Abba won't "take a chance" on McCain

He battled the Vietcong but now John McCain has apparently come a-cropper against the Swedes.

The Republican candidate, who had already been banned by John Mellencamp, the American rocker, from using his hits 'Our Country' and 'Pink Houses', found out that he has few fans in Scandinavia when he tried to adopt Abba's "Take a chance on me" as his campaign song. After running into difficulties with the Swedish supergroup, McCain lamented to reporters on board his plane that it wasn't as easy to play the song as he thought.

“It gets expensive in a big hurry and if you’re not careful you can alienate some Swedes,” he joked.“If word gets out to Stockholm that we’re using Abba music, then there’ll be a
worsening in U.S.-Swedish relations.”

He'll just have to pray that the conservative wing of the Republican party doesn't similarly reject his advances...

But McCain's not the only candidate whose choices of campaign song have proved problematic:

Hillary Clinton held an online contest to choose her anthem - and proved that the democratic system has its failings when she got landed with the schmaltzy Celine Dion ballad "You and I". After a thorough panning - the Huffington Post declared it the worst campaign theme song - she ditched the Canadian songstress' tune for Big Head Todd and the Monsters' "Blue Sky".

Barack Obama likes to play DJ at his campaign events and reportedly flicks through his iPod for his favourite Stevie Wonder or Aretha Franklin tune before handing it to a junior staffer to play. But his micromanagement failed to prevent a rather unfortunate gaffe at his New Hampshire primary night rally when, convinced by the polls he was headed for victory, he cued up Stevie Wonder's "Signed, sealed, delivered." And we all know the rest.

(Obama's also picked a few unofficial campaign songs along the way: the surprise YouTube hit "I got a crush on Obama" by Obama Girl - including the catchy line "I saw you float onto the floor at the Democratic Convention 2004, I never wanted you more" - and Will.i.am's slightly more intellectual effort "Yes We Can".)

Mike Huckabee got a public dressing-down from Tom Scholtz of rock band Boston after he played their hit "More than a feeling" at campaign events. Scholtz left no one in any doubt of his feelings about Huckabee, who, he said was "the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for." Adding that he was supporting Barack Obama, Scholtz complained: "By using my song, and my band's name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!"

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Comments

[Dave C]

For a campaign song, "Take a Chance On Me" is a pathetic choice.

[Bill]

Its sad and sick that some rock and roller idiot like mr midle age crisis John Mellencamp would ban John Mcain a great american hero from using his tunes. I tell you what first of all that jerk John Mellencamp CAN'T BAN anyone from playing his songs. But it just shows John Mellencamp is a pinko communist who hates America, I can't wait to run into that jerk. I live in Las Vegas, (DJ capitol) we'd love to throw him into the ring and show him the meaning of America.

[Gregg Barr]

What complete and utter twits! Just because a candidate wants to play your music it doesn't mean you have to endorse them. That is just crazy. I loath some musicians politics but I still buy their albums because I like the music, not the message. All of these cry baby artists need to GROW UP!

[Bobarian]

I don't think Ted Nugent would object to McCain using one his songs. I suggest "Kiss My Ass."

http://www.lyricsdownload.com/ted-nugent-kiss-my-ass-lyrics.html

[fred]

Stick with John Philip Sousa, a real American who wrote real American music and not the modern day garbage of the world.

[Jerry]

Has it ever occurred to any of these politicians to commission an original theme song?

Nostalgia and change do not go well together.

[C.Handel]

Ted Nugent is a conservative.

There's no way he would want to be associated with a RINO liberal like John "Don't call it amnesty" McCain!

How sad the state of affairs is when President's must resort to popular music to bolster their "brand." These people are failures of the worst kind, groveling in the dirst for scraps of meat to be tossed by passers by. Go get em' kids. There's a presidency at stake. You would be SOOOOOOOOOO powerful. What important people you could be. FAILURES. FAILURES. FAILURES. It saddens me that these three are so pathetic, I must for the first time in my life, abstain from voting, whilst they play legal games with musicians.

[Del Frosh]

"We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action." (Wisdom from John & Elaine, circa 10/22/03....uh, yeah.)

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1022-13.htm

[mark]

most prophetic?

Baba O'Reilly(Teenage Wasteland).

In 04 I heard it would be the youth vote that delivered Kerry. I'm hearing the same echoes of 'the youth vote' for Obama.

Yes, he is doing well at winning those who are willing to vote in primaries, but when the time comes for the general election...

they're all wasted.

