What music could Trump play? Foo Fighters Resist

During a campaign appearance, Donald Trump's team played the song “My Hero” against their will, the Foo Fighters say. Trump's team is against it.

The lines are perfect for a big performance: “Here goes my hero / Watch him walk,” sing the Foo Fighters in their song “My Hero,” and Donald Trump’s team probably liked it, too. So the song was used in Arizona when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the stage to campaign for president. But now there’s a public debate about whether it’s covered by the law.

The Foo Fighters said they were not asked for consent. And they wouldn’t have given it if they had, the American contingent said. “Appropriate action will now be taken,” so the lawyers are in. Any fines should benefit Democrat Kamala Harris’ campaign and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.

However, the Trump campaign team told US media that it had obtained a license to play the song. It is from Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI), a company that ensures that its members receive royalties for every public performance of their songs.

From Celine Dion to Beyonce

Whatever the outcome, it’s still an embarrassment for the Trump team. The Foo Fighters are already part of a long line of famous musicians: Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was recently played against her will at a Trump rally in Montana. Sinead O’Connor’s record label opposes the use of “Nothing Compares 2 U” at Trump rallies.

Taylor Swift and Rihanna have also been in the same situation — artists like Tom Petty, Adele and R.E.M. have long asked Trump’s team to stop using their music. So have Neil Young and Elton John. Just days ago, a video surfaced of Trump featuring Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” Ironically, Kamala Harris had been using it for weeks, with the singer’s approval. The Republican singer then threatened to issue a cease-and-desist order.

The Foo Fighters' “My Hero” is now also part of the long list. And who is the hero in your song? There has often been speculation that it might be about Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. When singer Dave Grohl was asked about it in 1999, he said that it would actually be about everyday heroes, about regular people, not a celebrity. Although he has admitted elsewhere that there is “definitely a Kurt element” in the song.