September 5th, 2008
08:41 AM ET
15 years ago

Heart condemns McCain-Palin use of 'Barracuda'

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/05/art.heart.band.cnn.jpg caption="Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. "]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.


Filed under: John McCain • John McCcain • Popular Posts • Sarah Palin
soundoff (327 Responses)
  1. kathaleenmarie

    Ms. Smith... you are so off course.. I thought Republicans were for business people.. songwriting isn't considered a business in your books? A little too unconventional for your taste? And you all say that you're ready for change? You want us to believe that your token female and one or two or three young people, or black people in the crowd is proof of that? SAME OLD PARTISAN POLITICS...

    September 5, 2008 09:19 am at 9:19 am |
  2. mark

    I would think that anyone would want to use the music of a washed up group.

    September 5, 2008 09:19 am at 9:19 am |
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