When Trump’s rally music is appropriate for all the wrong reasons

As a seasoned movie-goer and music enthusiast who has seen more than my fair share of shipwrecks and political disasters, I must say that the Trump campaign’s recent choice to play “My Heart Will Go On” at their rally is a classic example of tone-deaf decision making.

SOS. The ship is going down. Send help.

Was the Trump campaign playing a desperate cry for help when they played the “Titanic” theme song during the Montana rally for their Republican nominee on Friday? However, Celine Dion was not inclined to provide assistance.

The singer’s representatives and music company countered the ex-president’s employment of her popular tune, “My Heart Will Go On” with this statement: “Under no circumstances is this use permitted, and Celine Dion does not support or sanction such, or any similar usage. …And honestly, THAT song?”

Picking a ballad associated with one of the worst maritime disasters ever wasn’t a wise choice for a campaign that’s been taking on water since President Biden stepped out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in. New polling shows Harris ahead of Trump by 4 percentage points in the key swing states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, flipping the narrative from the past few months.

During election campaigns, it’s common for politicians to use popular songs, sometimes taken out of context. However, Republicans seem particularly skilled at choosing music that doesn’t quite fit the situation. For instance, during his term, George W. Bush opted for Orleans’ “Still the One,” which starts with, “We’ve been together since way back when / Sometimes I never want to see you again.” Was he unintentionally revealing a hidden sentiment?

Then there’s the truly appropriate music selection, but not in the way the campaign planned.

I can’t help but resonate with Ronald Reagan’s attempt to identify with Bruce Springsteen in 1984, when he passionately linked his vision for America to the music of a man deeply cherished by young Americans: none other than “The Boss,” Bruce Springsteen from New Jersey. His song “Born in the U.S.A.” beautifully captured the aspirations of the working class, only to find those dreams crumbling under decades of government-led conflicts and emerging policies like Reagan’s trickle-down economics.

As a film enthusiast, I’d like to share a powerful lyric that resonates with me deeply:

It wasn’t quite dawn in America, but using that song was still one of the more significant instances of a popular tune being twisted to underscore the irony behind a political candidate’s promises.

Trump’s team additionally adopted the tune “Born in the U.S.A.”, which seemed to displease Springsteen. Similar to Reagan’s group, they appeared to focus only on the chorus of the song. (It’s worth noting that Trump once boasted about attracting larger crowds than Springsteen, but this is a different tale about a man who seems overly preoccupied with size.)

In 2015, Trump began his presidential campaign to the rhythm of R.E.M.’s song “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” This tune seemed incredibly fitting for the shift in elections and politics that was about to unfold, but Trump appeared untroubled. However, R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe expressed disapproval later, stating that they do not endorse the use of their music by someone like Trump, whom he called a fraud and a charlatan.

At campaign rallies and events leading up to both the 2016 and 2020 elections, the Trump/Pence team chose “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by Rolling Stones as their anthem. It was amusing initially. However, the song later symbolized the sentiment of those who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but ended up with Trump due to the electoral college system.

Back in September 2020, President Trump stepped off Air Force One in Michigan, accompanied by the tunes of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” a song from 1969 that criticizes rich men who avoid military service while others are sent to war. The lyrics highlight class disparity during the Vietnam War, with John Fogerty singing about a privileged son evading military duty while ordinary folks bear the brunt of fighting and dying. This tune seemed fitting for Trump, but perhaps not in the way his team had hoped. It served as a stark reminder of his own history of five deferments during the height of the Vietnam War to avoid military service. Whoops!

At the 2024 Republican National Convention recently, the ex-president made an entrance to James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s World.” It’s puzzling to contemplate the logic behind this song selection considering the erosion of women’s reproductive rights following the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, which was achieved with three judges appointed by Trump. Additionally, his history with women is questionable, ranging from being found responsible for sexual misconduct to boasting about inappropriate behaviors he believes he can get away with due to his celebrity status.

Artist after artist, similar to R.E.M.’s Stipe, have demanded the MAGA movement to cease using their music at rallies and events. The list of those who are displeased includes Adele, Neil Young, Aerosmith, The Smiths, and now, the estate of the late, esteemed Isaac Hayes. Over the weekend, his family posted a legal notice on social media demanding that Trump stop playing “Hold On (I’m Coming)”. They stated that if they don’t receive a satisfactory response by August 16th, they will take legal action.

But sometimes, pop culture takes it’s revenge on those who don’t bother to understand its nuance.

In the year 2020, as COVID-19 was causing widespread loss of life and many parts of the country were under lockdown, Trump visited an N95 mask production facility in Arizona. Despite this, he chose not to wear a face mask. The music being played loudly by the company’s speakers happened to be Guns N’ Roses’ “Live and Let Die.”

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2024-08-14 23:01