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

I ALWAYS REMEMBER, SHIRLEY MACLAINE, SINGING 'IT'S NOT WHERE YOU START, IT'S WHERE YOU FINISH', AT A TV CONCERT, FOR JIMMY CARTER, TO CELELBRATE, HIS NEW PRESIDENCY.
JUST HOW SPOOKY WAS THAT, IN RETROSPECT?

[Monte Haun]

"I live in Las Vegas, (DJ capitol) we'd love to throw him into the ring and show him the meaning of America"

You bad a_s rimjob redneck a__holes already did that to the Spice Girls.

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

[Keats]

In a way I can understand how these musicians feel. BUT most people understand THEIR music is part of OUR collective American culture (it's our music too) and that playing the music doesn't mean the band is endorsing the politician. They would do better to keep silent. By contrast when they open their mouths, I never want to hear Mellencamp or Boston again because their protests make them into the worst thing - radicals with an attitude - and I am no longer a fan.

[Billy Jack]

Mr. Mellencamp and Mr. Scholtz,
Thanks for making the right decision in protecting the integrity of your work. It's a shame that a few fellow citizens who do not understand the meaning of America will now try to discredit and tarnish your artistic merits. I also agree with Gregg that a song from Ted (Shame of the Midwest)Nugent is a good choice for McCain because his lyrical structures are easily understood by low grade morons. My personal choice would be the Imperial March from Star Wars. However, hey may have to wrestle that one away from Cheney.

[RobC]

John McCain might be a great American, but he is a lousy politician. He curtailed the 1st Amendment, i.e. McCain-Feingold Act. He activley tried to close the close the so called "gun show loophole", which to me sounds like a strike to the 2nd Amendment. He voted against Bush's tax cuts, which tells me that he is for bigger government and more control over us. He also voted for the Patriot Act, which allows the government to go into anyones house and take items and not have to tell. That's a direct violation of the 4th Amendment. A terrible, terrible choice for a president, not that either of the democrats would be any better.

[Doug Torrez]

Dave C, Hitler perhaps ?
Typical response from someone in the falling M-pyre.
If they don't do it the M-pyre way ? Kill'em.
That attitude is why " they" ( the whole damned world) Hate You and why America is finished.
Good riddance !

[John]

Well John Mellencamp is a mediocre performer. How many name changes has he done? First was John Cougar. Shows how shallow he is as a person.

I suspect John McCain will have problems with many popular musicians due to their political leanings. Unfortunately in the entertainment media most have to swing one way or be ostracized. So much for individuality and tolerance. To get ahead you must show hate against a certain group or keep it bottled up so no one will know.

[JG NY]

the fun will be when the lefties these people endorse stiffles they music with censorship and more lables (Tipper anyone). It would seem they have attached there opinions to the wrong side of the Isle.

[James]

No true conservative would want their song being used by a RINO stooge like McCain. Just like no true conservative will vote for him; he's the third liberal in the presidential contest. No thanks Repubs. Kiss your party goodbye.

[Ariel]

Yes, but.

Intellectual property is touchy here-- just because a candidate legally could use any song doesn't mean they should, and musicians maintain the right to protest. To the majority of people who will be exposed to the campaign song, the line between "borrowing" and endorsement is so fine.

If John Mellencamp maintains the rights to his songs, then yes, he can ban McCain from using them. And if he does not maintain the licenses and disagrees with their usage, he is completely within his rights to say so. And the McCain campaign should avoid the bad press and not try to license the song without the blessing (legal or otherwise) of Mellencamp.

[harper]

Try Merle Haggard's "Rainbow Stew"

[deaddemocrats]

Hey Tom Scholtz, now you know what it feels like when the rest of have to pay for all those failed programs you love so much that none of us voted for.

[Rod]

Typical Republican attitude...Steal it and screw the professional who wrote it. GW song should be little cardboard slums for you and me.

[Dave, Pretoria, South Africa]

Amazing about Tom Sholtz. What an arse! As if he speaks for Boston. How about NOT! Idiots like these prove one thing...they are not at all entertainers and artists but activists and as such ought to be conducting themselves under those rules. How about everytime one of them endorses a liberal we demand equal time by another artist?

[Shank Dizzle]

Only a true conservative like Dave C would respond to this article by not only threatening John Mellencamp with physical violence but basically saying that unprovoked assault and battery is "the meaning of America."

GG