Abcarian: The incredibly long list of musicians who have demanded that Trump stop using their songs
As a seasoned journalist who has navigated through the labyrinth of political campaigns and their musical accompaniments, I can attest that the power of popular music at such gatherings is undeniable. The symphony of Stevie Wonder’s voice at then-President Obama’s 2012 campaign rally was nothing short of electrifying, a moment etched indelibly in my memory.
From my personal experience, attending numerous presidential campaign events, it’s clear that the right choice of music significantly boosts the atmosphere.
As a movie buff might say, one unforgettable moment for me was at then-President Obama’s last campaign rally of 2012, held at a bustling University of Cincinnati gym on election eve. The crowd, already charged up, went wild when they discovered that “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” wasn’t just playing over the speakers; it was being performed live by the legendary Stevie Wonder himself. The song served as a bit of an early celebration: Obama seemed to be in a close contest with Mitt Romney, although he ultimately trumped the former Massachusetts governor in a landslide victory.
Since Bill Clinton, our first baby boomer president, chose Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” as his campaign anthem back in 1992 (which also motivated the band to reunite for his inauguration), political candidates have been more and more likely to leverage popular tunes to convey their messages.
In comparison to some tunes, certain songs carry a more overt message. For instance, during her 2016 campaign to become the first woman president, Hillary Clinton chose to use Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.
Previously serving President Trump, often characterized by his unwavering love for America symbolized through the abbreviation ‘MAGA’, selected “God Bless the U.S.A.”, a popular tune by Lee Greenwood, as his campaign theme song.
And Vice President Kamala Harris has famously made Beyoncé’s “Freedom” her campaign anthem.
It’s never seemed to me that a song being played at political rallies indicates an artist’s endorsement of a specific candidate, but artists often take offense when their music is used without permission. Some musicians dislike having their work linked to politics altogether, while others may have strong feelings against the politician using their music.
Which brings us back to Trump.
A variety of musicians, spanning from ABBA and Adele to the Village People and the White Stripes, have asked him to cease utilizing their music.
At least forty-one musicians have taken action to prevent him from using their songs, a group that includes The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Queen, Elton John, Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, and Bruce Springsteen (who backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 by urging Trump to cease playing “Born in the U.S.A.”).
Celine Dion criticized Trump’s election campaign for using her famous song “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally with Senator JD Vance last month. Given the context, it seemed odd to play this song as its theme is linked to a movie about a large ship that collided with an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean.
According to a post on Dion’s official X feed, “This use is not at all permitted.” The post also seemed surprised by the choice of that particular song.
Last month, the family of the deceased R&B artist, composer, and producer Isaac Hayes initiated a federal lawsuit for copyright infringement against Donald Trump, his campaign, and the Republican National Committee. The allegation is that they unlawfully used the 1966 hit “Hold On, I’m Coming,” which Hayes co-wrote with David Porter, at rallies across the nation without permission.
On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction forbidding Trump from using the song.
Trump’s legal team argues that the Hayes family no longer possesses the copyright to the song and asserts that a “political campaign license agreement” enables the music rights administration company BMI, which manages over 22 million songs, to legally use music at political events.
In the agreement, BMI has the ability to omit specific songs if a songwriter or publisher requests them to be withheld. For instance, The Rolling Stones objected to Trump using “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” as his exit music during his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Despite sending cease-and-desist orders, they received no response. As a last resort, they approached BMI for assistance and explicitly warned that they would sue if necessary. If Trump disregards the exclusion and continues to play unlicensed music, according to a June 2020 statement from The Rolling Stones, he would be sued for violating the embargo and playing music without proper licensing.
Trump has not played the song since.
The recent controversy surrounding “Hold On” is not a new issue; back in 2008, the Obama campaign discontinued its use of this phrase after Sam Moore, one half of Sam & Dave, expressed objections. According to the Associated Press, Moore stated that no one contacted him regarding this matter, and he found it impolite that they simply went ahead without his permission.
Arizona Senator John McCain, who contested against Obama in the 2008 presidential election, cleverly transformed what could have been a rejection into a joke. Aiming to appeal to conservative Republicans who held reservations towards his moderate views on certain topics, he pondered over using ABBA’s popular song “Take a Chance on Me” from 1978. However, McCain expressed concern about not securing the approval of the Swedish band.
Be mindful, as you might unintentionally strain some Swedish connections,” McCain cautioned the reporters during their casual chats. “Should it become known in Stockholm that we’re playing ABBA music, it could lead to a deterioration in our U.S.-Swedish ties.
If only Trump were so considerate.
@robinkabcarian
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2024-09-07 14:32