Christian singer Paul Janeway says he gave the makers of “Fifty Shades of Grey” permission to use his song “Call Me” because he thought it was a romantic comedy movie. Janeway, who is the lead singer of soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones, said he all he knew about “Fifty Shades” was that it was based off of a popular book.
"When they presented the licensing opportunity, they presented it as: It's going to be a huge movie, they want to put a decent amount of the song in the movie in a nonsexual scene,” Janeway said.
"I knew it was a book, but I had no idea what it was. So I was like, sure, big movie, good exposure. I'll be in this romantic comedy. Which is what I thought it was: a romantic comedy. It's a good way to make money in the music business, you know. Then I saw a preview for it, and I was like, '...Oh, no. What have I done?’”
Filmmakers did fulfill their promise and “Call Me” was not featured in a sexual scene of the movie.
“I'm glad it's in a nonsexual scene to be honest with you, not for my sake but for my family's sake,” Janeway said in an interview with website Mother Jones.
Publication date: February 27, 2015
