Jackson Browne sues McCain campaign for using his song

[tannybogus]

Sen. John McCain's campaign is running on empty when it comes to the use of Jackson Browne's song of the same name, and the singer is taking the Republican presidential nominee to court over it, Geoff Boucher reports.

Jackson Browne is suing Sen. John McCain for using "Running on Empty" in television ads and the veteran rocker is also calling the candidate a great pretender when it comes to standing up for constitutional rights. Browne, one of rock music’s most famous activists for liberal causes, is “incensed” that the presumptive Republican candidate for president has been using Browne’s signature 1977 song “Running on Empty” in television campaign commercials, according to the singer-songwriter’s attorney.

Browne, who filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against both McCain and the Republican National Committee on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of the forlorn arena anthem or any other Browne compositions, as well as damages.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/08/jackson-browne.html

Maybe Tony Orlando will let him use "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Bruce Springsteen got Daddy Bush's campaign to stop using

"Born in the USA".

[unblock]

11. i believe that was reagan, 1984.

[HockeyMom]

14. because Reagan had no clue

what the lyrics of that song were all about.:eyes:

[hamsterjill]

2. I knew I liked him!

Good for him for taking action!

[my2sense]

3. bwaahahahahahahha

:rofl:

[underpants]

4. He picked "Running on Empty"????

:eyes:

and doesn't anything associated with Jackson Browne still automatically bring up his beating up Daryl Hanna???

Who's running this monkey%$)% anyway?

[FredScuttle]

18. He didn't beat up Darryl Hannah

n/t

[Laurab]

31. It should actually bring up "Dem Political Activist", and no

he didn't "beat up Daryl Hannah".

Jackson Browne is well known for his political activism, and political and anti-war songs. He's also well known for the numerous benefits he plays at. He donated the max to Obama, and also campaigned for Edwards with Bonnie Raitt.

Here's a chilling video he had done for his song "Lives in the Balance"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8szhQfJoL-s

The song is from around 1986, but is even more appropriate now. For the repuke party to use ANYTHING by Jackson Browne is totally idiotic.

[Union Thug]

5. Rock on, Jackson Browne! n/t

[Chipper Chat]

6. Puting your Lawyers in Love to work, eh?

More suggestions for McCain campaign songs:
"Over There" - Irving Berlin
"Transfusion" - Nervous Norvis
"Sorry Iran all the Way Home" - Impalas
and of course:
"Gee I'm Fixin to Die Rag" - Country Joe (wonder if McWar has ever listened to the words?)

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

12. You forgot one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUjIA3Rt7gk

[Chipper Chat]

13. Classic.

The 80s were so cool. Videos stretched your mind. Andgrogeny was in.
(thnxs for the link)

[Happyhippychick]

7. I think it's a completely appropriate theme song

[blogslut]

8. Sweet!

I love it!

McThief

[bklyncowgirl]

9. Sweet Jesus,

You'd think these morons would find out the politics of the composer and performer of the song before using it.

I mean there's nothing more embarassing than being confronted by an outraged left wing rock star over using their work. You'd think they'd have learned from the uproar when Ronald Reagan tried to used Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."

You'd think, but then it's clear they don't think.

[Blue Gardener]

26. Music from their few right wing supporters is all crap

They don't have much to choose from. They have to steal songs from the left.

[bklyncowgirl]

30. Yeah but a guy like Jackson Browne who's very, very, very political--no excuses

There are plenty of performers who are apolitical or who have not announced their politics to the world. I can see them accidently annoying one of these guys by using his song, but Jackson Browne is well known to be a committed activist who would naturally go apeshit is some conservative pol tried to use his work.

[TlalocW]

10. Even more embarrasing was George W. Bush...

Being told to stop using Achy-Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. If the mullet-king rejects you, that should tell you something.

TlalocW

[progressoid]

15. How fucking stupid are these people?

[Virginia Dare]

21. Very VERY stupid..

as I recall there was some republican campaign that was using DEMOCRATIC Congressman John Hall's song "Still The One"...Congressman Hall was not amused.

[K8-EEE]

16. I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUV HIM ! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Always did!!! But now I have a new reason!

