Community | October 17, 2008 | 37 comments

Bon Jovi anger on Palin song use

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BuddyP
Singer Jon Bon Jovi has become the latest musician to disapprove of the use of his songs in John McCain's presidential campaign.

Bon Jovi song, Who Says You Can't Go Home, was used during rallies held by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin this week.

In a statement, the star said the band "do not approve" of the song's use.

Foo Fighters, Heart and Jackson Browne have all asked Mr McCain to stop using their tracks in his presidential bid.

Bon Jovi, a Democrat supporter, threw a $30,000 (£17,000) per person, fund-raising dinner for Democratic candidate Barack Obama at his New Jersey home in September.

'Not asked'

"We are surprised to hear that our song, Who Says You Can't Go Home, was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today," the statement said.

"We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past 25 years.

"The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the de facto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities.

"Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of Home."
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37 comments // Bon Jovi anger on Palin song use

  • shroomfairy
  • alicynx
  • PressCore
    • 0
      PressCore  
    • What I'd like to know is: Why hasn't this long and growing list of wronged artists simply gotten together to prosecute McCain/Palin in the U.S. Civil Court ? Piracy is Piracy. Because no matter how you look at their pattern of expropriation without permission it IS for commercial purposes the reproduction of copyrighted material. If they need to get a Ruling on that from a U.S. Court Judge then so be it. I think you'll find that since MONEY is McCain/Palin's motive for their theft of intellectual property that the Judge will rule in the artists' favor.Its not like McCain/Palin are a church,school or other form of charitable organization using their music/lyrics for disaster relief in a 3rd world country like Myanmar.Hello.These 2 are Neo Cons representing Big Oil whose 150 year old World Monopoly on energy thru fossil fuels has caused that type of disaster. McCain/Palin want to get elected to represent many,many Trillions of $s of Corporate Commercial interests. So yes, any kind of theft of copyrighted intellectual peoperty from them would
      likely constitute Piracy-also a Felony-and any pattern of Piracy would likely constitute Racketeering. Do you need a tree branch to fall on you to figure that out. The laws don't exist as a "good idea" for citizens to debate on, and the agrieved parties to wimper about. They exist for people to act on so that the laws can be enforced. Come on people, by now we all know that McCain has strong ties to Organized Crime. And that Big Oil which Palin is also tied to as a Puppet is the same bunch that not only killed GM's EV1 electric car in California in 1997, but also hired thugs to telephone in death treats to the family members of the California Clean Air Control Board to subvert that
      law too.Big Oil IS Organized Crime as McCain/Palin are, through their Piracy, connected to.

    • 3 years ago
  • BuddyP
  • missdeb68
    • 0
      missdeb68  
    • PressCore:

      Oh God, yes, that bitch Palin is from Alaska. That place that they're drilling for oil smack in the middle of a whale conservation area. Jesus Christ! The plot continually thickens!

    • 3 years ago
  • gnossos
  • missdeb68
  • asinine_cloud
  • missdeb68
    • 0
      missdeb68  
    • I agree...this is an issue of ethics, perhaps also copyright infringement, but it absolutely speaks volumes about McCain's character. Well, why the hell not? God damn government does whatever, whenever, wherever to whoever they damn well please. So, what else is new? Even Jon Bon Jovi, with his clout, cannot or will not hold these rotten s.o.b.'s accountable. Well, hopefully there really is a God, and hopefully He finally gives it to 'em, right where it hurts. Maybe He will send them back here, to live a life of suffering in the hell that they've created, without a pot to piss in! Haha! I hope so!

    • 3 years ago
  • zenpilgrim
    • 0
      zenpilgrim  
    • I can't stand McCain and Palin but you are jumping to a conclusion regarding copyright. The story never said that there were copyright violations. With most professional musicians and songwriters, the songs are licensed through a large organization such as BMI. You don't usually go to the musician directly but you pay the fees to BMI who pays the royalties to the artist. To require otherwise would mean an artist would have to approve every public playing of their song and they don't have the time for that.

      While they may not have broken any laws, I do question their ethics in the use of a recording by an artist at a political rally - such use making those who hear it think the artist is a support of that person or party.

    • 3 years ago
  • bluestranger
    • 0
      bluestranger  
    • zenpilgrim:

      In my convoluted way that is what I was trying to say. Thank you for making it clearer. Also, you are correct about the appearance of the artist supporting the candidate. That is why Bon Jovi spoke out. To appreciate art you have to understand it with your soul. This leaves the majority of the gops out.

