“I don't think rock'n'roll and politics should be in the same bed together.” Alice Cooper's sentence, repeated throughout his career in different versions, reflects the American singer's phobia of tarnishing his music with such matters. What would be the
shock rock
translation of that “you don't mean yourself, son/daughter”, which some parents advised during the late Franco era. But what happens when political groups use a certain song during their electoral campaigns or in their propaganda videos? Well, things usually end up being bad.
Many simply choose a topic because it is trendy or because it is catchy. Others try to make it seem that the artist supports his candidacy, sometimes going so far as to rudely twist the original meaning of a lyric in favor of his interests. Political parties usually pay certain fees to use the repertoire of a music management entity (such as the SGAE in Spain), which gives them the right to use certain songs, but not to modify them. In the US there are musicians who, after sending a cease and desist notice, have managed to disassociate their compositions from these propaganda purposes. Some have even reached an out-of-court agreement with the counterparty, obtaining monetary compensation. On the contrary, most end up assuming that, if the corresponding fee has been paid, there is not much more to scratch, apart from tweeting on X (the old Twitter) or complaining bitterly on Instagram. “It's the market, friend,” as a former public official who ended up in prison would say.
The (pen)last incident, a few days ago, was that of the British anarchist band Chumbawamba against Winston Peters, the populist New Zealand deputy prime minister, demanding that he stop using their hit
Tubthumping
at their events. “We would like to remind you that the song was written for and about ordinary people and their resilience, not about rich politicians trying to win votes by courting absurd conspiracy theories and spouting unfortunate racist ideologies,” its guitarist, Boff Whalley, claimed in a statement. sent to the media. There he claimed that Chumbawamba never gave Peters permission to use the song and, therefore, they requested that he stop using it “to support his wrong political opinions.”
Here we remember 15 other similar cases (of all political colors), although there are hundreds of them. Because, how can you resist a
hit
even if the artist - and even the song - has a totally opposite ideology?
Ska-P concert in Italy in 2023.Stefano Guidi (Getty Images)
Ska-P against the PP
Another recent controversy occurred this March 20, when the PP of San Sebastián posted a video on its social networks in which it pointed out “the illegal settlements and occupied buildings” in the city, accompanied by the topic
Cannabis
(that of “legal-legalization …”) by the Madrid-based Ska-P. The anti-capitalist band responded on Twitter: “Gentlemen of the Popular Party, we publicly ask you to remove our song
Cannabis
from this miserable video.” At the close of this article, the
community manager
of the conservative group did not seem to have noticed.
Honey against the PP
In the last general elections of July 23, 2023, the Popular Party of Madrid took advantage of the song
If you want,
by the feminist pop trio Cariño, to announce on its social networks its central campaign event, which included its president Alberto Núñez Feijóo ; the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, and the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. “We will never support in any way any party that goes against our principles and human rights,” the group attacked on its Instagram account, shortly before leaving a message on the PP profile: “Do not use our song to promote your shitty policies.”
Macaque at Rock in Rio 2012. Carlos Alvarez (Getty Images)
Macaco against the PP
The singer Daniel Carbonell, alias Macaco, denounced in September 2015 through his social networks the “illegal” use of
seguiremos,
one of his compositions, at a Catalan PP rally in which Mariano Rajoy and the candidate for the Generalitat participated. Xavier García Albiol. It was, according to the Barcelona musician, “a song that I donated for the fight against childhood cancer (…). They insult me and all of us who fight for decent public healthcare, trying to unite emotions. But his is born from farce, lies, deception, manipulation.” In 2009, Macaco had already threatened to take Falange Española to court for “improper use” of his song
Moving
in an electoral advertisement for the fascist formation.
