As a seasoned observer of political campaigns and a self-proclaimed music aficionado with a knack for deciphering symbolism, I find it intriguing to see the strategic use of popular tunes in political arenas. It seems that both parties are vying for the emotional connection that resonates with their base through the power of music.
It appears that Steven Cheung, a representative for Donald Trump, has seemingly used a jab against his potential Democrat opponent in the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris, by employing her campaign anthem, Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” in one of his social media posts.
On Tuesday, Cheung posted a video on X (previously known as Twitter) depicting Trump disembarking from his plane in Michigan for a rally, with “Freedom” playing in the background. As Trump approached a Secret Service vehicle, he made a gesture by lifting his hands above his head. Cheung titled the post, “Landing in Michigan!!! @realDonaldTrump.”
Touchdown in Michigan!! @realDonaldTrump
— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) August 20, 2024
It’s uncertain whether the song was truly played on-site or if it was later overlaid with audio by Cheung. Although questions were brought up regarding possible copyright violations, the video continued to be accessible at the moment of this writing.
Upon being contacted by The Hill about the video, Cheung simply said, “Freedom, freedom!” Neither Cheung nor Beyoncé’s team has provided a comment in response to The Hollywood Reporter’s request for one.
In July, Harris was granted swift permission by Beyoncé’s team to incorporate “Freedom” from her 2016 album Lemonade in her presidential campaign. This song was showcased in Harris’s campaign debut video and an advertisement alongside her vice president nominee, Tim Walz. In this ad, Jeffrey Wright serves as the narrator, stating, “What kind of America are we striving for? One that is divided, filled with anger and despair? Come on! We are Americans! Fascism? We overcame it. The Moon? We landed on it. The future? We’re constructing it. Freedom? No one cherishes it more. And we defend it vigorously.”
Instead of Trump’s case, let me rephrase it for you: Trump has found himself embroiled in legal issues due to his habit of using songs during his campaign without obtaining necessary permissions. Just recently, the estate of Isaac Hayes filed a lawsuit against him, citing 134 instances of copyright infringement. This came after Trump played “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave, a song written by the late musician, at one of his rallies. Similarly, when Trump used Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally in Montana, her team expressed disapproval over the unauthorized use and raised eyebrows about the choice of song, commenting, “…And really, that song?”
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2024-08-21 20:54