2-Minutes for Inappropriate Use of Song

Published by Toronto Mike on May 11, 2009 @ 20:51 in Music

NHL I'm awarding TSN a 2-minute penalty for the inappropriate use of a song during one of their promos. Just before this third period of the Penguins / Capitals game, I sat through yet another promo for their 2009 NHL playoff coverage. The visuals were set to Filter's "Hey Man, Nice Shot."

Why the penalty? Because the shot in "Hey Man, Nice Shot" wasn't a puck on net but a bullet to Budd Dwyer's brain. From Wikipedia:

The song became notorious, as it was believed to be honoring the January 22, 1987, public suicide of Pennsylvania state treasurer Budd Dwyer, who shot himself during a press conference with a .357 Magnum. A May 1996 interview with Filter in Addicted to Noise magazine and an official statement by the band confirmed this. Filter later gave the following statement:

The song 'Hey Man Nice Shot' is a reaction to a well-documented public suicide. It is not a celebration or glorification of taking one's own life. The phrase 'hey man, nice shot' is a reference to the final act itself, an expression of guts and determination of a person standing up for what they believe is right. We are extremely sensitive and respectful to the family and friends of Mr. Dwyer. We have both lost friends to suicide and felt nothing but sympathy and loss for the victims, and those involved in such a tragedy.

You can read more about Budd Dwyer here.

Still a great tune, though.

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11 comments

11 Responses to "2-Minutes for Inappropriate Use of Song"

elvis
May 11, 2009 / 22:16

I can't believe I've never seen this before. F'in crazy.

Annemarie
May 12, 2009 / 02:10

Although I sympathize with the tragedy and appreciate the point, I don't know how right it is to let who or what songs are about dictate their usage either. Music can be a backdrop for many things and the lyrics can fit regardless of context.

James Edgar
May 12, 2009 / 06:20

2 Minutes? Game miconduct.

Hobo Joe
May 12, 2009 / 09:31

It's a song about a suicide, yes, but it's also now pop culture and I have heard it used many times in many places since it came out. Mostly, but not lately, I've heard it being used during babsketball highlights back when the song was popular. It's on Guitar Hero. It's biggest use? Cable Guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQvt1JFFHxg

I think the 2 minute penalty is unwarranted here Mike.

Speaking of Filter, they also sing Take A Picture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7UrE3hb-eo

I'm not 100% on this so any light shed would be appreciated but this song is not about any of their fathers in a negative sense, despite the lyric, "Hey Dad, whaddya think about your son now?". It's about lead singer Richard Patrick being drunk on an airplane, taking all his clothes off and the flight attendants fighting with him to get him under control. Supposedly, the "dad" line is in reference to his dad having seen pictures that were taken of him during the struggle. Something like that. You can see, Filter was one of my favorite '90s bands.

Toronto Mike
May 12, 2009 / 09:36

I saw them once at Molson Park. Nice sound...

The lyrics "hey man nice shot" are begging to be used with basketball and hockey highlights, but the 2-minute penalty is still warranted. There are shots and then there are shots.

Hobo Joe
May 12, 2009 / 09:52

Perhaps because of the gory act itself, any use of it is a reminder. Hence, it's use a penalty. But then maybe Filter shouldn't have writen it at all? Either way, Bud Dwyer was found guilty of taking a $300,000 kickback, stuck to his innocence claim, called a press conference and blew his head out, leaving behind a wife and child with a visual of how it went down:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budd_Dwyer

I just can't believe it's been 22 years already, it feels like yesterday I heard about it.

Toronto Mike
May 12, 2009 / 09:56

I first saw that video of the press conference in 1996 or 1997 and I haven't been able to erase it from my brain.

This is a good time to urge people not to click that link I have to the footage. Once you see it, you can never ever unsee it.

Fredericton Steve
May 12, 2009 / 12:22

Don't complain Mike. It could have been Nickelback

James Edgar
May 12, 2009 / 13:52

LOL Fredericton Steve FTW.

Annemarie
May 12, 2009 / 14:28

Exactly Hobo Joe.

Have you called TSN or Advertising Standards Canada to complain Mike?

Toronto Mike
May 12, 2009 / 14:46