  1. Yup, that’s one word, Frank J., but I’d call this the Battle between the Booger and the Babe.

    Exit thought: no one is reporting whether Bachmann has rights to the song. The band Heart spat mud at Sarah Palin in ’08 only to discover that the campaign had purchased rights to Barracuda. My guess is that Bachmann didn’t secure rights to the song.

  2. “My guess is that Bachmann didn’t secure rights to the song.”

    Burma,
    My non-lawyery recap of a discussion on another blog about the law:

    In essence, Petty (like almost all musicians) opted for a certain level of licensing. Bachmann (and bars, venues, etc) and others can use it without “permission,” so long as certain measures are followed (which may include ponying up cash). The person holding the rights can make a case to not use it, but my impression was that no one in the industry wants to fight that case because it may cause a ripple effect in the industry that would choke the money flow. So, while he can huff and puff, he might not find support fighting it. However, it would serve as a distraction and isn’t very nice to use something someone created if they don’t want you to use it. Think of it as the classic, “You may have a right to do it, but that don’t make it right.”

  3. She should use good music anyway, not that crap. petty sucks, he sings worse than jagger, looks like david spade, and has the brains of a democrat. If he were alec baldwin he would not be any waorse.

  4. Macko:
    Actually, that’s not what the song is about. If you believe Tom Petty. Sorry.

    I agree that it’s really not a feel-good song, and isn’t a good one or a campaign. I’ll always think of it as the song the chunky chick from Silence of the Lambs sang before Buffalo Bill/Jame Gumm grabbed her.

  5. Down through the ages the human race has been enriched by men and women of vision, strength, courage, and determination, and as they enriched us through their contribution to the tribe, they themselves became rich. All because they were driven to do things that were needful. And doing what needs doing, whatever the price, generates wealth and wealth enriches everybody.

    Then, in the late twentieth century, pussies who didn’t do a damn thing except sing through their adenoids found that they could become celebrated and enriched through the generosity of a tribal segment which itself was enriched by others. I don’t have a problem with calling these singers artists instead of pussies, and calling their enablers consumers instead of dipshits.

    But just because some pussy achieves celebrity and wealth doesn’t mean that they are contributing anything of value. So what can I say about Tom Petty? Just this. He’s damn fortunate to be living in these times and not some other age.

  6. Gee, I thought Tom Petty was dead. I also thought Keith Richards was dead and then I saw him on an interview and he walked and talked. Of course they could both be Zombies, I guess. Although looking at them I’m not sure how to tell the difference.

    Must be their music. It couldn’t be their lifestyle choices, right?

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