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Subject: Boy George: "Do You Really Want To Sue Me?"
The following is from the latest edition of The Retro Dish Gossip Column:
April 24, 2002
Do You Really Want to Sue Me?
Two snippy 80s Pop Culture Icons are at each other’s throats and making hilarious fodder for gossip columnists and cartoonists around the world. British-Wannabe Madonna, 43, has threatened legal action against gender-bender singer Boy George, 40, the frontman of the band Culture Club. Seems that Maddy was miffed that the Boy does a parody of the former American Material Girl in the West End play based on his life, Taboo. In the play, Boy, aka George O’Dowd, pokes fun at Madonna’s many encounters with the peroxide bottle by changing a line in the lyrics to her No. 1 hit “Vogue”: “Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, that Madonna dyes her hair.” George excised the offending lyrics in his play after Madonna’s solicitors made threats, but he’s not happy about it: “We send up everyone in the show. The HUMAN LEAGUE and SPANDAU BALLET both agreed. OK we didn’t ask her but, you know, I thought she might laugh. She thinks she’s a born-again Brit but she’s clearly not. It’s a shame because the song was funny but she obviously has no sense of humor. Americans don’t have the ability to laugh at themselves in the way Brits do.” Well, this American, for one, does have a sense of humor and finds all of this simply too funny! Madonna is reportedly in the studio recording a new album for release later this year and has just finished filming a new movie, directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie. Wonder if there will be a future Celebrity Death Match based on this little incident?
Copyright 2002. All Rights Reserved.
Subject: Re: Boy George: "Do You Really Want To Sue Me?"
Hmmmm...
In America, use of a celbrity's name or likeness is allowed for use in a parody. I'm not certain of the guidelines or how far the parodist may go before needing to get permission.
Two examples:
Mad magazine parodies everyone, but I wonder if they take the time to get permission for ever parody of a movie or tv show they do.
"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody version of Coolio's "Gangster's Paradise". He attempted to get permission to use the lyrics, and due to a major miscommunication didn't get it (or get it in time) and almost got himself into a lot of legal trouble.
Where is the exact line between an allowable parody and copyright infringement? And can it be applied to a celebrity's likeness? How is the law different in the UK?
(Well, this might make for an interesting discussion...)
Subject: Re: Boy George:
Coolio's version was a cover, too. Stevie Wonder wrote and recorded the song first.
BTW, Boys Don't Cry are suing Kid Rock for "Cowboy", which they say is too similar to their '80s hit, "I Wanna Be a Cowboy".
Subject: Re: Boy George: "Do You Really Want To Sue Me?"
Does this mean "Peggy Sue" is an instruction, not a name?
;-)
Phil
Subject: Re: Boy George:
Quoting:
Coolio's version was a cover, too. Stevie Wonder wrote and recorded the song first.
End Quote
I saw that on another website the other day and was amazed.
I've gotta find it and listen to it. It's certainly a few light years (mercifully) from "I Just Called To Say I Love You" (groan).
Subject: Re: Boy George:
Quoting:
Coolio's version was a cover, too. Stevie Wonder wrote and recorded the song first.
BTW, Boys Don't Cry are suing Kid Rock for "Cowboy", which they say is too similar to their '80s hit, "I Wanna Be a Cowboy".
End Quote
What, you mean the Boys' careers as bag boys at Piggly Wiggly isn't affording them the same lifestyle they had in the 80's?? Maybe Kid will work out an agreement where the Boys can feel up Pam Anderson's thingees and they'll let the issue go...
These two songs are about as similar as Juice Newton's 'Angel in the Morning' and Aerosmith's 'Angel'. I don't care if both songs above mention the line 'I Wanna Be A Cowboy', that's about all they have in common. This sounds really petty.
Subject: Re: Boy George: "Do You Really Want To Sue Me?"
Madonna..born again "Brit"...Hillary Clinton, Born Again "New Yorker" whatever these self serving people have to do to further themselves is just a joke to me. As for the melee with Boy George, I say leave him to do what's done over here all the time...parody can be funny...just look at "Weird Al Yankovick" or "The Simpsons"....btw did Madonna get permission to ruin "American Pie?" I hope someone brings back all those topics about "Rosie", and "Britney" and the world ending....that was a blast ;)