Neil Young is not digging The Donald using his music for presidential campaign
Neil Young isn’t too happy that Donald Trump used one of his songs during Trump’s recent presidential announcement.
On one side you have the self-assured businessman turned politician, on the other there’s the prickly neo-liberal artist. They mix together like oil and water under the long shadow of a looming presidential campaign. It’s a regurgitated narrative that we see every fourth year. This cycle’s participants are Donald Trump and Neil Young.
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When announcing his candidacy for president on Tuesday, Trump used Young’s protest ballad Rockin in the Free World as his intro/exit song.
It was an homage that the musical legend was none too pleased with. Young’s manager sent out a release saying Trump was unauthorized to do so, which was later followed by the musician posting the following lengthy message to his Facebook page. In it, Young expounds upon his reasons for his displeasure, not just with Trump, but any politician using his music as part of a campaign.
"Yesterday my song “Rockin in the Free World” was used in a announcement for a U.S. presidential candidate without my permission.A picture of me with this candidate was also circulated in conjunction with this announcement but It was a photograph taken during a meeting when I was trying to raise funds for Pono, my online high resolution music service.Music is a universal language. so I am glad that so many people with varying beliefs get enjoyment from my music, even if they don’t share my beliefs.But had I been asked to allow my music to be used for a candidate – I would have said no.I am Canadian and I don’t vote in the United States, but more importantly I don’t like the current political system in the USA and some other countries. Increasingly Democracy has been hijacked by corporate interests. The money needed to run for office, the money spent on lobbying by special interests, the ever increasing economic disparity and the well funded legislative decisions all favor corporate interests over the people’s.The Citizens United Supreme Court ruling is proof of this corruption as well as are the proposed trade deals which would further compromise our rights.These Corporations were originally created to serve us but if we don’t appropriately prioritize they will destroy us. Corporations don’t have children. They don’t have feelings or soul. They don’t depend on uncontaminated water, clean air or healthy food to survive. They are beholden to one thing – the bottom line.I choose to speak Truth to this Economic Power. When I speak out on corporations hurting the common man or the environment or other species, I expect a well financed disinformation campaign to be aimed my way.Such is the case with the reaction to my new album The Monsanto Years, which covers many of these issues. I support those bringing these issues to light and those who fight for their rights like Freedom of Choice.But Freedom of Choice is meaningless without knowledge.Thats why its crucial we all get engaged and get informed.That’s why GMO labeling matters. Mothers need to know what they are feeding their children. They need freedom to make educated choices at the market. When the people have voted for labeling, as they have in Vermont, they need our support when they are fighting these corporate interests trying to reverse the laws they have voted for and passed in the democratic process.I do not trust self serving misinformation coming from corporations and their media trolls. I do not trust politicians who are taking millions from those corporations either. I trust people. So I make my music for people not for candidates.Keep on Rockin in the Free World.Neil Young"
Yup, that’s about everything you’d expect from Young.
Taking all politics out of it, this one is baffling for one big reason, which Young touched on in his fourth paragraph: he’s Canadian. If you’re Trump, don’t you have to go with an American artist? You can’t be on stage surrounded by Old Glory and pump this old Canadian hippie’s music, right? You have to go America all over the place; rock, flag and eagle.
Though I do love the aspect of politicians using the entry songs like they’re wrestlers. In a way, politics is wrestling: you have to both be good on the mic and solid in the ring (for politics: the back room negotiations). On the campaign trail you come out, get some rub from popular local figures, drop the hammer on your opponent and walk off triumphantly with the song blaring in the background. It’s glorious. And for that reason, if trump decides to change his tune, here’s my unsolicited recommendation for a walk-up jam.
Nothing gets the crowd going like Real American. Just come out flexin’ those 24-inch pythons.
And since we’ve made it this far into the abyss and we’re all friends, here’s my favorite version of Rockin.
One of the greatest performances in SNL history – don’t let anyone tell you differently.