WASHINGTON: If tastes in popular music and support from musicians are any indication of voter support, then Donald Trump is fading even as Kamala Harris campaign is reaching a crescendo in the US presidential elections.
The singer Celine Dion became the latest in a long list of artists who have objected to the Trump campaign unauthorizedly using their songs at his rallies, an anti-Trump line up that includes bands from Rolling Stones to Guns and Roses, and singers Bruce Springsteen to Rihanna.
Ironically, the Trump campaign was using Celine Dion’s song “My heart will go on,” from the movie Titanic when it was called out by her music label Sony Entertainment. “Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the company said, snarkily adding, “…And really, THAT song?” Harris supporters too ridiculed the use of a song from a movie about a sinking ship, joking about Trump hitting a Kamala iceberg.
The entertainment industry has traditionally trended towards Democrats, but it has become even more pronounced in this cycle given Harris’ own public embrace of music, song and dance. Several pop and hip-hop artists, including Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato and Katy Perry have voiced support for her.
On Friday, an instagram post by Taylor Swift, the reigning cultural icon, showing what appeared to be a silhouette of Kamala Harris on her tour poster, electrified fans of both. Swift has previously expressed disquiet about Republican policies.
Some of the Trump trashing from the singer’s brigade going back to when he first ran for president has been brutal. When the Trump campaign used the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” to introduce his daughter Ivanka at the Republican convention in 2016, the estate of George Harrison, who wrote the song, said Trump did not have permission to use it, but that they would consider allowing him to use the Harrison song “Beware of Darkness.”
In 2020, Leonard Cohen’s estate issued a similar snub, criticizing Trump’s use of his song “Hallelujah” at the Republican National Convention and suggesting they could have instead approved the song “You Want It Darker.” Trump’s dystopian view of the world does not sit well the entertainment industry steeped in optimism.
Trump’s attempted embrace of nativism through the use of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” too was rejected in 2016 by the singer, who public supported Hillary Clinton. The former president now uses the patriotic song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, one of the few artists in his corner.
An analysis by a local newspaper of music at a Trump rally in Minnesota found the campaign mainly featured songs by white male musicians and groups. Of the 32 songs played, 27 were by white musicians or all-white groups, and 25 were by male musicians or all-male groups.
The Harris campaign appears to favor Black, female artists, featuring songs such as Beyonce’s Freedom and Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. The campaign has also used live bands ahead of her speeches, leading Trump supporters to allege that they are used to entice crowds.
Other artists who objected to Trump using their songs
The family of Tom Petty denounced Trump’s use of the song “I Won’t Back Down” at his rallies, sending his campaign a cease and desist letter stating the song was written for the “underdog” and “common man” and that Trump did not represent either.
Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty similarly opposed Trump’s use of the band’s song “Fortunate Son” saying the former president “is using my words and my voice to portray a message that I do not endorse” and noting the song’s lyrics were meant as a critique of how wealthy people are unfairly able to avoid the draft and paying taxes.
Family members of Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti objected to the Trump campaign’s use of “Nessun Dorma,” stating that his views on immigration were incompatible with the singer’s efforts in raising money, as a UN messenger of peace, in support of immigrants and refugees.
The singer Celine Dion became the latest in a long list of artists who have objected to the Trump campaign unauthorizedly using their songs at his rallies, an anti-Trump line up that includes bands from Rolling Stones to Guns and Roses, and singers Bruce Springsteen to Rihanna.
Ironically, the Trump campaign was using Celine Dion’s song “My heart will go on,” from the movie Titanic when it was called out by her music label Sony Entertainment. “Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the company said, snarkily adding, “…And really, THAT song?” Harris supporters too ridiculed the use of a song from a movie about a sinking ship, joking about Trump hitting a Kamala iceberg.
The entertainment industry has traditionally trended towards Democrats, but it has become even more pronounced in this cycle given Harris’ own public embrace of music, song and dance. Several pop and hip-hop artists, including Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato and Katy Perry have voiced support for her.
On Friday, an instagram post by Taylor Swift, the reigning cultural icon, showing what appeared to be a silhouette of Kamala Harris on her tour poster, electrified fans of both. Swift has previously expressed disquiet about Republican policies.
Some of the Trump trashing from the singer’s brigade going back to when he first ran for president has been brutal. When the Trump campaign used the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” to introduce his daughter Ivanka at the Republican convention in 2016, the estate of George Harrison, who wrote the song, said Trump did not have permission to use it, but that they would consider allowing him to use the Harrison song “Beware of Darkness.”
In 2020, Leonard Cohen’s estate issued a similar snub, criticizing Trump’s use of his song “Hallelujah” at the Republican National Convention and suggesting they could have instead approved the song “You Want It Darker.” Trump’s dystopian view of the world does not sit well the entertainment industry steeped in optimism.
Trump’s attempted embrace of nativism through the use of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” too was rejected in 2016 by the singer, who public supported Hillary Clinton. The former president now uses the patriotic song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, one of the few artists in his corner.
An analysis by a local newspaper of music at a Trump rally in Minnesota found the campaign mainly featured songs by white male musicians and groups. Of the 32 songs played, 27 were by white musicians or all-white groups, and 25 were by male musicians or all-male groups.
The Harris campaign appears to favor Black, female artists, featuring songs such as Beyonce’s Freedom and Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. The campaign has also used live bands ahead of her speeches, leading Trump supporters to allege that they are used to entice crowds.
Other artists who objected to Trump using their songs
The family of Tom Petty denounced Trump’s use of the song “I Won’t Back Down” at his rallies, sending his campaign a cease and desist letter stating the song was written for the “underdog” and “common man” and that Trump did not represent either.
Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty similarly opposed Trump’s use of the band’s song “Fortunate Son” saying the former president “is using my words and my voice to portray a message that I do not endorse” and noting the song’s lyrics were meant as a critique of how wealthy people are unfairly able to avoid the draft and paying taxes.
Family members of Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti objected to the Trump campaign’s use of “Nessun Dorma,” stating that his views on immigration were incompatible with the singer’s efforts in raising money, as a UN messenger of peace, in support of immigrants and refugees.