A couple days ago we had Jackson Browne threatening a lawsuit because the Ohio Republican party used his song. Now we have Rosanne Cash getting all torqued off because “I Walk The Line” was played at a McCain rally that John Rich was somehow involved in. From CMT.
On Aug. 1, 2008, country artist John Rich, was quoted at a rally for John McCain as saying, “I’m sure Johnny Cash would have been a John McCain supporter if he was still around.” The quote ran on CMT.com. Since then, Johnny Cash’s daughter Rosanne Cash sent CMT.com the following statement:
“It is appalling to me that people still want to invoke my father’s name, five years after his death, to ascribe beliefs, ideals, values and loyalties to him that cannot possibly be determined and to try to further their own agendas by doing so. I knew my father pretty well, at least better than some of those who entitle themselves to his legacy and his supposed ideals, and even I would not presume to say publicly what I ‘know’ he thought or felt. This is especially dangerous in the case of political affiliation. It is unfair and presumptuous to use him to bolster any platform. I would ask that my father not be co-opted in this election for either side since he is clearly not here to defend or state his own allegiance.”
See, the thing is, for this to be “especially dangerous in the case of political affiliation”, there would have to be a lot of people making their voting decisions based on the songs that are getting played. Like; “Hey wow, I was undecided until I heard that classic Johnny Cash song”. Or, “Did you hear that? That was ‘Running On Empty” by Jackson Browne, dude! I love that song! I was going to vote for Obama but now I think McCain is so hip.”
It’s silly.
But, luckily there is a solution. From now on, all candidates should be forbidden from using any song in any campaign context except for songs they write themselves.
The old Kingfish, Huey P. Long, had the right idea way back with “Every Man A King”. This is classic.
As always……hit pause on the music player, in the sidebar before playing the YouTube.
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