Tattle: Pols' tunes hit a flat note

IT'S REPUBLICAN primary season so that means every day some musician is complaining that his/her/their song is being used without permission.

A few days ago, the fellow who wrote "Eye of the Tiger" was upset that Newt Gingrich had appropriated his song (which may be replaced by Beck's "Loser").

Now K'Naan is annoyed that Mitt Romney used his song "Wavin' Flag" during his Florida primary-victory speech. The Somali-born, Canadian-based rapper said in a statement that Romney's campaign hadn't sought approval to use the song and that he would not have granted permission if it had.

He says he wants to make sure Romney does not use his song again and is seeking legal action. Romney spokesman Rick Gorka says the song was used through the campaign's regular blanket license but, out of respect for K'Naan's statement, won't be used again.

So here's a question for Tattle readers: When politicians ally themselves with songs or artists who are opposed to their policies, do they do it because -

a) They're looking for street cred with young voters;

b) They revel in the refusal of permission because it gives them another platform to fight the culture wars;

c) They have no clue who any of these musicians are and the songs are picked by an intern.

* In a new poll of 6,000 American singles (as opposed to Kraft singles), Match.com says that half of those respondents who identified themselves as conservative Republicans said they reached climax almost every time they had sex, compared with just 40 percent of liberal Democrats.

So turn off the Barry White, Liberals, and turn on the Barry Goldwater.

Joke like an Egyptian

Imam was convicted in absentia. His whereabouts are unknown. Egypt's state-run Ahram Online English website reports that he was found guilty for a 2007 movie in which he plays a corrupt businessman and a 1998 play about an Arab dictator.

In the 1980s, Imam was sentenced to three months in jail for defaming lawyers. Imam's new stand-up routine: "How many Israelis does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" and "My camel is so fat . . ."

TATTBITS

for her "Iron Lady" portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, but in one place the reviews have been . . . eh. Argentina.