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With the 2024 Presidential elections being a few months away, the stakes have been raised. Candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been doing all they can to put their best foot forward. From unusual NSFW campaign slogans to seeking endorsement from streamers, basically, anything goes at this point. As part of his recent tactics, Trump has resorted to switching up his campaign theme song. Whether it is during his rallies or as background music to a social media video, the former president just can’t stick to one song.
Unfortunately, Trump’s experiment has been largely opposed. In the past month, several musical powerhouses have spoken out against him using their music for any political activity. In fact, the list keeps growing. Here’s a look at six singers who don’t want Trump near their songs.
Isaac Hayes
Although the R&B legend has been long dead, his family doesn’t want his legacy to be associated with Trump. After the republican candidate used Hayes’s Hold On, I’m Coming at one of his rallies, the musician’s family threatened to sue while demanding $3 million in licensing fees for repeated use. A letter from the family’s attorney James Walker read:
“It has come to our attention that you or the campaign have authorized the illegal public performance of the song on multiple occasions during various rallies for your political campaign without authorization from the copyright holder, despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client.”
Hayes’s family alleged that the Trump campaign has played the song 134 times. Hence, they believe the request for $3 million is “a very discounted fee.” They also urged that the campaign release a statement acknowledging that they did not have authorization. Unfortunately, the Hayes weren’t just threatening. Per THR, on August 26, an Atlanta judge granted an emergency injunction in favor of the family. Donald Trump and his team will have to show up in court on September 3, 2024 to answer for their crimes.
Celine Dion
Only Trump could invoke the wrath of the angelic Celine Dion. The beloved singer took a break from her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome to put the president on blast earlier this month. At a rally in Bozeman, Montana, a clip of Dion performing the theme song of Titanic, was displayed. A day after the incident, the Canadian singer and her team released a heated statement on social media. An excerpt read:
“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use. And really, THAT song?”
Beyonce
Even Beyoncé was dragged into Trump’s mess. Her inspirational song Freedom featuring Kendrick Lamar has been an anthem for the elections, mainly used by Democratic candidate Harris. However, in a surprising twist, on August 20 a spokesperson for Trump, shared a video of him walking off a plane set to the track. It immediately caught the attention of members of the Beyhive, who predicted that Queen B would sue. True to their words, a Rolling Stone report claimed that the singer threatened to send a cease-and-desist to the Trump campaign because they did not have permission to use the track.
Foo Fighters
The Dave Grohl-led rock band fought back against the Republican candidate after he used Foo Fighters’ hit song, My Hero. On Friday, August 23, Trump used the hit song to welcome former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage at a rally in Arizona. Unfortunately, they didn’t give him permission and immediately made that clear on social media. After a user asked, “Hey @foofighters, did you let Trump use ‘My Hero’ to welcome RFK Jr. on stage? The band replied, “No.” However, Grohl and his teammates took things further. In a statement to People Magazine, they declared that they would donate any royalties from the Trump campaign’s use of the song to Harris and Gov Tim Walz‘ campaign.
“Foo Fighters were not asked permission and if they were, they would have not granted it.”
ABBA
ABBA is another famous band that couldn’t just allow Donald Trump get away with using their music. After the politician used their music including Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes It All, and Dancing Queen at his Minnesota rally, the Swedish band hit back. In a statement to The Guardian, they said:
“Together with the members of Abba, we have discovered that videos have been released where Abba’s music/videos has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately taken down and removed.”
The statement continued, “Universal Music Publishing AB and Polar Music International AB have not received any request, so no permission or licence has been given to Trump.”
Jack White
Jack White is the latest musician to speak out against Trump’s use of his song. In a scathing social media post, White posted a video of the former president ascending the stairs of a plane as the bass riff of Seven Nation Army played. It was initially shared by Trump’s deputy director of communications, Margo Martin.
“Oh….Don’t even think about using my music you fascists. Lawsuit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.) Have a great day at work today Margo Martin. And as long as I’m here, a double f**k you DonOLD for insulting our nation’s veterans at Arlington you scum.”
White angrily concluded his message, “You should lose every military family’s vote immediately from that if ANYTHING makes sense anymore.” Despite the numerous warnings, it is quite unlikely that Trump will stop using unauthorized songs for his campaign.
