'Barracuda' - A Hard Rock Hit by U.S. Rock Band Heart

'Barracuda' was written in 1977 by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Roger Fisher, Sue Ennis and Micheal DeRosier. At the time, Heart had just released their first album, Dreamboat Annie, with the label Mushroom Records. Without the approval of the band, Mushroom Records released promotional material featuring Ann and Nancy Wilson leaning against each other with just their heads and bare shoulders visible, with the text above, 'It was only their first time together'. Heart was furious with this misleading impression that the sisters were lovers.

It is said that Ann Wilson was inspired to start working on 'Barracuda' when a fan asked her how her lover was. Although she naturally assumed they were talking about her then-boyfriend, fellow band member Micheal Fisher, but they really meant her sister Nancy Wilson. Angry, she went up to her hotel room and wrote the 'Barracuda' lyrics.

Heart have said that the song was a rant against the 'soulless, corporate nature of the music business', especially for women. The 'barracuda' is therefore the music business.

So this ain't the end- I saw you again - today
I had to turn my heart away
You smiled like the sun- kisses for real
And tales- it never fails!

You're lying so low in the weeds
I bet you're gonna ambush me
You'd have me down, down, down, down on my knees
Now wouldn't you, barracuda?

OH!

Back over time when we were all trying for free
You met the porpoise and me
No right, no wrong, you're selling a song- a name
Whisper game

And if the real thing don't do the trick
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick
Ooooh, barracuda!

OH!

'Sell me sell you' the porpoise said
Dive down deep down, deeper than
You.. I think that you got the blues too

All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made for the western pools- silly, silly fools!

The real thing don't do the trick, no?
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick
Ahh, barra- barracuda!

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been nicknamed 'Sarah Barracuda', and after she spoke at the Republican National Convention, Heart's song 'Barracuda' was played. Heart issued a statement distancing themselves from the Republican Party and Palin's political views, and Ann and Nancy Wilson stated that, 'Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women.' Heart's record company sent a cease and desist notice to the Republican Party. However, they ignored this to play the song again, as they had paid the correct licensing fees.

Roger Fisher, one of 'Barracuda's' writers was reported to be thrilled and see the silver lining. The increased royalties allowed him to make a donation to the Democratic Campaign led by Presidential nominee Barack Obama, and the increased interest in Heart gave them a platform to make their support of the Democrats heard.

'Barracuda' was released in 1977 as the first single from Heart's third album, 'Little Queen', with the B-side 'Cry to me'. It reached number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the Australian music sales charts.

'Barracuda' featured in the 2000 movie 'Charlie's Angels' and a cover by Fergie was part of the soundtrack for 'Shrek the Third'. It has also been played or referred to in the TV series 'Friends', 'The Sopranos', and Heart played it live on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' to celebrate Ellen's 50th birthday.

'Barracuda' is also one of the songs on 'Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock'.