President Trump has deleted a tweet featuring a video mocking the Democrats using one of the songs from alternative American rock band R.E.M..
A well-known pro-Trump meme-maker known as Carpe Donktum created the video to the soundtrack of the band's early '90s song "Everybody Hurts". REM responded by tweeting the title of one of their songs, 'World Leader Pretend" which includes the lyrics, "I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down."
Later on, Trump retweeted another video of his State of the Union speech, this time using "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood.
R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills has been retweeting a surge of critical comments against him by pro-Trump tweeters since he posted a tweet saying the band were taking steps to stop the video's circulation.
This is not the first time the band has clashed with Donald Trump and his supporters. Back in 2015, R.E.M. released an angry statement after the President walked out on stage as a Republican candidate at a rally in Washington DC to the tune of "It's the End of the World as We Know it (And I Feel Fine)".
At the time, Mike Mills tweeted a statement from REM lead singer Michael Stipe calling the Republicans, "sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men". The statement continued: “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign".
On Facebook, the band released an official statement, saying:
"While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so, let us remember that there are things of greater importance at stake here. The media and the American voter should focus on the bigger picture, and not allow grandstanding politicians to distract us from the pressing issues of the day and of the current presidential campaign.”
This is not the first time Donald Trump has angered musicians, Neil Young complained when the president used his song, "Rockin' in the Free World" in 2015.
"I do not trust politicians. . . I trust people," the rocker stated on Facebook, "So I make my music for people, not for candidates."
Brian May complained when Mr Trump used Queen’s “We are the Champions” in 2016. On his website he wrote, "I can confirm that permission to use the track was neither sought nor given. … Regardless of our views on Mr. Trump's platform, it has always been against our policy to allow Queen music to be used as a political campaigning tool." But Mr Trump used the song anyway during a Republican National Convention, with Queen tweeting the next day the song had been used without permission.
Other politicians have caused similar complaints in the past too.
- In the 1980s, Bruce Springsteen criticized President Ronald Reagan for using his anti-war "Born in the U.S.A." to stir up patriotism during his re-election run.
- “Don’t worry, be happy” seemed to be a good choice of soundtrack for Vice President George H W Bush’s campaign in 1988, but Bobby Mc Ferrin did not agree and asked him to desist.
- In 2000, Sting asked George W Bush to stop using his song, "Brand New Day," saying as a Brit, he didn’t want to take sides in US politics, but actually, democrat Al Gore was using the song for his public appearances at the same time.
- Even democratic candidate Barack Obama was asked to stop using a song – “Hold On, I’m Comin” - by R&B duo, Sam and Dave. Sam Moore, the tenor voice wrote, "I have not agreed to endorse you for the highest office in our land. . . . My vote is a very private matter between myself and the ballot box." He added, however, that he found it "thrilling" to see a man of colour run for the presidency.
- In New Zealand in 2014, Eminem filed a copyright infringement suit against the National Party, after former Prime Minister John Key used his song, “Lose Yourself” without permission during one of his campaign ads.
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