DC Trawler

Michael Stipe not a fan of ironic subtext

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It’s become a ritual by this point:

  1. Someone to the right of Vladimir Lenin uses a popular song in a political context.
  2. The artist who recorded the song throws a fit.
  3. Everybody laughs at the artist.

Today’s example comes from the recently disbanded R.E.M. They posted this to their official site yesterday:

R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” was used in the Fox News coverage of the Democratic National Convention last night. R.E.M. today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song. Michael Stipe said, “We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.”

What are the odds that Michael Stipe actually knows whether or not it was unlicensed and unauthorized? Every time an artist mewls about a song being used by evil wingnuts, it turns out that the song was licensed.* Stipe can whine about it all he wants, and Fox can comply or not, but it’s all just for show.

Everybody hurts sometimes. Especially when their own songs are used to mock their beloved idols. But hey, it’s not the end of the world as we know it!

And now, a long-distance dedication to all those sad and disappointed Obama fans out there today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-UzXIQ5vw

(Hat tip: Mediaite)

*Well, except when Charlie Crist screwed up. Have fun with him, Dems!

P.S. Fox News has responded: “FOX News Channel’s use of an R.E.M. song during Thursday’s edition of Fox & Friends was in full accordance with its license agreements with all appropriate parties. Nevertheless, we’re always flattered to have this much attention for a song selection and we hope R.E.M. was able to satisfy their publicity fix.”