Silversun Pickups Don’t Like Mitt Romney

Politicians always use popular songs during their campaigns, particularly in presidential years. But what if they don’t get permission to use a song?

Well, the Silversun Pickups said that’s exactly what Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has done, using their smash hit “ Panic Switch” at several campaign stops across the country.

According to the band and its representatives, they were never contacted by Romney or his campaign to gain permission to use the song. Also, the band had no plans to endorse the GOP candidate. So lawyers have issued a cease and desist order.

“We don’t like people going behind our backs, using our music without asking, and we don’t like the Romney campaign,” said Silversun Pickups lead singer/guitarist Brian Aubert. “We’re nice, approachable people. We won’t bite. Unless you’re Mitt Romney! We were very close to just letting this go because the irony was too good. While he is inadvertently playing a song that describes his whole campaign, we doubt that ‘Panic Switch’ really sends the message he intends.”

My question: do these campaign strategists actually read the lyrics to these songs: “When you see yourself in a crowded room. Do your fingers itch, are you pistol-whipped.  Will you step in line or release the glitch.  Can you fall asleep with a panic switch.” I always thought of campaign songs as positive messages; doesn’t sound all that presidential does it? What happened to “Beautiful Day” from U2? Times they are a changing I guess. Waiting for the hip hop and electronic campaign songs next.

Photo Credit:Brian Teutsch, via Wikimedia Commons

It's simple. Keith Mizuguchi loves to write and write and write some more. After taking a hiatus from the journalism business, he has rekindled his passion for writing over the last two years, holding a job as both a web and on-air writer for San Francisco news radio station KCBS. While he enjoys the news business, his true passions are twofold: sports and food. Bay Area born and raised, he lives in San Jose, commutes to SF and loves every minute of it. You can follow his food adventures on Twitter @foodie_keith.