White Stripes release single, get sued by DJ :: Music News :: Articles

In what seems like severely delayed vengeance, a Canadian radio host is suing Jack and Meg White for their sampling of her radio show at the beginning of the song “Jumble Jumble” from their 2000 release De Stijl.

Dominique Payette, once-radio host and now professor at Laval University, is suing the band for $70,000 for the unauthorized use of the 10-second clip. When a former listener told her about the clip in March 2007, she wrote a letter in an attempt to remove the record from shelves and receive compensation for the use of her voice.

According to Wired, Payette stated that she never “consented to have her voice associated with an album which reproduces lyrics which transmit a message she would not have endorsed or shared.”

It is unknown if either of the White Stripes understand French, or how they acquired the clip at all. The clip came from Payette’s show that was for listeners 12-years-old and under, 275-Allo. Ontario's National Post reported that the translation of the clip reads something to the effect of, “Okay. It's surprising the first time, and then afterwards it's not so funny?” The child answers, "No, it's still fun, but…”

The implied meaning that is causing Payette’s disdain is obvious, especially since the sexual connotation was not the original context of the conversation with the child. According to the Post, this is one of the first cases of Fair Use involving someone’s voice.

However, it seems that this lawsuit isn’t hindering Jack and Meg’s pursuit of worldwide domination just yet. Namely, with the Spanish re-release of their single “Conquest.” The original single already gained notice when Beck produced a few tracks. Now, “Conquista” will be released along with the revamped video, which, much like the English version, features Jack White as the matador versus an unusually emotional toro.