No matter how many people say they want to keep politics out of pop culture, politicians can’t help themselves from injecting pop culture into their campaigns. And, often, musicians are furious when candidates want to use their songs. Sometimes, however, artists will throw their support in with candidates and give them permission to use their music.
Beyonce and Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris kicked off her presidential campaign by walking out to the popular Beyonce song “Freedom.” Beyonce, long known as the queen of pop music, has thrown in her support behind Harris’s bid for the White House in the 2024 election. Typically, Beyonce is known for being very particular about who gets to use her music, so many saw this as a glowing endorsement.
Tom Petty and George W. Bush
George W. Bush fashioned himself as a tough guy in his bid against Al Gore for the presidency in 2000. He used the Tom Petty song “I Won’t Back Down” during his campaign, and Petty’s team issued a cease and desist. Bush, naturally, backed down and stopped using it. Classic!
The Dandy Warhols and Theresa May
When Theresa May used “Bohemian Like You” before becoming Prime Minister, the band Primal Scream initially thought it was their song “Rocks.” When it became clear that is was the Dandy Warhols tune, band member Courtney Taylor-Taylor quipped that May should get a “right-wing band” to record them some “right-wing music.”
George Harrison and Bob Dole
Former Beatle and all-around rock-and-roll legend George Harrison threatened Bob Dole with legal action in 1996. Dole’s campaign used the song “Taxman” during his presidential bid against Bill Clinton. The Dole campaign backed off and managed to avoid litigation from the usually soft-spoken rocker.
Abba and John McCain
Abba famously told John McCain’s campaign to knock it off back when they started playing “Take a Chance on Me” for his 2008 presidential bid. For one thing, they should have checked with Abba. For another, “take a chance on me” is a terrible political slogan.
The Rolling Stones and Angela Merkel
The Rolling Stones had to tell Angela Merkel to stop using their song “Angie” back in 2005. The band thought it was a particularly weird choice, too. While the song does have the same name as the politician, “Angie” is a heartbreaking breakup song that details a particularly poignant and very specific romantic relationship.
Johnny Marr and David Cameron
Conservative UK politician David Cameron stated in interviews that he liked The Smiths’ music. The band’s guitarist, Johnny Marr, took full offense to these statements and made the unusual move of publicly rescinding Cameron’s right to like his band. “David Cameron, stop saying that you like The Smiths, no you don’t. I forbid you to like it.”
The Rolling Stones and Donald Trump
In another Stones example, the band clashed repeatedly with Donald Trump to get him to stop using their song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The irony of this specific dust-up seems to have been lost on Trump, who would later state the song “made no sense.”
Elton John and Donald Trump
Elton John also clashed with Trump over the then-president’s use of “Rocket Man.” Trump often used the song to prod North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, essentially stating that he was only perceived as a threat due to his country’s atomic bombs. John, understandably, didn’t want his song associated with the back and forth.
Nearly Everyone and Donald Trump
You might be sensing a pattern here. Many musicians objected to Donald Trump using their songs. Besides Elton John and the Stones, acts including Adele, Neil Young, REM, Queen, and even George Harrison’s estate all forbade him from using their songs. It became such an issue that Trump had conservative musicians chiming in to confirm that he was allowed to use their music.
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