Coke Malla against Vox
In October 2018, VOX organized an event at the Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid in which
I can't live without you,
the famous composition by Coque Malla, played. The musician responded via social networks with a statement: “I don't know if VOX Spain, the far-right party that has used without permission (they have a perfect right to do so, what are we going to do) my song
I can't live without you
in one of their rallies, you know that half of Spain thinks it is a song dedicated to cocaine... I say this because they may have screwed up a little. But don't worry, gentlemen of VOX, the other half knows the true inspiration of the song, which is none other than the homosexual relationship between two very dear gay friends, who had a really bad time because of intolerance and homophobic stupidity. . Out of friendship and solidarity, I wrote them that beautiful song that has helped them so much in their life as a couple. Since it is difficult for me to think that you support anything that has to do with cocaine (you never know, but it is difficult for me), I am inclined to think that you have finally opened your minds and embraced the homosexual cause. If so, I sincerely congratulate you; It is an example that a right-wing party supports equal rights and freedom of sexual choice.” The ultra leader Santiago Abascal did not take long to attack the group: “I don't know what you're telling us, Coque, the drugs are very bad. But I hope that your songs in which you talk about raping women or asking for more money from mom and dad are not widely understood either. That people are going to believe that you are a misogynistic kid. And that seems truer than you imply.” Come on, no, they had not embraced the homosexual cause.
Sidonie against the PSOE
Not only the right and the extreme right have gotten into these messes, although they usually take the cake in these protests. In December 2015, the PSOE suffered a beating from Barcelona's Sidonie for setting one of its rallies in Catalonia with its song
You are here.
"We don't know what Freddie Mercury would think if he had seen Miquel Iceta dance
Don't Stop Me Now
, but we don't find it funny that a political party, whatever it may be, uses one of our songs in its rallies, and even less so that "They have not consulted us," the group lamented on Facebook.
Aerosmith at the 2020 Grammys. Kevin Winter (Getty Images for The Recording A)
Aerosmith against Donald Trump
In the international section there is no subject with more open musical causes than Donald Trump. In 2015, Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith, asked the presidential candidate in a letter to leave his famous song From Him Dream On out of his campaign
,
because it “violated copyright.” The Republican removed him from his public appearances, but not before saying his last word on Twitter: “Although I have the legal right to use Steven Tyler's song, he asked me not to. And I already have a better one to take his place! Steven Tyler received more publicity for this application than he has gotten in ten years. I'm happy for him!".
Elton John vs. Donald Trump
Melania's husband has declared himself in love, musically speaking, with Elton John, whom he has known for decades, although the English composer refused to perform during his inauguration in 2017. A year earlier he had already asked him to stop using hits like
Tiny Dancer
in his appearances. “I really don't want my music to be involved in anything that has to do with an American election campaign. I’m British,” she argued. “I met Donald Trump and he was very nice to me, it's nothing personal. His political opinions are his own; mine are very different. He wouldn’t be a Republican in a million years.”
Ozzy Osbourne vs. Donald Trump
Sharon Osbourne, wife and manager (we don't know if in that order) of the heavy legend Ozzy Osbourne, criticized the American leader for using the song
Crazy Train
in 2019 and warned him that he was prohibited from using it in advertisements without his approval. “Maybe you should contact one of his musician friends. Maybe Kanye West
(Gold Digger)
, Kid Rock
(I Am The Bullgod)
or Ted Nugent
(Stranglehold)
will allow the use of her music,” she added in her statement. The titles of the three suggested pieces
(Gold Digger, I Am the Bull-God
and
Necklace of Strength)
do not suggest that Sharon is the magnate's biggest fan. The Rolling Stones or REM, among dozens of artists, have also disapproved of the use of their songs in the events of
the lord
of populism.
Jackson Browne in 2023. Jerod Harris (Getty Images)
Jackson Browne vs. John McCain
During the 2008 presidential campaign of Republican Senator John McCain , Running On Empty,
one of Jackson Browne's best-known songs,
was used to mock Democratic candidate Barack Obama for his statements about the need to reduce gasoline consumption.
The American singer-songwriter, an avowed Democrat, filed a lawsuit against McCain. “The misappropriation of Jackson Browne's support is totally reprehensible,” his lawyer said. Before going to court, an out-of-court settlement was reached in which the senator paid an undisclosed amount, in addition to publicly apologizing. It was not the only case of artists who protested the exploitation of their creations by McCain: Foo Fighters
(My Hero)
and even ABBA (
Take A Chance On Me)
have already spoken out against him.
