'Height of blasphemy': Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen estate oppose Trump use of Hallelujah

[Eugene]

‘Height of blasphemy’: Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen estate oppose Trump use of Hallelujah (The Guardian)

Classic ballad was played during bizarre campaign event in which Trump told audience: ‘Let’s just listen to music’

The estate of Leonard Cohen has issued a cease and desist order to Donald Trump, after a recording of Rufus Wainwright singing Cohen’s song Hallelujah was played at a bizarre campaign event.

Wainwright has also condemned Trump’s use of the song at the town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania. The singer characterised Hallelujah as “an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth. I’ve been supremely honoured over the years to be connected with this ode to tolerance. Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy. Of course, I in no way condone this and was mortified, but the good in me hopes that perhaps in inhabiting and really listening to the lyrics of Cohen’s masterpiece, Donald Trump just might experience a hint of remorse over what he’s caused. I’m not holding my breath.”

The song was one of a number Trump played during a Q&A session in Oaks, where numerous audience members needed medical attention amid high temperatures. ...

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/15/height-of-blasphemy-rufus-wainwright-and-leonard-cohen-estate-oppose-trump-use-of-hallelujah

[Zambero]

1. Sinead O'Connor

might not have been too thrilled that one of her songs was used at this "Q&A session".

[al bupp]

4. I'm sure she's rolling over in her grave, yes.

[LauraInLA]

2. The question is, how many artists/estates have actually told BMI and ASCAP to remove

a song from a campaign's Political Entities License? I believe that’s the only way to stop it, but then it seems like no political campaigns could use the song in question.

[Cha]

3. Figued this was Coming! TSF Assholes use all the Democracy

Artists to Steal.

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Especially the dead. ...

I wouldn't be surprised if his campaign team doesn't sit at the planning meetings trying to think up dead musicians who they think won't be able to sue. That's how twisted plus stupid they are.

[Cha]

6. Yeah, Thank Goodness for the Artists' Estates.

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Yes, Cha. ...

We can't thank Goodness enough.



❤️

[Cha]

12. It's sad they have to deal with this

Against such an Ugly Unworthy Fascist Entity . But Worth the Fight to get them to STOP.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

10. That's because theirs sound like crap.

Kid Rock sounds like some band at a bar that'd last about half a beer before I'd decide to leave. Ted Nugent has one hit from 50 years ago. Mike Love sucks.

No wonder they steal the good sounding stuff. It would be like hearing the protestant carols and music compared to the oh so tedious catholic carols and music I was made to listen to.

[Harker]

14. +33.

When Lee Greenwood is the top name, there's not much hope.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

17. I hate his song with a passion

Jingoistic idiocy

[ShazzieB]

19. Mike Love?

Are you talking about the Beach Boys' Mike Love, it is there another one?

[Prairie Gates]

7. It's just another troll. Remember that Hallelujah was the song Kate McKinnon sang as Hillary

On SNL the Saturday after Trump won in 2016.

Sounds like the work of uber-troll and fucking scumbag Steven Cheung.

[ShazzieB]

20. Yes!

She was magnificent and captured how we were all feeling perfectly, imo.

TSF using that song in any form or version is sacrilege, imo.

[malaise]

9. Good

Very good
Rec

[maxsolomon]

11. There is no way in hell he's actually listened to Cohen's lyrics.

He's incapable of understanding poetry.

Maybe this line, however:

But you don't really care for music, do you?

[BattleRow]

13. American Grandstand..all that was missing

was some acrobats and a handstand.
More bread and circuses to follow.

[Montauk6]

15. The MORAL of the story...

The Right needs the Left more than the other way around.

With all the good, moral, Gawd-fearin' CONSERVATIVE artists out there, why OH WHY do they continue to mooch off that heathen, devilish, ungodly Rock and Pop? Just blast Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood, Jimmy Swaggart, Waka Flocka, Ted Nugent, and Travis Tritt...that'll get the lemmings dancing in their seats.

[Wiz Imp]

16. I posted this last night

He's been asked to stop playing most of these songs or artists in the past but won't stop

Guns n Roses - Can't find a specific reference to November Rain but they have tried to get him to stop using other songs

In November 2018, after Trump played the band's hit song "Sweet Child o' Mine" during an event, Axl Rose said that he and his band had formally requested that Trump not use their music at his events, and posted on X that "the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues' blanket performance licenses which were not intended for such craven political purposes, without the songwriters' consent."

In May 2020, Axl Rose opposed the use of the Guns N' Roses cover of the Paul McCartney and Wings song "Live and Let Die" in a meatpacking plant where Trump refused to take the COVID-19 pandemic precaution of wearing a mask. In response, Rose created shirts with the phrase "Live N’ Let Die With COVID 45", with all proceeds going to the MusiCares charity

Hallelujah - On August 28, 2020, Leonard Cohen's estate issued a statement criticizing Trump's unauthorized use of Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the Republican National Convention. They said they specifically rejected permission for its use, (Now here he played a cover version but Cohen's estate still controls the rights) - this was before the cease and desist ordered today

Luciano Pavarotti He played Pavarotti's version of Ave Maria
Family members of Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti protested the use of his recording of "Nessun Dorma" (which ends with the line "Vincerò! Vincerò!" – "I will win! I will win!&quot at Trump's rallies. Pavarotti's widow and three daughters objected, stating that Trump's views on immigration were incompatible with Pavarotti's efforts as United Nations Messenger of Peace, which had raised large amounts of money for the support of immigrants and refugees.

Nothing Compares to You
The estate of Sinéad O'Connor has asked Donald Trump to stop using her music at his political rallies.

YMCA I posted elsewhere that the Village people have been trying for years to get him to stop playing this.

[Ramsey Barner]

18. See Wikipedia page "Musicians who oppose Donald Trump's use of their music"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicians_who_oppose_Donald_Trump%27s_use_of_their_music

It's over 40 musicians so far.

[ShazzieB]

21. Thanks!

I'm so glad somebody is keeping track!