NEIL, KEITH ET AL vs DJ TRUMP
If you try sometimes, maybe finally, you get what you need.
I’ve heard that. A lot of people are saying. Phenomenal numbers. Big league. Bigly. Believe me.
Neil Young just sued The Donald for copyright infringement for using his music at rallies, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, Young’s attorney announced.
“Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” were played “numerous times at rallies and political events,” the suit complained, namely during the president’s June campaign rally in Tulsa, without license or Young’s permission.
“This complaint is not intended to disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens, who are free to support the candidate of their choosing,” the document said. “However, [Young] in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
YOUNG IS AMONG
Many musicians who have criticized Trump for playing their work at his events and told him to stop, for years, including the Rolling Stones, Rihanna, Adele, R.E.M., Panic! At The Disco, and the estates of Prince and Tom Petty. Singer-actress Betty Buckley successfully urged Andrew Lloyd Webber to take action to stop Trump’s use of her signature song “Memory” from Cats.
Dozens of others have signed an open letter demanding that their songs get clearance before they can be played at political events, including Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Lorde, Sia, Regina Spektor, Elton John, Blondie, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, Alanis Morissette, Courtney Love, Jason Isbell, Linkin Park, Lykke Li, Train, CAKE, B-52s, Cyndi Lauper, T Bone Burnett.
THE ROLLING STONES
Released a statement last month over the campaign’s disregard of a provision in the BMI Political Entities License that allows songwriters or publishers of the music to withdraw their work from the license. This after Trump again used the band’s hit “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” as his walk-off theme at the Tulsa rally.
“This could be the last time President Donald Trump uses Stones songs. Despite cease & desist directives to Donald Trump in the past, the Rolling Stones are taking further steps to exclude him using their songs at any of his future political campaigning. If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists, then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed.”
I could never figure out why the Stones didn’t DO something, for so long. They certainly have the bucks to fight him, and their song is so prominently featured, every rally. It taints them. Turns out the Trump campaign was getting around being forbidden by BMI by using the licenses of the venues. Now that has been blocked too.
I LOVE THE OLD STORY
Recently confirmed in an interview by Keith Richards, that he became so incensed when Trump kept insinuating himself into their concert in Atlantic City in 1989 — even giving his name top billing and larger lettering than theirs — that Richards angrily pulled out a big knife and slammed it into a desk to make his point. I had heard it was in front of The Donald (a better story), but it was the promoter, who had promised to keep Donald completely out of it and at a distance.
Mick Jagger admits to being amused. “It’s a funny song for a play-out song ― a drowsy ballad about drugs in Chelsea! It’s kind of weird. He couldn’t be persuaded to use something else.”
It also mentions blood, alcohol, murderously deceptive women and the blind anger of crowds. Pretty Presidential.
GOD SAVE QUEEN
Also prohibiting the use of “We Are the Champions” (the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland); Rihanna, use of her “Don’t Stop the Music” (a 2018 rally in Tallahassee); Pharrell Williams, whose Oscar-nominated “Happy” was played at a Trump rally hours after 11 people were killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue in October 2018; Panic! at the Disco’s Brendon Urie, whose “High Hopes” played at Trump’s recent Phoenix event; and the estate of Tom Petty, whose “I Won’t Back Down” also was played at Trump’s recent poorly-attended rally in Tulsa.
Well, DJ, guess you’re just going to have to go to Kid Rock and Ted Nugent. Which could make your rallies even smaller.
NICOLE RECOMMENDS:
CLASSIC BOLLYWOOD DANCE! with DANISH BHANDARA — The Fowler Museum at UCLA is known in my book for having consistently interesting and diverse programming. With the challenge of social distancing, they have had to adapt. I tuned in to a “Lunch & Learn” Zoom lecture of theirs a couple weeks ago that featured Patrick A. Polk, curator of Latin American and Caribbean Popular Arts, discussing Haitian Vodou objects and divinities, specifically a beautiful drapo (ritual banner) of Papa Guede — did you know he’s represented in Blondie’s “Rapture” music video? I sure didn’t until Polk pointed out the similarities and historical context.
There will be more Fowler “Lunch & Learns” and I encourage you to check their calendar, but what I really want to highlight is this Saturday’s virtual event, where trained dancer Danish Bhandara will be teaching a joyful piece of Classic Bollywood Dance. This dance style is known for being full of energy and passion, and can be characterized by its lively and dramatic movements, from the hand gestures to the facial expressions. Bhandara is a graduate of UCLA’s World Arts and Cultures/Dance program, has trained in Classical Indian, Bollywood, and Middle Eastern dance forms for more than 12 years, and continues to perform with the Blue13 Dance Company and many other well-accredited choreographers and artists.
If you are like me and are looking for an entertaining way to get moving (or maybe just watch!) in the safety of your home, you will want to check this out. No experience necessary! — Saturday 11am-12pm, Free.
Link to RSVP: https://ucla.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtdOygqDwsHdaJ5ET35M_zj9MKIUarIJ9B
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 2,500 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 34 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
