Canadian singing legend Celine Dion has slammed and mocked former US President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance for using her Oscar-winning song from the movie Titanic at their rally. Shortly before the Republican Presidential nominee marched onto the rally stage in Bozeman, Montana, on Friday, a clip of Dion singing her 1997 track “My Heart Will Go On” was played on a large screen.
A day after the rally, the singer’s management team and record label Dion, released a statement on behalf of her, making it clear that the usage of the song was “in no way authorized”. “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” Dion’s team said in a statement which was shared on all her social media platforms.
“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement further read. However, what garnered the netizen’s attention was the last line of the statement which was seen by many as the final nail in the coffin. “…And really, THAT song?” Dion’s team said mocking the campaign’s decision to use a song from a film about a sinking ship.
Trump and his beef with artists Dion made her triumphant return to live singing last month by performing at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was her first performance after she announced that she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022. Trump criticised the opening ceremony of the international sporting event after one sketch was widely interpreted to be a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous The Last Supper painting. However, the event’s organiser denied the claims.
Meanwhile, other artists and bands including Neil Young, Queen and the Rolling Stones have previously complained about the former president using their songs at the campaign rallies. Young had previously objected to Trump for using his songs and in 2020, the Rolling Stones went on to threaten the business-mogul-turned-politician with legal action after the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was played at a political rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. English musician Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon sent a legal notice to Trump, banning him from using Black Sabbath music in campaign videos, back in 2019.
Interestingly, Trump is not the only Republican candidate to face such issues with artists. Last year, rapper Eminem asked Republican presidential hopeful Last year, rapper Eminem asked. Back in 1984, Bruce Springsteen slammed then-President Reagan for planning to use “Born in the USA” for his electoral campaign.
It is pertinent to note that US politicians are not always required to seek direct permission from the artists to use their songs. Usually, their campaigns can buy licensing packages from music rights organisations and give them legal access. However, in Dion’s case, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. said that they did not authorise Trump’s campaign to use her song.
With inputs from agencies.
