'We can sue him': Chumbawamba on Winston Peters use of their song

3 years ago by Ilovethebomb to c/offtopic

"We can sue him," says one of Chumbawamba's founders, if Winston Peters continues to useTubthumping song.

Politicians being told not to use a song happens surprisingly often actually, I know Donald Trump was told not to use one, I believe it was "rocking in the free world". They've also told Nigel Farage off, apparently.

MrBobDobalina 13 points 3 years ago

Trump has used so much music without permission that it has a Wikipedia entry: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/...

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Ilovethebomb 3 points 3 years ago

Oh fuck me.

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DosDude 6 points 3 years ago

"It's a ridiculous misuse of the song because the song is about resilience and community, and the idea that we can fight back against the state and the forces that are keeping us down."

I thought I misheard the lyrics. But I just checked and it's still about drinking... a lot. But sure, fuck the state by drinking I guess maybe.

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liv 17 points 3 years ago

Nah you're actually both right there.

They were a bunch of punk activists and also British, so the song is about their (alcoholic) neighbour and how working class people will keep a) tubthumping - trying to effect political change and b) trying to drunkenly unlock the front door.

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Kolanaki 7 points 3 years ago

"I get knocked down, but I get up again"

Sure sounds like resilience to me. But resilience against the whiskey drink, the lager drink, the cider drink and the vodka drink.

Or possibly against hearing the song "Danny Boy."

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liv 6 points 3 years ago

No he drunkenly sings Danny Boy. Because it reminds him of the better times.

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nonailsleft -18 points 3 years ago

Why would anyone need to ask for permission? These musicians sold off their rights long ago

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liv 18 points 3 years ago

Really wondering why you would think that.

Chumbawamba have a track record of being quite involved in rights issues, like the time they licensed a song to GM and used the money to campaign against GM.

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nonailsleft 1 point 3 years ago

This article only mentions them personally selling their music for individual advertising campaigns. It says nothing about the rights to play it at political rallies. As I can find it on Spotify and it plays on radio stations, it's likely they outsourced at least part of the rights management.

Also, I was reacting to the broader statement about musicians vs 'political rally use'

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liv 2 points 3 years ago

Using a rights management agency isn't the same as selling off/renouncing your rights to a property in perpetuity.

Kind of like having a rental agent doesn't mean you sold them the house.

I'm sure every use request isn't run past them personally but they're political activists so there's no way they would have a blanket "assume yes" policy on licensing for use by political entities.

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thesmokingman 11 points 3 years ago

I can find no record that someone sold the rights to ISWC T-011.513.266-5 for the purpose of this use. Where are you getting your opinion?

Note I’m not litigating the copyright system, just your comment.

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Jaysyn 2 points 3 years ago

I love how they responded to you with a strawman argument.

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nonailsleft -2 points 3 years ago

I don't know about those codes. Is that the one for Rocking in the Free World? It just seems very unlikely to me that Neil Young would personally oversee every single use of this song

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