Rufus Wainwright Condemns Trump’s Use of Leonard Cohen Cover During Chaotic Town Hall
Rufus Wainwright has spoken out against Donald Trump following the use of Leonard Cohen’s iconic song “Hallelujah” at a recent campaign event for the Republican presidential candidate. The Canadian singer-songwriter described Trump’s use of the song as “the height of blasphemy” in a strongly worded statement, coinciding with a cease-and-desist order from Cohen’s estate.
Wainwright, known for his rendition of “Hallelujah” featured in the soundtrack of the animated film Shrek, hailed the song as an “anthem dedicated to peace, love, and acceptance of the truth.” He expressed feeling honoured to be associated with the message of tolerance conveyed by the song. The artist voiced his dismay at witnessing Trump and his supporters engaging with the music, stating, “Of course, I in no way condone this and was mortified.”
At the campaign event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where multiple attendees required medical attention due to high temperatures, Trump played a series of songs including classics like Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain,” James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World,” and “YMCA” by the Village People. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris subtly reacted to the event with a post captioned “Hope he’s OK.”
Criticism also arose over Trump’s choice of playing “Time to Say Goodbye,” a rendition of the Italian song “Con te partirò” made famous by Andrea Bocelli. Commentators online mocked the selection, suggesting it could be Trump’s theme song. This isn’t the first time artists have objected to their music being used by Trump, with a list including notable names such as Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, and Rihanna.
The incident has sparked discussions online, with many expressing disapproval of Trump’s playlist choices and his use of music for political events. The clash between art and politics continues to be a topic of debate as musicians and performers take a stand against their work being associated with political figures.