Steely Dan has an odd request for a cover band with political ties

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As a long-time music enthusiast and avid concert-goer, I’ve seen my fair share of cover bands over the years. Some are exceptional, bringing new energy and creativity to classic tunes, while others simply phone it in. In this particular case, I find myself troubled by the actions of Sixwire, a cover band that performed at the Republican National Convention last week.

It’s a common thought that when a cover band is paid to perform, they ought to compensate the original artists whose songs they are interpreting for the audience. Nevertheless, this isn’t a regular practice since cover bands primarily focus on live performances instead of creating albums. This circumstance can result in some unusual situations.

In this particular situation, Sixwire, a cover band that has existed since the year 2000, fails to match the caliber of bands like Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. During their performance at the Republican National Convention last week, they opted to include a Steely Dan song in their setlist.

Sixwire selected tracks from bands that are generally perceived as having opposing political views to Donald Trump. For example, U2 probably didn’t approve of Sixwire’s rendition of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” However, the RNC attendees may not have paid much attention to this aspect of Sixwire’s performance.

Steely Dan has a special request for a band who covered their song at the RNC

Sixwire’s playlist could have given some bands pause for thought. Steely Dan, specifically Donald Fagen, were among them. The cover band performed “Reelin’ in the Years,” but failed to recognize that the original artists behind this hit also produced other, more socially progressive tunes.

In 2017, Fagen teamed up with Todd Rundgren to create a track titled “Tin Foil Hat.” This song, released that year, was widely perceived as an oppositional piece towards then-president Donald Trump. The accompanying video only served to strengthen this interpretation. Additionally, the melody bears resemblance to Steely Dan’s “Chain Lightning,” which satirically portrays attending a fascist rally.

After discovering Sixwire’s rendition of “Reelin’ in the Years,” Steely Dan took to their social media and website, expressing, “Hey Sixwire, if you’re looking to cover our tunes, how about trying out ‘The Man With The Aluminum Foil Hat’ instead?”

It’s understandable that Sixwire would be requested to give credit when using someone else’s music, considering they often rely on borrowing tunes instead of creating their own. Since they’ve been compensated for their performance at the RNC, it seems reasonable to ask for permission before utilizing someone else’s intellectual property.

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2024-07-21 16:00