Song Sung Blue?

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, two of the five writers of the 1977 Heart hit and classic rock staple "Barracuda," are unhappy with the Republican National Committee's use of their song.

The RNC has played the song behind appearances of vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, whose aggressive play on the high school basketball court earned her the nickname "Sarah Barracuda." Palin played in the early 1980s, when people in high school might have been expected to know the "Barracuda" song. Obviously, the RNC would like to maintain that kind of image as Palin takes on the traditional VP role as the attack dog, allowing the presidential nominee to spar in a genteel manner with his opponent.

According to their statement, the Wilson sisters disagree with Palin's positions and so don't want their song associated with her. Their e-mail to Entertainment Weekly says Palin "in NO WAY represents (them) as American women." Capitals, for those unaware of e-mail etiquette, often represent raising one's voice or some other kind of extra emphasis. Or that your pinky hit the caps lock key and you didn't notice because you don't touch type and unless you stare at the keyboard instead of the screen you get sentences like this: Tyr rson in SPsun staus msin;u in thw oksin (The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain).

The Wilsons said in their e-mail the song was written as a "scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women." Which definitely helps me understand couplets like these:

"'Sell me sell you' the porpoise said Dive down deep to save my head You...I think you got the blues too. All that night and all the next Swam without looking back Made for the western pools - silly fools!"

It also helps me see why the song is featured in the well-known feminist video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. And I would lose my Dave Barry Fan Club card if I didn't point out that "Scathing Porpoises" would make a great name for a rock band.

Of the other "Barracuda" writers, Sue Ennis and Michael DeRosier have yet to speak out on the issue. But former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher was a bit more mellow about the whole matter. For one, he thinks the RNC paid the song a great compliment by picking it. And for another, he noted the song use gave him the chance to speak out about his support for Democratic nominee Barack Obama and make a buck off of it thanks to royalties. Make a buck? Mr. Fisher may have less Democrat in him than he thinks.