Bush Camp Tune Gets Songwriter’s ‘No’ Vote

Audiences that come to cheer President Bush on the campaign trail will no longer be bobbing their heads to “Still the One,” the sunny 1970s pop tune that celebrates loyal affection. The tune was yanked Friday after its writer announced his irreconcilable differences with the president.

John Hall, a former Democratic county lawmaker in upstate New York, co-wrote the song and saw it become a radio hit for his then-band, Orleans. Hall on Friday notified the GOP that he and the other principals in the band wanted Sen. John F. Kerry in office and the song off the Bush playlist. The tune had been used to open and close Bush events this season.

“Out of deference to Mr. Hall’s views, the song will no longer be played,” campaign spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish said. She said the song had been chosen from the catalog of the music licensing company used by the campaign.

Later the day, however, “Still the One” was played before the start of the Bush rally in Columbus, Ohio. A campaign spokesman said the song was piped inadvertently into the arena as part of a video montage.

Hall, nonetheless, was pleased with the campaign’s promise to stop using the tune. He said his concerns had also included maintaining the commercial prestige of the hit, which has been used in ads by Burger King and others. The songwriter said the campaign never sought permission to use the song, raising questions about royalty fees.

“I’m not just some guy that’s stoned out and happened to write a song. And even if I were, it would still be a problem, because you should always ask permission to use the work,” Hall told Associated Press.

The scenario somewhat recalls Bruce Springsteen’s protests in 1984 when then-President Reagan gave a speech invoking the singer’s “Born in the U.S.A.” that put the hit song in a context of upbeat patriotism. Springsteen was quick to call attention to the lyrics, which describe working-class despair, economic hard times and Vietnam War-era scars.

The music used at political events has become as carefully considered as the soundtrack to a Hollywood summer blockbuster. The classic example of music as message was Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Don’t Stop,” which accompanied Bill Clinton’s run for the White House.

Tapping pop music and celebrity is nothing new -- Frank Sinatra lent his voice and star appeal to the campaign of President Kennedy, for instance. But this campaign has been remarkable for its pop music presence, and the Kerry cause has rallied the most big-name music acts.

Springsteen, never before a public participant in a partisan campaign, is accompanying Kerry on campaign stops with guitar in hand. The singer was also part of an unprecedented concert series with R.E.M., the Dixie Chicks, James Taylor and others to raise money for political groups aligned against Bush.

Bush, meanwhile, has received support from some country music stars and other artists.

Times staff writer Maura Reynolds contributed to this report.