Look What They've Done to My Song: When Politicians Co-Opt Music

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Rock ‘n’ roll and politics often make strange bedfellows – especially on the campaign trail, when candidates will occasionally play songs at their political rallies, only to learn that the creators of those songs do not share their political views.
It’s happened time and time again. In fact, it occurred twice just this week. First, Republican Mike Huckabee chose Survivor’s Rocky III anthem “Eye of the Tiger” to welcome anti-gay-marriage Kentucky country clerk Kim Davis out of jail (after she was ordered there for refusing the Supreme Court’s order to issue same-sex marriage licenses). Survivor’s Frankie Sullivan was none too pleased.
A couple days later, the trio of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Sarah Palin joined forces in a rally to protest President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran, and they used R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” as their walkout music. Singer Michael Stipe did not feel fine about this – and he issued a particularly pointed statement.
It seems that politicians never learn. And with election season kicking into high gear soon, this is probably not that last time that this will happen. History will keep repeating itself. With that in mind, here’s a look at some other notable times when political figures’ use of rock songs resulted in controversy.
Donald Trump - Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World”
You’d think Trump would have avoided the “End of the World” situation by learning from his earlier mistake, but it often seems like the Donald doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
Back in June when he announced his presidential campaign, Trump chose to use Young’s famous 1989 track. Young is Canadian, but that doesn’t mean he’s not familiar with and active in American politics. Through a record company spokesman, a disgruntled Young responded: “Donald Trump was not authorized to use 'Rockin’ in the Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement. Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.”
Trump’s campaign maintained it had gone through the proper channels and paid performing rights organizations for use of the song.
Newt Gingrich - Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”
The Kim Davis incident was not the first time that the rockin’ Rocky theme has been appropriated by a Republican candidate. Back in 2012, then-presidential candidate Newt Gingrich used the song at his campaign rallies, but apparently forgot to ask permission. The above-mentioned Sullivan, a co-writer on the song, sued, alleging the Gingrich had been using the song for three years prior. “I’m sure many of you have heard the news about the request for Newt Gingrich to stop using 'Eye of the Tiger’ as his campaign song,” he wrote on Survivor’s Facebook page. “It is not for political reasons, it is strictly an artist protecting their copyright.”
Michele Bachmann - Tom Petty’s “American Girl”
Back when the Minnesota congresswoman was campaigning for president in 2011, she used this 1977 rock anthem as her walkout music. Apparently, Bachman – who also confused legendary actor John Wayne with serial killer/clown fan John Wayne Gacy – wasn’t the type of “American Girl” Petty had in mind, so he fired of a cease-and-desist letter to stop her from using it.
George W. Bush - Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”
In 2000, during his first campaign for president, George W. Bush tried to get tough with his use of this 1989 rocker. Petty wouldn’t back down, either, and had his music publisher draft a letter to the future president. “It has recently come to our attention that your presidential campaign has been using the above-referenced song in connection with your presidential bid,” Wixen Music Publishing president Randall Wixen wrote. “Please be advised that this use has not been approved… Any use made by you or your campaign creates, either intentionally or unintentionally, the impression that you and your campaign have been endorsed by Tom Petty, which is not true.”
George W. Bush - Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These”
When W was running for re-election in 2004, he tried to turn on crowds with the use of the Foo Fighters’ hit. Dave Grohl did not approve this message. “I was personally offended that George Bush was using 'Times Like These,’” Grohl said. “I know what I’m singing about and it basically mirrored what John Kerry’s campaign was trying to represent.”
Rock ‘n’ roll and politics often make strange bedfellows – especially on the campaign trail, when candidates will occasionally play songs at their political rallies, only to learn that the creators of those songs do not share their political views.
It’s happened time and time again. In fact, it occurred twice just this week. First, Republican Mike Huckabee chose Survivor’s Rocky III anthem “Eye of the Tiger” to welcome anti-gay-marriage Kentucky country clerk Kim Davis out of jail (after she was ordered there for refusing the Supreme Court’s order to issue same-sex marriage licenses). Survivor’s Frankie Sullivan was none too pleased.
A couple days later, the trio of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Sarah Palin joined forces in a rally to protest President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran, and they used R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” as their walkout music. Singer Michael Stipe did not feel fine about this – and he issued a particularly pointed statement.
It seems that politicians never learn. And with election season kicking into high gear soon, this is probably not that last time that this will happen. History will keep repeating itself. With that in mind, here’s a look at some other notable times when political figures’ use of rock songs resulted in controversy.
Donald Trump - Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World”
You’d think Trump would have avoided the “End of the World” situation by learning from his earlier mistake, but it often seems like the Donald doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
Back in June when he announced his presidential campaign, Trump chose to use Young’s famous 1989 track. Young is Canadian, but that doesn’t mean he’s not familiar with and active in American politics. Through a record company spokesman, a disgruntled Young responded: “Donald Trump was not authorized to use 'Rockin’ in the Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement. Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.”
Trump’s campaign maintained it had gone through the proper channels and paid performing rights organizations for use of the song.
Newt Gingrich - Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”
The Kim Davis incident was not the first time that the rockin’ Rocky theme has been appropriated by a Republican candidate. Back in 2012, then-presidential candidate Newt Gingrich used the song at his campaign rallies, but apparently forgot to ask permission. The above-mentioned Sullivan, a co-writer on the song, sued, alleging the Gingrich had been using the song for three years prior. “I’m sure many of you have heard the news about the request for Newt Gingrich to stop using 'Eye of the Tiger’ as his campaign song,” he wrote on Survivor’s Facebook page. “It is not for political reasons, it is strictly an artist protecting their copyright.”
Michele Bachmann - Tom Petty’s “American Girl”
Back when the Minnesota congresswoman was campaigning for president in 2011, she used this 1977 rock anthem as her walkout music. Apparently, Bachman – who also confused legendary actor John Wayne with serial killer/clown fan John Wayne Gacy – wasn’t the type of “American Girl” Petty had in mind, so he fired of a cease-and-desist letter to stop her from using it.
George W. Bush - Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”
In 2000, during his first campaign for president, George W. Bush tried to get tough with his use of this 1989 rocker. Petty wouldn’t back down, either, and had his music publisher draft a letter to the future president. “It has recently come to our attention that your presidential campaign has been using the above-referenced song in connection with your presidential bid,” Wixen Music Publishing president Randall Wixen wrote. “Please be advised that this use has not been approved… Any use made by you or your campaign creates, either intentionally or unintentionally, the impression that you and your campaign have been endorsed by Tom Petty, which is not true.”
George W. Bush - Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These”
When W was running for re-election in 2004, he tried to turn on crowds with the use of the Foo Fighters’ hit. Dave Grohl did not approve this message. “I was personally offended that George Bush was using 'Times Like These,’” Grohl said. “I know what I’m singing about and it basically mirrored what John Kerry’s campaign was trying to represent.”


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