CNN
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Musician Rufus Wainwright is talking out towards using his well-known cowl of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by Donald Trump’s presidential marketing campaign at a current occasion.
Wainwright shared a statement on his verified Instagram by which he referred to a Monday town hall held by the campaign in Oaks, Pennsylvania, the place music – together with his 2001 cowl of “Hallelujah” – was performed for an prolonged interval.
Within the caption of his submit on Tuesday, Wainwright wrote: “The track ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen has grow to be an anthem devoted to peace, love and acceptance of the reality. I’ve been supremely honored over time to be related with this ode to tolerance. Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music final night time was the peak of blasphemy.”
Wainwright, who has twin Canadian and American citizenship, stated he’s supporting Vice President Kamala Harris within the presidential race.
Wainwright continued to say that he under no circumstances condones using the track and “was mortified, however the good in me hopes that maybe in inhabiting and actually listening to the lyrics of Cohen’s masterpiece, Donald Trump simply may expertise a touch of regret over what he’s brought about. I’m not holding my breath.”
In accordance with the assertion, the publishing firm for the Cohen property has despatched the Trump marketing campaign a stop and desist letter.
CNN has reached out to the Cohen property, and to Trump marketing campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung, for remark.
This isn’t the primary time the Trump marketing campaign has used the track. Neither is it the primary time that the property for Cohen, who died in 2016, has taken problem with stated use.
In 2020, “Hallelujah” was performed repeatedly over the last night time of the Republican Nationwide Conference, and Cohen’s property stated on the time that it had denied permission.
“We’re stunned and dismayed that the RNC would proceed understanding that the Cohen Property had particularly declined the RNC’s use request, and their fairly brazen try to politicize and exploit in such an egregious method ‘Hallelujah’, one of the vital songs within the Cohen track catalog,” Michelle L. Rice, authorized consultant of the Cohen property, stated in an announcement shared with CBS News on the time.
Wainwright and Cohen’s property are additionally not the primary to have issues with the Trump marketing campaign enjoying their music. From Celine Dion and the Foo Fighters to Bruce Springsteen and Prince’s property, numerous artists over the years have objected to using their music by the Trump marketing campaign.