On Tuesday, Donald Trump’s marketing campaign tried to co-opt Beyoncé’s 2016 music “Freedom”—the marketing campaign anthem of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris—in a video it launched on social media to troll Harris.
Nevertheless.
Shortly after Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung posted the video, Beyoncé smacked the marketing campaign with a cease-and-desist, and Cheung quietly deleted the put up. No phrase but on whether or not that got here with an apology, but it surely appears fairly unlikely given it’s Trump we’re speaking about.
Enjoying unauthorized music is as a lot of a Trump-rally custom as his . . . dancing?
The observe in that video is Sam & Dave’s 1966 music “Hold On I’m Coming,” and Trump is being sued for utilizing it by the household of Isaac Hayes, who wrote the music. The suite alleges “134 counts of copyright infringement after asking the campaign to refrain from using the hit song,” in accordance with Axios.
It’s removed from the primary time an artist has sued the Trump marketing campaign. Keep in mind when Neil Younger sued Trump for utilizing “Rockin’ in the Free World” in 2020?
“This complaint is not intended to disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens, who are free to support the candidate of their choosing,” the swimsuit stated. “However, Plaintiff in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
It’s notable that Younger personally accepted Harris operating mate Tim Walz’s request to make use of “Rockin’ in the Free World” for his theme music on the conference Wednesday. Identical to Beyoncé did when the Harris marketing campaign requested to make use of “Freedom.”
In 2020, artist Eddy Grant sued over Trump’s utilizing “Electric Avenue” in a web-based advert. And all the way in which again in 2016, British rocker Paul Rodgers threatened to sue when Trump used his hit “All Right Now,” which Rodgers wrote for his band Free, at that yr’s Republican Nationwide Conference.
Different notable clashes Trump has had with musical artists had been detailed by Every day Kos’ Walter Einenkel, and included Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty’s property, the Rolling Stones, and:
Adele, Aerosmith, The Beatles, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eddy Grant, Elton John, Everlast, Weapons N’ Roses, the Isaac Hayes property, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Leonard Cohen, Linkin Park, the household of Pavarotti, Neil Younger, Nickelback, Nico Vega, Ozzy Osbourne, Panic! on the Disco, Pharrell Williams, the Prince property, R.E.M., Rhianna, the Sinéad O’Connor property, the Village Folks, and The White Stripes have all informed the MAGA world they’ve zero curiosity in supporting Trump.
And all Trump has acquired is Lee Greenwood, Child Rock, and the musty rock of Sixwire, which churned out golden oldies within the interminable pauses in final month’s RNC proceedings.
It’s no surprise they’re making an attempt to steal Democrats’ star energy. There was the superb dance-party roll name on the Democratic Nationwide Conference on Tuesday, and the John Legend and Stevie Marvel performances on Wednesday. Pop star Pink is on the schedule for Thursday, and rumors have been flying round for days about who else may simply present up.
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