From Adele to U2, songs by top artists have been "borrowed" by politicians looking to make a strong impression. Often, the musicians aren't happy about it.
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5 songs you probably didn't know made waves during an election campaign
Politicians like to use hit pop and rock songs as their election campaign anthems. Sometimes, however, they neglect a tiny detail: to get the artists' authorization.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Kaiser
Rolling Stones: Angie
Angela Merkel could use a bit of rock'n'roll, her Christian Democrats (CDU) must have thought back in 2005, and chose "Angie" by the Rolling Stones as a soundtrack for the parliamentary election campaign, ignoring the line that went "ain't it time we said goodbye." While the band wasn't amused, they took no steps to stop her.
Image: Reuters
U2: Beautiful Day
More than once, U2 have proven their social and political commitment, and lead singer Bono isn't stingy with political remarks either. The band was anything but happy when Tony Blair's Labor Party used one of their songs during the 2005 parliamentary election campaign. But grudgingly, they let the British prime minister get away with it.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/V. Mayo
MGMT: Kids
Nicolas Sarkozy was less lucky in 2009 when he used the song "Kids" by the US band MGMT during his campaign. The French President hadn't asked for the band's permission, but he offered them symbolic compensation to the tune of 1.25 euros ($1.41). MGMT sued, won and received more than 30,000 euros in compensation.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Warzawa
Andrea Vantini: Meno male che Silvio c'e
Forget hit songs about other people: Silvio Berlusconi campaigned to the tune of a sappy Italian election soundtrack that was exclusively about himself. "Thank God for Silvio" was the Italian Prime Minister's anthem in the 2008 parliamentary polls. Most Italians can still sing the song even today.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Dal Zennaro
Adele: Rolling in the Deep
Donald Trump is an Adele fan. Last year, he visited the pop diva's sold-out concert in New York. Trump likes to warm the crowds at election campaign events with her hit "Rolling in the Deep." Adele hasn't given him permission, but that hasn't stopped him. Trump continues to play her James Bond movie hit , "Skyfall," to the crowds at rallies before he lands in his helicopter.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Kaiser
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Nowadays, not even election campaigns can do without pop music. Pick a song with a heart-wrenching melody and lyrics you can misinterpret to your advantage, and off you go, fishing for sympathy during rallies.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his use of "Beautiful Day" by the Irish band U2 in his 2005 election campaign is a good example. The hit song with its soaring melody and optimistic lyrics was all he needed. The Labor politician seemed well on his way to winning a third term in office. While U2 was never officially asked for permission, the band and its politically active lead singer Bono never really spoke out against the use of the song either.
The case of US presidential campaigner Donald Trump is quite a different story. Trump loves to stage his performances with pomp and musical entertainment. However, most musicians he chooses as unofficial campaign supporters are anything but enthusiastic.
No permission
The multi-billionaire rolled out to the crowds on an escalator in June 2015 to announce his candidature to the tunes of Neil Young's "Rocking in the Free World." The lyrics criticize the social policies of the Republican administration of George W. Bush. Young announced Trump was not authorized to use the song - and gave his opponent Bernie Sanders permission to use it instead.
R.E.M got really angry when Republican Ted Cruz and Donald Trump played "It's the End of the World as We Know It" last year at a joint event. "Go f... yourselves, you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men," was band leader Michael Stipes' reaction on Twitter. "Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign."
Trump has also played Aerosmith's "Dream On" and the Everlast classic "Jump Around," but all he got were declarations to cease and desist.
If all else fails, Trump could still play arias like "Nessun Dorma" from the opera Turandot - lots of emotion, and since the composer died more than 90 years ago, he can't put up a fight.