[nc4bo]

17. Trying not to laugh to hard, don't wanna hurt myself...

Oh F it. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[americanstranger]

19. It's about fucking time someone sued their asses.

By my count, this is the fourth time they've used copyrighted works without permission.

1. Fox News footage for campaign commercials.
2. 'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You' for the 'Obama Love' ad.
3. Wayne & Garth for the 'Fan Club' ad.
4. 'Running On Empty.'

I hope Browne gets a nice fat settlement check for their unlicensed use. His lawyers are loaded for bear - all they have to do is point out that McCain has ample precedent of using copyrighted works illegally.

Go, Jackson. I'm not a big fan of his stuff, but I hope he gets a wheelbarrow of money out of this.

- as

[Virginia Dare]

20. Sue his ass off Jackson..

take him for every penny Miss Cindy's got...:rofl:

[Bucky]

22. Better Jackson Browne song for McCain: "Say a Prayer for the Pretender"

Special emphasis on "I wanna be a happy idiot, and struggle for that legal tender..."

[bullwinkle428]

23. Anyone even REMOTELY familiar with the concept of Peak Oil

should be doubled over in laughter, just over the irony of the title, knowing that Grampy thinks he's going to win this race over oil!

[musicblind]

24. First Paris Hilton, then Mike Myers now this

They should stop using people without permission.

[rinsd]

27. Goes back even further than that

Turns out the music was to blame. As the good folks at Wired magazine report, the McCain campaign failed to license Valli's hits--a pricey but, alas, necessary move--and the Warner Music Group asserted its copyright claim against YouTube, eventuating the takedown. Wired notes that "it's ironic that a United States senator, who has been part of a body that has so repudiated the idea of fair-use, is feeling the repeated stings resulting from its own legislative history." But we here at Stumper headquarters think that the more interesting--and/or hilarious--story is McCain's utter inability to find a single rock star willing to associate his or her songs with the campaign.

Regular readers will recognize that this isn't the first time McCain has received the cold shoulder from the music industry. Earlier this year, ABBA nixed McCain's attempt to use "Take a Chance on Me" (a personal favorite) at his rallies. "We played it a couple times and it's my understanding they went berserk," the candidate confessed. John Hall, formerly of the 1970s band Orleans and now a Democrat­ic congressman from New York, wouldn't let McCain use “Still the One." When hardline Dem John Mellencamp learned that McCain was blasting "Pink Houses" before events, he requested that the Republican cease and desist. Shortly thereafter, McCain settled on "Johnny B. Goode" as his signature song. "It might be because it is the only one hasn't complained about us using," he said at the time. But Chuck Berry quickly came out for Obama. While Will.i.am, Arcade Fire, the Decemberists, the Grateful Dead, Macy Gray and Wilco have personally serenaded Obama fans at campaign events, McCain's musical support has been limited to octogenarian composer Burt Bacharach and one half of the novelty country duo Big & Rich. Even the reliably Republican Ted Nugent is no fan. "McCain seem to be catering to a growing segment of soulless Americans who could care less what they can do for their country, but whine louder and louder about what their country must do for them," says the Motor City Madman *(who has the same criticism for Obama)*. "That is both un-American and pathetic."

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/07/28/mccain-s-musical-woes.aspx

[terrya]

25. Hey, Pat Boone will let McCain use one of his songs.

I'm reasonably sure of it. :-)

[americanstranger]

28. Didn't Pat Boone do 'Enter Sandman?'

Perfect for McCain's fear campaign:

Say your prayers little one
Dont forget, my son
To include everyone

Tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the sandman he comes

Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light, Enter night
Take my hand, Off to never never land

Somethings wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they arent of snow white

Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragons fire
And of things that will bite

Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light, Enter night
Take my hand, Off to never never land

Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
Pray the lord my soul to take

Hush little baby, dont say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
Its just the beast under your bed,
In your closet, in your head

Exit light
Enter night
Grain of sand

Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Were off to never never land

Then again, James & Lars might have a problem with that.

- as

[PA Democrat]

29. I'll bet Pat Boone would even perform live for McCain. The old ladies will SWOON!