Musicians Respond to Palin, RNC

By FLANNERY CASHILL

John Gourley of the Alaskan indie rock group Portugal the Man responded to the VP nomation of Sarah Palin with an impassioned essay about America, Alaska, and a certain no-good neighbor of his.

Meanwhile, Nancy Wilson of the monster ballad duo Heart railed against the unauthorized use of their song “Barracuda” during the Republican National Convention, saying:

Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.

We welcome any suggested alternatives, but realize that hockey moms are an underrepresented demographic in rock and roll, just as in the liberal media.