"Don't Even Think About Using My Music You Fascists"

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

The title of this blog posting is from a post that singer Jack White placed on Instagram this week in response to the Trump campaign using a song by White's duo, The White Stripes, without his approval or permission.  The campaign's use of the song, "Seven Nation Army," was at the center of the controversy.   The song was playing in the background of a video of Trump boarding an airplane on his way to some swing-state rallies.  Jack White was quickly threatened legal action.  The offending video was removed that afternoon.

But Jack White, who had been seriously triggered, was not finished with the former President.  He also used the opportunity to say his piece regarding Trump's highly controversial visit to Arlington National Cemetery earlier in the week, a visit that was ultimately featured in a Trump campaign promotion.  The singer added this:  

"And as long as I'm here, a double f--- you DonOld for insulting our nation's veterans you scum."

Damn, Jack, tell us how you really feel!

This week the Swedish singing group, Abba, issued a similar, though less vitriolic, statement when they discovered that the Trump campaign had also been using their music.  They are demanding that all promotions by Trump using their music be taken down.  

Other artists who have objected to the Trump campaign using their music without permission (as taken from a posting on Wikipedia) include Adele, Aerosmith, the Animals, the Beatles (the estate of George Harrison), Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Credence Clearwater Revival, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Eddie Grant, Elton John, Everlast, Foo Fighters, Free, Guns N' Roses, the estate of Isaac Hayes, Johnny Marr, Leonard Cohen, Linkin Park, Luciano Pavarotti, Neil Young, Nickelback, Nico Vega, the O'Jays, Ozzy Osbourne, Panic!  at the Disco, Pharrell Williams, Phil Collins, the estate of Prince, Queen, R.E.M., Rihanna, the Rolling Stones, Sinead O'Connor, the family of Tom Petty, Twisted Sister, the Village People, and Yoann Lemoine.

That is quite a chunk of the contemporary music scene, but if the world's neediest politician craves some musical love maybe he could turn to one of the musicians who actually support his campaign. That list includes Jason Aldean, Kanye West, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus (but not Miley), and several hip-hop artists and groups with whom this tired old typist is woefully unfamiliar.  However, I somehow doubt that any of them can hold a chord to "the Boss," Bruce Springsteen, belting out a loud chorus of "Born in the USA!"

The evidence would indicate that creative minds tend to vote Democratic - and dull minds tend to steal music!