Silversun Pickups Stand Up To Mitt Romney

I dug through the archives for this old photo of me and Brian Aubert of Silversun Pickups. It was taken at the Open Air Theatre a few years ago. I've been a fan for a long time now and have been lucky to see the band live several times as well as some cool meet and greets and such and I just think they're rad people, but yesterday's email from their publicist really made me smile. I haven't commented too much on this year's election, but of course I'm paying attention. One site I'm really appreciating is 90 Days, 90 Reasons which was launched by Dave Eggers and Jordan Kurland and posts a new essay daily from various cultural voices with reasons to support Obama.

SILVERSUN PICKUPS ISSUE CEASE AND DESIST TO ROMNEY CAMPAIGN 

FOR ILLEGAL USE OF THEIR SONG "PANIC SWITCH"

Seems as if the GOP is once again whimsically ignoring our great nation's laws to do whatever it wants to do, and shooting itself in the foot in the process. Without any regard for copyright or intellectual property laws, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has, without permission, begun to use Silversun Pickups' 2009 smash "Panic Switch" at campaign stops across the country. Neither the band nor its representatives were contacted to gain permission for the use of the song and the band has no intention of endorsing the Romney campaign. The band's attorney issued a cease and desist today.

"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." (courtesy Big Hassle)

See the lyrics after the jump.



Panic Switch:

Time is never worth my time
Blue shine bleeds into my eyes

I still sleep on the right side
But white noise can't leave the scene behind

Could I be anything you want me to be
If so is it meant to be seen

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

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
Do you think she'll sleep with a panic...

I'll try to hold on tight tonight
Pink slip inviting me inside
Want to burn skin and brand what once was mine
But the red views keep ripping the divide

If I go everywhere you want me to go
How will I know you'll still follow

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

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
Do you think she'll sleep with a panic...

Movements are made slow motion in frame
I'm waiting and fading and floating away
The curtains are torn and the setting decayed
I'm waiting and fading and floating...

I'm waiting and fading and floating away
I'm waiting and fading and floating away
I'm waiting and fading and floating away
Waiting and fading
Waiting and fading

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

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
Do you think she'll sleep with a panic...

(lyrics taken from SongMeanings)