Presidential candidate, controversial businessman Donald Trump, fired back at Neil Young with a series of tweets, called Young out as a hypocrite.
When Trump played Young’s “Keep on Rockin’ In the Free World.” twice during his presidential announcement rally, Young reacted with this statement:
“Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement,” a statement from Young’s manager read. “Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.”
Not one to take a licking sitting down, Trump called out Young for coming to him a few months back, all smiles, looking for some money to back his PONO endeavor.
See tweets below:
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
.@Neilyoung A few months ago Neil Young came to my office looking for $$ on an audio deal & called me last week to go to his concert. Wow!
When Donald Trump’s presidential campaign kicked off in front of a crowd of partially paid supporters to Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” (and while riding down on an escalator, no less), it did not go over well.
Young said in a statement that Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement.” The statement added that, “NeilYoung, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.”
Trump’s camp claimed they paid both ASCAP and BMI for rights to the song, but would cease from using it out of respect to Young. The singer, meanwhile, out of respect to his own political beliefs, has turned around and given Trump’s opponent Sanders permission to use “Rockin’ in the Free World”.
Sanders, the Democratic candidate from Vermont, walked out to the track at a rally in Denver attended by an over-flow audience of 4,500 people. Folks were reportedly standing in the atrium and lacrosse fields outside the auditorium to hear Sanders speak; as far as we know, none of them were paid to be there.
Watch footage of Sanders’ “Rockin’ in the Free World”-aided entrance below (scroll to the 5:00 mark).
Here is a statement made by Neil Young posted on his Facebook page on June 17, regarding presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s use of the song “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World” during is announcement that he is running for U.S. president:
Yesterday my song “Rockin in the Free World” was used in a announcement for a U.S. presidential candidate without my permission.
A picture of me with this candidate was also circulated in conjunction with this announcement but It was a photograph taken during a meeting when I was trying to raise funds for Pono, my online high resolution music service.
Music is a universal language. so I am glad that so many people with varying beliefs get enjoyment from my music, even if they don’t share my beliefs.
But had I been asked to allow my music to be used for a candidate – I would have said no.
I am Canadian and I don’t vote in the United States, but more importantly I don’t like the current political system in the USA and some other countries. Increasingly Democracy has been hijacked by corporate interests. The money needed to run for office, the money spent on lobbying by special interests, the ever increasing economic disparity and the well funded legislative decisions all favor corporate interests over the people’s.
The Citizens United Supreme Court ruling is proof of this corruption as well as are the proposed trade deals which would further compromise our rights.
These Corporations were originally created to serve us but if we don’t appropriately prioritize they will destroy us. Corporations don’t have children. They don’t have feelings or soul. They don’t depend on uncontaminated water, clean air or healthy food to survive. They are beholden to one thing – the bottom line.
I choose to speak Truth to this Economic Power. When I speak out on corporations hurting the common man or the environment or other species, I expect a well financed disinformation campaign to be aimed my way.
Such is the case with the reaction to my new album The Monsanto Years, which covers many of these issues. I support those bringing these issues to light and those who fight for their rights like Freedom of Choice.
But Freedom of Choice is meaningless without knowledge.
Thats why its crucial we all get engaged and get informed.
That’s why GMO labeling matters. Mothers need to know what they are feeding their children. They need freedom to make educated choices at the market. When the people have voted for labeling, as they have in Vermont, they need our support when they are fighting these corporate interests trying to reverse the laws they have voted for and passed in the democratic process.
I do not trust self serving misinformation coming from corporations and their media trolls. I do not trust politicians who are taking millions from those corporations either. I trust people. So I make my music for people not for candidates.
When Donald Trump strode on to the stage at Trump Tower on Tuesday to announce that he would enter the Republican race for president, a rock and roll anthem blared: Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World,” reported Mother Jones On June 16.
David Corn writes: “It was an odd choice, given that the 1989 song seemed to slam a Republican administration for not giving a damn about the poor. And Young has taken exception to Trump’s appropriation of his tune.”
A statement issued to Mother Jones for Young by his longtime manager Elliot Roberts suggests Young was not pleased by Trump’s use of the song:
Donald Trump’s use of “Rockin’ in the Free World” was not authorized. Mr. Young is a longtime supporter of Bernie Sanders.
Source: <a href="http://m try this site.motherjones.com/politics/2015/06/neil-young-donald-trump-bernie-sanders” target=”_blank”>http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2015/06/neil-young-donald-trump-bernie-sanders
Pearl Jam does a killer version of “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World” on Nov. 15 during an extensive fall tour at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.
The marathon 33-song performance came to a close with a lengthy second encore that included a pair of guests on a Neil Young cover, according to Jam Base. Lots of high energy with musical guests guitarist Carrie Brownstein and on vocals Annie St. Vincent Clark.
“Driven to the mountains high
They were sunken in the cities deep ” by -- Neil Young
Neil Young on Tour
Sugar Mountain setlists
Tom Hambleton provides BNB with setlists, thankfully. His website is the most comprehensive searchable archives on the Internets about anything Neil Young related setlists. Goto Sugar Mountain.
Presidential candidate, controversial businessman Donald Trump, fired back at Neil Young with a series of tweets, called Young out as a hypocrite.
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