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Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is incurable and terminal. There is no cure. It’s so viral and contagious that people who should be proud that a work of their art is being used, harmlessly, are offended. It only proves that the artists have no heart. Nancy Wilson, who with her sister Ann, are the founders of the band Heart have their knickers in a wad because the song “Barracuda” was played during the Army 250 Parade in Washington, D.C..
Protection of Intellectual Property is important to ensure that creators get credit and paid for their work. We are big believers in that concept. That’s why musicians and other artists license their work through organizations. Whether you want to use a whole song or just a sample getting clearances can save you from a lawsuit. I am sure both President Donald Trump and those in the staff offices for the U.S. Army are well aware of these legal hurdles.
“Remember back in 2008 when the Wilson sisters of Heart sent a cease and desist to the McCain campaign to have Sarah Paulin stop being introduced to “Barracuda”?
Now Heart is all upset because “Donald Trump” used their song. It’s all about “Barracuda” again. From NJ.com:
Rock Hall of Famers say Trump military parade used their music ‘without permission or authorization’
The song “Barracuda” is one of the most recognizable in hard rock.
But when it played during President Donald Trump’s military parade Saturday, the band responsible for the rock classic was not pleased.
Nancy Wilson, guitarist and singer for the band Heart, made it clear that the band did not know the 1977 song would be used at the Washington, D.C. parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary on Trump’s 79th birthday.
“Earlier today, during a parade held in support of our nation’s military and organized by President Donald Trump, the song ‘Barracuda’ by Heart was played without permission or authorization from us,” Wilson said in a post on Instagram late Saturday night.
Wilson, 71, included a photo of herself wearing a hat that said “No Kings But Us,” a reference to the No Kings protests in cities and towns across the country Saturday, which were held in opposition to Trump’s military parade and the Trump administration.
mazel tov to Nancy Wilson. Because of the U.S. Army, we got rid of the King and we celebrate the Army at 250. Good job soldiers. More:
”’Barracuda,’ written and performed by Ann and I, is a powerful piece of music that was never intended for political use,“ Nancy Wilson continued.
”As daughters of a U.S. Marine Corps major, we hold a deep and abiding respect for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. On a day meant to honor that service, it’s important that music used in such settings reflects not only the tone of the event but also the wishes of the artists who created it.”
Well let’s see how that music was used.
https://t.co/MAx2nEl91q#Army250 U.S. ARMY 250th BIRTHDAY PARADE Concert.
– Music starts at:
1:00:50 Heart – Barracuda
1:05:10 Led Zeppelin – Good Times, Bad Times
1:08:30 Mammoth WVH – Mammoth
1:13:00 AC/DC – Thunderstruck
1:14:18 Van Halen – Jump
1:18:45 Creedence Clearwater…— SharkFL239Take2 (@SharkFL239Take2) June 15, 2025
The music starts at 1:00:50 into this video:
I think I see what happened. The Wilson sisters may be the daughter of a Marine Major. Did they ever go to a military parade or a Brigade or Division Run? My Dad was a Marine NCO and I never went to a run with him. But, I know Marines like their Moto Music or Chants and Cadences. My son is an Army Major and I have been to the 82nd Airborne All-American Week Division Run.
If You have the time, the 2019 Division Run is here. Such a cacophony of sounds. That year Miranda Lambert’s Little Red Wagon was a popular moto song. if not, here is the 20 second version.
Good morning All Americans! The Division run is happening RIGHT NOW! #AAW2019 #AAW #USArmy #82nd pic.twitter.com/FJm90ZKvre
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) May 20, 2019
Each Company and Brigade loves to have their own “thing”. Heavy Equipment Units love “Enter Sandman” by Metallica.?
So would it make a difference to the Wilson sisters if they knew that President Trump didn’t personally pick the playlist for the units as they moved through the District? It seems like each unit played their songs through their public address system. Would it make a difference to Ann and Nancy of Heart that it was 20 year old tank drivers who picked this song. This nearly 50 year old song. Did Ann and Nancy see those 25 year old tank drivers waving with pride to the kids in the crowds.
Seems to me that a couple of OLD ladies might be proud to have a 30 year old tank Captain rocking out to their song while she keeps America safe.
