Why can't I get just one...nacho cheese chalupa?

A few years ago I was shocked to hear "Blister in the Sun" by '80s New Wave survivors Violent Femmes used in a Wendy's commercial. You know who else was shocked? Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie, who issued the following statement: "For the fans who rightfully are complaining about the Wendy's burger advertisement featuring Blister in the Sun, (singer) Gordon Gano is the publisher of the song and Warners is the record company. When they agree to use it there's nothing the rest of the band can do about it, because we don't own the song or the recording. That's showbiz. Therefore when you see dubious or in this case disgusting uses of our music you can thank the greed, insensitivity and poor taste of Gordon Gano. It is his karma that he lost his songwriting ability many years ago, probably due to his own lack of self-respect as his willingness to prostitute our songs demonstrates."

Wow. Ouch. Funny thing, the band didn't break up; they continued to tour. In fact, I saw them play a free show in downtown Louisville that summer. When "Blister in the Sun", the band's most famous song, was played, Brian Ritchie left the stage, leaving a roadie to play bass.

I wonder what Mr. Ritchie thinks about another Femmes song, "Add it Up", being used by Taco Bell? I laugh whenever I see the commercial because the line everyone remembers from this song is "Why can't I get just one fuck?" Seems an odd choice to sell ersatz gorditas.

Strangely enough, the sexual frustration echoed by "Why can't I get just one fuck?" is equalled by the culinary frustration when a consumer wants edible Mexican cuisine but fast food is the only available option. In both cases one is likely to settle for a cheap, easily attained, poorly presented taco.