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10 Controversial Campaign Songs Not Endorsed by the Artist

5. Another Petty Issue

Tom Petty again took issue with a politician using his tune without permission. In 2011, candidate Michele Bachmann played Petty’s “American Girl” as her campaign jingle. Petty’s team sent out a a cease and desist letter, but there is some legal gray area on the issue. Some experts feel that if a campaign purchases an ASCAP license for a song, they can play it without the approval of the artist. However, in this case, Christian conservative Bachmann should have checked out the song’s lyrics: Oh yeah, all right. Take it easy baby, make it last all night. She was an American girl. Maybe Petty’s protest did her a favor.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
Christopher Halloran / shutterstock.com

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