Another American Election, More Pissed Musicians

I can’t remember when it became A Thing to use contemporary pop and rock songs has part of a presidential campaign. Bill Clinton using Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop,” maybe?

Whatever the case, every election cycle includes a variation of this story: “[Artist] Objects to [Candidate] Using [Name of Song] as Part of Election Campaign.” Pissed off artists have ranged from ABBA to Keane to Springsteen to Neil Young. This year is no exception.

For example, Adele to Donald Trump: “Stop playing my music at your rallies, you asshole.” And “No, you asshole, I really mean it.”

Then there’s Bernie Sanders. The Democratic hopeful hasn’t heard from the artist behind his main campaign rally song because he’s dead. He often leaves the stage to the sounds of David Bowie’s “Starman.”

But Bernie–damn, he does look at sound like Larry David, doesn’t he?–also has a whole “Behind the Music” story, too. Learn all about it at NPR.