“no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil’”
The gloves are off for the estate of Sinéad O’Connor and her record label, Chrysalis Records. In a scathing statement, they condemned Donald Trump for using her iconic ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U” at his recent political rallies.
The statement paints a vivid picture of O’Connor’s life, highlighting her dedication to principles like honesty, kindness, and fairness. It then underscores the jarring contrast between these values and the image associated with Trump, whom O’Connor herself once famously called a “biblical devil.”
“Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness and decency towards her fellow human beings,” reads the joint statement from the singer’s estate and the British music label Chrysalis Records. It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies,” the statement says, calling it “no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil.’ As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump and his associates desist from using her music immediately.”
Taking the mantle of guardians for O’Connor’s artistic legacy, the statement issues a firm demand: Trump and his team must cease using her music immediately.
This clear directive aims to prevent the misappropriation of O’Connor’s work and its association with political figures who stand in stark opposition to her core beliefs.
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Sinéad O’Connor is not the only artist expressing disapproval of Trump’s use of her music. Her statement aligns her with a coalition of musicians who share the sentiment. Notably, Prince, the creator of the song in question, has consistently opposed Trump featuring his music. In 2018, during rallies in Minneapolis, Prince’s hometown, Trump played “Purple Rain,” despite promising in 2018 not to use Prince’s tunes after including them in the 2016 campaign.
The response from Prince’s estate was unequivocal, declaring that Trump should not expect permission to use Prince’s music. They even shared the letter from Trump’s team confirming they would refrain from using Prince’s music “in connection with activities going forward.”
O’Connor and Prince are not alone in their stance. Prominent figures, spanning classic rockers like The Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath to contemporary stars like Rihanna and Adele, are uniting in declaring, “Hands off our music for your campaign playlists.”
This resistance isn’t isolated but part of a larger movement. Musicians are actively rejecting association with political campaigns that don’t align with their beliefs. It underscores a collective effort, demonstrating that artists won’t allow their music to be used as a political tool.
