Republicans Grab Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle" for Anti-Stimulus Plan Commercial

Even after the election, Republicans keep finding new ways to use classic rock to spread their messages. In the video above, the Republican Whip, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, has borrowed Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle" to stress that they are just not that into Barack Obama's stimulus plan. But while the GOP made it a point to use liberal-minded artists' music in campaign ads during the John McCain's presidential run, this time around there won't be any controversy as Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry proclaimed he's on Team Republican during campaign season.

The use of "Back in the Saddle" also echoes Rep. Cantor's belief that "The House GOP is back," the Huffington Post says, because the House Republicans banded their tiny together and voted against a stimulus plan that still passed anyway, even though the plan will spend "millions on golf carts" as the video declares.

The video itself is nothing to fancy, just white words and a black screen. The Rock Daily video department could probably make the same commercial in about 90 seconds blindfolded using only Final Cut Pro. Plus, the sound quality of this "Back in the Saddle" is reminiscent of a bootleg of a bootleg.

Jackson Browne, the Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Heart and Boston's Tom Scholz are among the long list of artists that fought back against the GOP after the party used their music without permission in commercials and on the campaign trail. For more on the Republicans' use of classic rock, check out Rolling Stone's investigation "Stop Using My Song, Republicans!": A Guide to Disgruntled Rockers.

Related Stories:

• Jackson Browne Sues John McCain Over Campaign Commercial
• GOP's Use of "Right Now" Leads to Sammy Hagar-Eddie Van Halen Phone Tag

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Weird”

Hanson | 1997

Accomplished tunesmith Desmond Child co-wrote "Weird" with the three brothers that make up Hanson. Credited for dozens of cuts, including songs by Kiss, Cher, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, Child told Rolling Stone that "Weird" holds a special place in his heart, "because it's about being different--and I grew up poor, I grew up being Latin, I grew up being gay, and now I'm fat!" The song was included on Hanson's 1997 album Middle of Nowhere, which sold more than ten million units.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter