Shut up and sing.

We love music here at the Maxwell house, all different kinds by many different artists.  Recently, several of these beloved artists have recently been placed on my shit list (joining the Dixie Chicks).  The offenders are John Mellencamp, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Boston, Survivor, Jackson Browne and Heart.  Their songs bring back many happy memories from high school when music was fun and life was unhindered.  One would think that they would be happy to get paid for our middle-aged walk down memory lane.  Apparently not.  This group is so drunk on kool-aid that they think they get to pick and choose who listens to or plays their music and that we care about their politics.  WTF?  I don't care about you or your Hollyweird friends and I especially don't care to hear your opinions...just shut the hell up and sing.

Just in case you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll catch you up.  They all got their boxers/panties in a bunch when their songs were heard at campaign rallies or during the Republican Convention.  All the boo hooing and whining, resulted in many liberal media articles railing against McCain/Palin for using songs without permission from these poor, pitiful, misunderstood artists.  In all their rants about the artists rights and how stupid McCain is, most failed to mention that the campaign went through all the necessary paperwork and licensing to get the appropriate permission to use the songs.  You see, once an artist puts a song out there for public use, they join organizations like BMI, ASCAP and SESAC to collect fees from whoever or whatever plans to play their songs.  This happens at convention venues, sports arenas, shopping malls, restaurants, amusement parks and events everywhere.  It's called background music.  I don't remember any artists bitching when their song is played at a Falcon's or Braves  game.  I guess that means AC/DC (Back in Black) and John Fogerty (Centerfield) are Falcon and Braves fans.  Jackson Browne is the only one with a legal leg to stand on due to "Running on Empty" being used in a commercial...some legal jargon citing the Lanham Act which has to do with trademarks and copyrights.

So, I decided to hunt for some Conservative musicians that wouldn't be so quick to piss me off.  Here is the list...Ted Nugent (duh), Gene Simmons, Sammy Hagar, Johnny Ramone, ZZ Top, Charlie Daniels, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Meat Loaf, Bob Seger, Wayne Newton, Burt Bacharach, Donny Osmond, Jessica Simpson, Brittney Spears (What? maybe she does have a brain), tons of country stars and last but not least Kid Rock.  I found this song of his...

As for the whiners, if I depended on Americans to buy my product and/or attend my "comeback" concerts, I think I would keep my mouth shut instead of pissing off half the country.  Just my opinion. Maybe Anne Wilson can take the royalties she made (against her will) and go see Jenny Craig. (oops, there I go again. That's just nasty.)   Don't agree or did I get it wrong?  Leave me a comment and tell me why.