The Trump campaign's use of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah” is “blasphemy,” says singer Rufus Wainwright

On Monday, Donald Trump became a Questions and answers about the town hall into a music listening session in which the former president swayed onstage for more than 30 minutes to some of his favorite songs — including Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah,” as covered by singer Rufus Wainwright in the film “Shrek.”

Now Wainwright and Cohen's estate object to Trump's use of the song. Wainwright wrote on social media that “watching Trump and his supporters communicate using this music last night was the height of blasphemy.”

The publisher for Cohen's estate sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign, Wainwright said. Cohen, who died in 2016 at the age of 82, originally released the song in 1984, and many musicians later covered it, including Wainwright and the late Jeff Buckley.

The Trump campaign and representatives from the estates of Wainwright and Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The dispute over “Hallelujah” marks the latest dispute between musicians and the Trump campaign, which has repeatedly called for it to stop playing songs by various artists Celine Dion To queen. Some of the artists said they were against their music accompanying any kind of political event, while others, like Wainwright, more explicitly linked their music to Trump.

“Leonard Cohen's song 'Hallelujah' has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth,” Wainwright wrote on Tuesday.

He added that he was “ashamed” that the song was played at the Trump event, adding that “the good part of me hopes that Donald Trump might feel a twinge of remorse when he hears the lyrics.” “inhabited by Cohen’s masterpiece and really listened to him.” what he caused.

Wainwright added that he supports Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

Trump played several more recordings at the town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles outside Philadelphia, after two attendees required medical attention. These songs included “It's A Man's Man's Man's World” by James Brown, “An American Trilogy” by Elvis Presley and “Nothing Compares 2 U” by the late Sinead O'Connor.

Musicians who have objected to Trump's use of their music

Wainwright joins a long list of other musicians who have called on the Trump campaign to stop using their songs. Recent cases include:

• Céline Dion, their representative in August said Trump that his use of her 1990s song “My Heart Will Go On” was “unauthorized” and had not received her permission.
• The Foo Fighters, who protested in August against Trump playing the band's song “My Hero” as he greeted former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on stage at a rally in Arizona. The Foo Fighters said it had not given permission for use of the song, and that any royalties generated from the Trump campaign's use of the song would be donated to Harris' campaign.
• Isaac Hayes, as a federal judge in Atlanta ruled last month that Trump and his campaign I need to stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming.” while the family of one of the song's co-writers is seeking a lawsuit against the former president for its use.
• The White Stripes, in September sued Trump in a case alleging he used their hit song “Seven Nation Army” without permission in a video posted to social media.