On the Republican side in this election cycle many if not most of the candidates have been running the “I’m the most like Ronald Reagan” campaign. This has been true during the debates, in their stump speeches, and just like when Reagan famously praised Bruce Springsteen, in the music they choose to associate with their campaigns. While campaigns don’t technically need to ask permission to use these songs on the trail (this is apparently one of those elusive instances in which the RIAA will recognize fair use) recent instances of recording artists objecting to the use of their material have come to light, to hilarious effect.

Following in their mentor’s footsteps two of the three remaining GOP Presidential candidates have recently been asked by the artists to stop playing certain songs at campaign stops. Representatives of John Cougar Mellencamp asked John McCain to stop playing “Our Country” and “Pink Houses” at his campaign stops stating,

‘‘You know, here’s a guy running around saying, ‘I’m a true conservative.’’’ Merlis said. ‘‘Well, if you’re such a true conservative, why are you playing songs that have a very populist pro-labor message written by a guy who would find no argument if you characterized him as left of center?’’

Mellencamp is a noted liberal and populist, and before John Edwards pulled out of the Democratic race was a vocal Edwards supporter.

Soon after, Mike Huckabee caught flak from Boston founder Tom Scholz for use of his 70s hit “More Than a Feeling.” Scholz was a bit more vocal than Mellencamp when he requested the candidate halt use of his work:

“Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for,” wrote Scholz, adding that he is supporting Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. “By using my song, and my band’s name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed.”

Now, misinterpreting or ignoring the full text of a song is hardly a partisan occurrence. Presidential candidates, campaigns in general, and no small amount of music fans have displayed an inability or simple disinterest in paying attention for three to five minutes to figure out what the songs they identify with are actually saying.

It has been GOP-exclusive territory, however, for an artist to find the message of their music so diametrically opposed to a candidate’s position that they felt morally inclined to publicly request a halt in the use of their work. While it’s kind of comical to reflect on the fact that George W. Bush pulled four separate songs over his two campaigns for President (all at the request of the artists) it’s kind of depressing to hear that Rudy Giuliani (campaigning for Emperor of the United States of Reagan) was using “Rudy Can’t Fail” by The Clash at his rallies, likely causing Joe Strummer to vomit in his grave.

I’ll make this pretty simple for all the present and future Republican candidates that certainly frequent Listen In. The vast majority of rock musicians have been liberal since the day conservatives in this country were decrying it as “the devil’s music” in the 1950s. It’s largely progressive and frequently radical, and its best creators have historically had this annoying little habit of infusing meaning into their words and caring about their art. To avoid future dust-ups such as those outlined above, it might be safest to follow the advice Scholz gave to Huckabee and, “stick to music recorded by far-right Republicans.”

© Eric Atienza 2008 for Listen In. Some rights reserved.

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