Bobby McFerrin vs. George H.W. Bush
In 1988, when George HW Bush was Ronald Reagan's vice president and aspired to succeed him in the White House, he embarked on the electoral race with Don't Worry, Be Happy, the totemic song by Bobby McFerrin, who asked him to stop using it. To smooth things over, Bush invited the singer, who was a supporter of Democrat Michael Dukakis, to dinner, but that offer was rejected. Eventually, the Bush campaign dismissed this tune and Woody Guthrie's
This Land Is Your Land
became his new leitmotif. Guthrie, a fervent socialist and anti-fascist, did not complain. He had died in 1967.
Sam & Dave vs. Barack Obama
Sam Moore, one of the voices of the
soul
duo Sam & Dave, asked Barack Obama to remove his classic
Hold On, I'm Comin'
from the soundtrack prior to his interventions in the 2008 elections. “I have not agreed to support it for the highest office in our nation (…). “My vote is a very private matter between me and the polls,” Moore said. Although she added that it was “exciting” to see a man of color run for president. Obama's team stopped using it. In 2009, after the electoral victory of the Democratic candidate, the singer even performed at the presidential inaugural ball.
Bikini Kill in concert in 2022.Mat Hayward (Getty Images)
Bikini Kill against Hillary Clinton
Tobi Vail, drummer and co-founder of the
riot grrrls
Bikini Kill, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in 2016 against a video in support of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, set to the group's single Rebel Girl. Vail explained that she was not speaking on behalf of herself or her group, but on behalf of dozens of Bikini Kill fans. “We do not authorize the use of our songs in advertisements,” she then warned, admitting her support for Bernie Sanders, a much more leftist candidate, in those primaries.
Talking Heads vs. Charlie Crist
David Byrne, the leader of Talking Heads, even took legal action against a politician for using his music without permission. In 2011, Florida Democratic candidate Charlie Crist ended up paying Byrne an undisclosed sum of money (the lawsuit sought $1 million) for exploiting his 1985 single
Road To Nowhere
in a video that attacked his Republican opponent, Marco Rubio. Additionally, Crist had to post an apology on YouTube. “It seems that I am one of the few artists who have the money and (the guts) to challenge these kinds of practices. My hope is that by facing them maybe they will become less common. Or, better yet, that they never occur again in the future,” Byrne said.
MGMT in concert in 2018.Anthony Pidgeon (Redferns)
MGMT against Nicolas Sarkozy
The Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the French coalition led by the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, paid 30,000 euros in April 2009 for repeatedly using the successful
Kids,
by the group MGMT, during its national congress. Initially, the UMP's response to the American duo's demand was to offer one euro as compensation. An “insulting” response and “a lack of respect for the rights of artists and authors,” according to the band's lawyer, who continued litigating until reaching an out-of-court agreement. Curiously, in September of that year, Sarkozy approved the so-called “three strikes law”, one of the most restrictive in Europe regarding piracy: after the third illegal download detected, the citizen was left without an internet connection.
Calvin Harris and Florence and The Machine against Theresa May
British Conservative leader Theresa May will still remember her disastrous speech at her party's annual congress in 2017: she was interrupted by a spontaneous speech, suffered constant coughing fits and, at the end, several letters of the congress motto fell to the floor. Before, she had taken the stage to the rhythm of
This Is What You Came For,
by producer Calvin Harris (with the collaboration of Rihanna). Harris tweeted in response: “I neither support nor condone playing happy songs at such a sad event.” At the end of that same tumultuous meeting
, You've Got The Love
by Florence and The Machine
was heard .
Florence Welch wrote shortly afterwards on her social media that her use “was not approved by us nor would it have been if they had asked for it” and demanded that the Tories “refrain” from using her music in the future. Theresa May's thing was to sing line and bingo with the same ball.
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