Librarian's Rant

Circuits From NYTimes.com
Thursday, January 18, 2007
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From the Desk of David Pogue: Ode to the R.I.A.A.
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Ever since I phased out my career as a Broadway
arranger and
conductor, I've tried to keep my toe in the showbiz
world in
my own peculiar way: I write new, tech-industry lyrics
to old
melodies.

Here's my very latest. It's a special tribute to the
R.I.A.A., the Recording Industry Association of
America - the
organization of the record companies who've decided to
fight
music piracy by filing lawsuits. It goes to the tune
of the
Village People song "Y.M.C.A." Ready? Cue the disco
drums!

"R.I.A.A."

Young man,
You were surfing along,
And then, young man,
You downloaded a song,
And then, dumb man,
Copied it to your 'Pod,
Then a phone call came to tell you:

You've just been sued by the R.I.A.A.!
You've just been sued by the R.I.A.A.!
Their attorneys say, you committed a crime,
And there'd better not be a next time!

They've lost their minds at the R.I.A.A.!
Justice is blind at the R.I.A.A....
"You're depriving the bands! You are learning to
steal,
You can't do whatever you feel!"