    • 3 years ago
  • Laganaphyllis
    • 0
      Laganaphyllis  
    • Actually, the McCain people did go through the proper channels to obtain the rights to play the music by actually purchasing copyrights, whatever, so they are not stealing the music!
      If I was the artist's lawyer I would laugh at them.

    • 3 years ago
  • Laganaphyllis
    • 0
      Laganaphyllis  
    • Another stupid artist jumping on the chance to be in the spotlight be claiming unfair use of their song by McCain.
      I have yet to hear of anyone complaining about Obama using their music.

      Don't these people realize the use of their music will reach many people who may have gone out and bought the tune, but may be turned off by their selfishness and pettiness?

      After all, who's the joke really on?

    • 3 years ago
  • drewsuf721
  • bluestranger
    • 0
      bluestranger  
    • The truth, as I've recently discovered is that when the artist sell their songs to the distrubuter, the copy right loses much of its effect. The artist sign off on an agreement not sue for public play. Not that the lawyers would make anything complicated but about the best the artist can do is tell the public that they don't approve of their songs being used for that purpose. Besides, you didn't think the gops would exploit anyone now did you?

    • 3 years ago
  • alicynx
    • 0
      alicynx  
    • bluestranger:

      What happens is the artist allows for a public use license, from which they garner a percentage of the profits from the sale of said license. Radio stations are the biggest purchaser of these licenses, but any time a group wants to hold an event with music where they will profit in some way from the use of said music, they need to purchase this license.
      DJs normally have them and events run under their license. If there was a DJ for the McCain event and he had a current license, then its fair play. If some guy running sound picked an mp3 from his personal collection and piped it through, then its a violation.
      My fingers are crossed that some roadie just plugged in his iPod and hit shuffle...

    • 3 years ago
  • avsfilms1
    • 0
      avsfilms1  
    • Yeah , Thats really f--d up that our gov. and people who are running for office can just freely use what ever song they chose , without gaining permission , apparantly they have no clue of copyright infingment and the use of others music without permission . That should really tell you how dishonest he is . Just the person I would want to be my president . I hope he gets sued !!

    • 3 years ago
  • stone246
  • dankitti
  • 10ft
  • ArtisGilmoreHOF
  • alicynx
  • 5thElement
    • 0
      5thElement  
    • lmao. This is getting rediculous. WHy doesn't McCain and Palin just give up? I mean don't they know the laws and regulations of America? Im sure they would have known about the copy write laws and know they had to ask the artist first. But this is alittle rediculous anyways. All Bon Jovi has to do is not vote for there sleezy stank asses. I guess people just can never get enough money.

    • 3 years ago
  • Jenkins
    • 0
      Jenkins  
    • I'm done hearing about all these musicians who won't let McCain use their songs. McCain and Palin should take a hint and use Mozart of Beethoven to come out to.

    • 3 years ago
  • BuddyP
  • rocky12000
  • ninepounds6
  • Patio_Patty
  • videl
  • BuddyP
    • 0
      BuddyP  
    • I agree with dkincheloe and Patio Patty. I am a musician, and if someone, I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS, uses my song without permission, my lawyer will sue, and win. It is freaking illegal. You can't use intellectual property to promote yourself, without the written consent of the artist. It is so insulting when someone uses your song to promote something you fundamentally oppose.

    • 3 years ago
  • Hendrix_Is_God
    • 0
      Hendrix_Is_God  
    • BuddyP:

      I believe music should be free to be used, its an art form, when you start out as a musician, you want your music to be heard so you can get known, when you start to be an arrogant shit and think that you are above the fans that got you rich and famous in the first place and then sue everyone for listening to your song thats been downloaded. BE HAPPY PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC and be happy in the knowledge that you are bringing someone a little bit of happiness by listening to your song.
      Pricks get real.

      On the matter of using your music for something you don't agree with fine, just don't sue.

    • 3 years ago
  • BuddyP
  • bansheewail
  • dkincheloe
    • 0
      dkincheloe  
    • I do NOT understand why a politician can violate all of the stupid copyright laws that he/she passed to screw the rest of us and make big profits for the corporations, by using the music of the Foo Fighters, Heart, Jackson Browne, and BonJovi, WITHOUT PERMISSION and WITHOUT FEES. Can someone explain to me why some middle school kid can be arrested, but not a presidential candidate?

    • 3 years ago
  • Patio_Patty
  • Patio_Patty
  • Laganaphyllis
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