Heart (you remember them, right)
Ok, I’m old. So sue me. Actually, don’t.
So the Republicans decide to capitalize on the nickname of Sarah ‘barracuda’ Palin.
And Heart decides to send them a Cease and Desist for their trouble.
Now, I can’t say for sure, but I’d be really surprised if the Republicans and Democrats didn’t both have persons or departments whose sole job was to ensure that nobody’s licensed properties were being stepped on. The last thing they need is the RIAA/ASCAP/BMI breathing down their neck, not to mention the whole campaign finance issue this opens up. Which leads to the next interesting little tidbit: in all but the rarest of cases (and again, I don’t know the specifics here) musicians — especially before the internet and self-publishing came of age — don’t own the distribution rights to their music.
So the Wilson sisters can cry all they like about how they don’t want any mean old Republicans using their song, but they likely have no say in the matter because it’s highly unlikely that the rights to use the song haven’t already been purchased.
h/t Jim Treacher