Former President Donald Trump has a long history of using popular songs at his campaign rallies without authorization — by the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Linkin Park and even Celine Dion — many of which have seems to have titles or meanings that hardly seem to imply victory, like “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and, in today’s case in point, “My Heart Will Go On,” Celine Dion’s theme song from the 1997 film “Titanic,” in which thousands of people die on a sinking luxury liner.
While Trump has used the song at rallies in the past, in Montana on Friday night he used a video of Dion singing the song as well. On Saturday, Dion disavowed any endorsement of his campaign and questioned the use of the song.
“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,” the statement reads.
“In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.
…and really, that song?”
Trump has used many weirdly counterintuitive songs at his rallies, from Neil Young’s cynical “Rockin’ in the Free World” to R.E.M.’s despondent “Losing My Religion” and Linkin Park’s “To the End.” While every once in a while a campaign song actually seems on-the-nose, like Queen’s “We Will Rock You” or Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” nearly every such use has met with disavowing statements like Dion’s or, in the case of the Rolling Stones, an actual lawsuit, although it is difficult to prevent such uses on legal grounds (Trump’s campaign usually backs down when faced with a lawsuit).
After months spent convalescing from a debilitating medical condition known as Stiff Persons’ Syndrome, Dion made a dramatic performance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies late last month. She performed a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne A L’Amour” at the base of the Eiffel Tower, despite a heavy rainstorm.
Source Agencies
