song rights (and wrongs)

11 THINGS: Song Rights (and Wrongs)

Thursday, August 10, 2006

1. The Who: Sells Out. Does one acknowledge Pete Townshend's honesty and compliment him for saying the songs are his and he can do what he wants? Or does one berate him for being so glib? How is one supposed to still like the Who when "Happy Jack" is used to sell Hummers?

2. The Talking Heads: "Wild Wild Life" pokes fun at commercial anything and everything, while Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" is used to sell Kia Spectras. Do we respect David and Jerry, but not Tina and Chris? What if Tina and Chris are likable? Jerry ... please help me with this.

3. The Ramones: When "Blitzkrieg Bop" is used to sell Nissan automobiles, do you close your eyes and hold your head in despair? Or do you shut your shades, turn off your television and blast Fugazi at volume 11?

4. Blondie: "One Way or Another," they've sold out too. At least it was for a semi-decent product like Bailey's ... until Swiffer came along. Swiffer? Blondie? Please! Swiffer is a Devo thing.

5. Devo: "Whip It" selling Swiffer made perfect sense. (Please don't ask me to explain.) Still, though, we must pose the question: Why give Devo a free pass when Blondie doesn't get one?

6. The Specials: There's "A Message to You Rudy" -- and it's wrapped inside a Pampers diaper.

7. Bob Dylan: "Love Sick" for a Victoria's Secret ad? Sorry, Bob, that's cheap and creepy -- and you were one of the remaining few we expected not to do this sort of thing. Faust is pleased, but we're terribly disappointed. Neil Young takes the dignity reins away from you, and suggests removing the word "Love" from that song title.

8. CCR: "Fortunate Son" used to sell Wrangler jeans? Which is dumber? CCR for agreeing, or Wrangler for not comprehending? The whole thing reeks of Reagan's failure to understand Springsteen back when selling out was in its mere infancy.

9. The Zombies: "Time of the Season" used to sell Tampax? Um ... Dear Zombies and Tampax: Tampons aren't seasonal.

10. Iggy Pop: Remember that "Brady Bunch" episode where Mrs. Brady won't sell soap on TV unless she uses the soap in real life? Makes us wonder this: Was Iggy at least allowed the chance to shoot up on the bow of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship before "Lust for Life" was ruined for life? One can only hope.

11. The Pretenders: "My City Was Gone" had been used to open Rush Limbaugh's radio show since 1984. Limbaugh later gloated. Chrissie Hynde later sued. Bottom line: Limbaugh can still abuse the song, but has to pay Hynde $500,000 a year (which she donates to PETA). Who's gloating now, Mr. Limbaugh?

Tim Sullivan, tsullivan@sfchronicle.com

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/10/NSGBRKCKF91.DTL

This article appeared on page H - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle