Did Reebok Have Permission to Use Sister Nancy’s Song ‘Bam Bam’ in Their Commercial?

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Sister Nancy
Sister Nancy

COULD the use of the reggae track Bam Bam by Sister Nancy in a Reebok television commercial be heading to the courts?

In an interview with Splash from her New Jersey base, Sister Nancy said she is overwhelmed that her song was picked up by a high-profile brand as Reebok. However, she declined to comment further without consulting her attorney.

Sister Nancy
Sister Nancy

“I can’t speak about anything really as it relates to the commercial. I didn’t even know about it until I saw the advertisement on TV,” ~Sister Nancy

She, however, added that she was pleased the the 32-year-old track had been given the recognition.

Splash sought a comment from the shoe company.

Emily Iverson, a representative at Reebok’s international headquarters in Canton, Massachusetts, gave a courtesy response to the request for a comment, but up to press time an official reply to the query was not forthcoming.

Bam Bam, the song that announced deejay Sister Nancy in 1982, is used as the soundtrack for the commerical for the new Reebok Skyscape Forever sneaker. The 30-second spot, stars Australian model 31-year-old Miranda Kerr who rose to prominence in 2007 as one of lingerie company Victoria’s Secret’s ‘angels’.

Released on the vaunted Stalag rhythm by the late producer Winston Riley.

Riley’s son, Kurt, was also contacted for a comment on the latest revival of his father’s celebrated project, but he too failed to respond to Splash’s request.

Bam Bam was orginally written and recorded by Toots and the Maytals in 1966. Produced by Leslie Kong, it won the first Festival Song Competition that year.

Sister Nancy ‘borrowed’ some of the lyrics for her breakthrough song which was recorded for Riley’s Techniques label.

RCS SIDEBAR:  Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert of “Toots and the Maytal” is no stranger to lawsuits.  Toots currently has at least two lawsuits pending right now (one for being hit by a bottle and another suit against a former manager) so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Toots is lawyered up too if indeed Reebok did not obtain the proper legal clearance.

SOURCE:  Jamaica Observer

PS — I recently heard a techno remix of Bam Bam so this song has proven to stand the test of time and is well-received cross-culturally.

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