Last week, when self-proclaimed “rich man” Donald Trump announced his candidacy for present at a press release, he walked out to Neil Young’s 1989 hit “Rockin’ In the Free World”, stirring up a whole lot of trouble.
Neil Young’s management quickly made a statement after the event, stating “Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement”. In addition, “Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.”
Though Donald Trump’s campaign will no longer use that song for their campaign, Trump’s spokesperson asserted that they “paid for and obtained the legal right” to use the track. Let’s give Trump’s team the benefit of the doubt, as “Rockin’ in the Free World” was written as a post-Reagan protest song and rallied against the way Republicans treated the lower class. Maybe it wasn’t the best choice in the first place.
Neil Young then made a statement via his Facebook explaining why he was not okay with the use of his song for political purpose:
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.
Trump then decided to come up some with some anger-fueled tweets to get back at Young.
.@Neilyoung A few months ago Neil Young came to my office looking for $$ on an audio deal & called me last week to go to his concert. Wow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015
For the nonbeliever, here is a photo of @Neilyoung in my office and his $$ request—total hypocrite. pic.twitter.com/Xm4BJvetIa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015
.@Neilyoung’s song, “Rockin’ In The Free World” was just one of 10 songs used as background music. Didn’t love it anyway.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015
It seems as though despite Young’s “I make my music for people not for candidates” statement, he’s since gone back on his word and given Bernie Sanders the go-ahead to use “Rockin’ in the Free World” for his campaign. Talk about getting in the last word.
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore.