“Sinéad O’Connor’s Estate Calls for Cease in Trump’s Political Playlist Usage”
In a recent plea, the estate of the late Sinéad O’Connor has implored Donald Trump to refrain from using the iconic singer’s music at his political rallies. The request comes after Trump played O’Connor’s renowned song “Nothing Compares 2 U” during a campaign event in Maryland last month.
O’Connor’s estate, in collaboration with her long-time label Chrysalis Records, issued a joint statement expressing dismay at the use of her music in political contexts. The statement highlighted O’Connor’s commitment to a moral code centered on honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency, asserting that Trump’s use of her work would have left the artist “disgusted, hurt, and insulted.”
“As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump, and his associates desist from using her music immediately,” concluded the statement.
The Guardian reported that alongside “Nothing Compares 2 U,” other songs such as Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” were also part of Trump’s playlist on February 24.
Sinéad O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” written by Prince, dominated the UK charts for four weeks in 1990. The artist passed away in July 2023 at the age of 56, with the cause of death determined as natural causes by a coroner.
This is not the first time Trump has faced objections from artists regarding the use of their music in political settings. Rihanna threatened legal action in 2018 after Trump used “Don’t Stop the Music” at a rally, and The Rolling Stones sent cease and desist letters in 2016 and 2020 after Trump played “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Similarly, Luciano Pavarotti’s family objected to Trump using “Nessun Dorma” at a political rally due to conflicting views on immigration.
Various musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Adele, and Sir Elton John, have also expressed disapproval of Trump using their songs at political events, citing differences in political views and a desire to keep their music out of campaign contexts.