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No 'Hoedown' For Neal McCoy, Queen, And The Village People
02/19/1999 4:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Lisa Zhito
(2/19/99, 1 a.m. PST) - The Life Of The Party, Neal McCoy's recently released eighth album, may yield a few hits for the veteran country entertainer, but one song you won't hear is a fiery little number called "Hoedown," which McCoy recorded before the holidays. In one of those sad-but-true stories one hears about the recording process, McCoy recorded the song for his new album, and apparently did "a killer job on it," according to its writer, Paul Jefferson. In fact, everyone was pleased with the tune and McCoy's performance--everyone, that is, except the lawyers, who had to yank "Hoedown" from the album after they were unable to get a copyright clearance. Seems "Hoedown" sampled a couple of riffs and lyrics from two well-known '70s hits: Queen's "We Will Rock You," and the Village People's "YMCA." "Hoedown" is a rollicking song that pays homage to these tunes and the party-down vibe they represent. Samples of "YMCA" and "We Will Rock You" were cleverly inserted into the song. The pairings seemed like a perfect match for McCoy, who has made a name (and garnered an Entertainer Of The Year award) for his live shows, which blend his own hits with high-energy tunes like "Play That Funky Music." So who was the stick in the mud on this one? Jefferson wouldn't say, but according to Atlantic Nashville reps, publishers for "YMCA" wouldn't give clearance in time for the album's Jan. 19 release date. The "YMCA" folks apparently aren't opposed to the use of the hit, they just couldn't get off their duffs in time. So there's always a chance McCoy fans will have their "Hoedown" on the country singer's next album. -- Lisa Zhito, Nashville Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.
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