If this is about the money to license the song, I will be glad to take up a collection on behalf of our soldiers. If this is about Donald Trump getting a jot of enjoyment from this parade, Heart proves they are heartless. Getting butthurt about a President having a parade to honor the 250th birth of the Army that rid of our king while protesting for “No King” is beyond stupid, but classically Leftist.
By the way girls. this parade has been planned for two years and it was also Flag Day. Of course, you probably object to the flag too.
Shame.
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Cameron says: The Wilson sisters have always been consistent with their liberal views. As for permission, I have a feeling that they don’t own the rights and a fair amount was paid to them for the song’s use.
An extremely tiny minority of artists own their rights. It’s primarily the record labels.
It’s a Catch-22. If you aren’t extremely successful, you don’t have the money to buy them back from the label – and if you are that successful, they still demand more money than you are likely to have lying around.
Cameron says: I remember an artist who was so successful with her first tour that she took the money earned to buy out her contract and the rights to her music.
And I think nowadays it’s a lot easier for new artists to keep the rights to their music since you don’t need a major studio any longer.
Mad Celt says: 48 year old song lucky to even be remembered
TexasArmyRanger says: It’s called a “classic” because it will still be played a hundred years or more from now. It’s a great rocker and has held up much better than its peers from 1977. Only a few songs from that forgettable era have really had legs – Hotel California, Margaritaville, Feels Like the First Time, Somebody to Love, Walk This Way, and Barracuda.
rbj1 says: First of all, it is not “Trump’s military parade.” It is the US Army’s parade to honor its 250th anniversary. It has nothing to do with politics.
[…] THEY ARE…. WHAT’S THAT TERM? OH, YEAH, IDIOTS: No Heart – Ann & Nancy Wilson Object To Army Using Barracuda. […]
GWB says: the 1977 song
Yeah, this is one problem. An almost 50 year old song shouldn’t still be under copyright. I don’t care that the writers/performers are still alive* or that they might need the money – that’s what retirement funds are for.
As to keeping it from being “inappropriately used”? Sorry, sisters, but someone probably did buy the rights to it for playing it in public.You don’t get to say “no” to a commercial transaction on the basis of politics or whatever. “Bake the cake!”, remember? (You could, conceivably, come up with a license that only allows certain sorts of people to buy rights to the song.)
Also, note the hat. It doesn’t say “No Kings” (which is kind of dumb, philosophically). It says “No Kings But Us.” Pretty much gives the game away, doesn’t it? Sisters, thy name is Hubris.
(* Don’t get me wrong. As my then-teen son said when I took him to a live performance, “Dad! Those old ladies can ROCK!”
Suburbanbanshee says: The songs were played live, as instrumentals, and I believe by the Army’s official rock band. The band tent and stage was opposite the reviewing stand.
As long as the Army is paid up on mechanical licenses and performance licenses, the songwriters can sit and spin. If they want to approve every use, they can withdraw their music from all licensing and publishing organizations, and give up a lot of money.
Their choice, made long ago. Stop whining.
Suburbanbanshee says: Actually the Army has more than one official rock band, and I don’t know which one it was.
Anyway… The songwriters should still stop whining.
draigh says: Saw Heart in the 70’s at taverns in Seattle before they became popular. They were great. But I would never think of following their political stance on anything. Their music is great, but their thinking shows they now live in a millionaire class, political bubble.
“Trumps Parade”???
Was it Trumps sunshine?
Trumps Air they were breathing?
Trumps Earth they were standing on?
Trumps Army that was marching??
I am 100% behind the big D, but whole days go by that he never crosses my mind.
Until this article these two women did not exist in my awareness of the world, and I would not know the tune in question if it swam up and bit me on the butt.(pun intended, no extra charge)
The Moon keeps its appointed rounds, the Tides come in and go out precisely on schedule, the Sun rises and sets, the Stars arch across the night sky, all – ALL – indifferent to and unaware of me, Trump, these two – – – – – ladies or anyone else on this sad old Earth.
It pleased young soldiers, your countrymen, to march to your tune for a moment or two.
Take pride in that ladies. You are closer to the end of your journey than the beginning. Don’t go into the next world with a scowl on your face.
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