Watch Usher, Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow & others tell politicians 'Don't Use Our Song'
The list of artists demanding that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stop using their songs during the Republican National Convention grew longer and longer as last week's gathering in Cleveland went on. From the Rolling Stones to the Turtles, Queen and Earth, Wind & Fire, artists protested what they deemed the unauthorized playing of their signature songs in support of the real estate billionaire's campaign.
Queen: Trump's Use of 'We Are the Champions' at RNC was 'Unauthorized, Against Our Wishes'
On Sunday's Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took on the issue of politicians appropriating pop music for their own purposes in the most John Oliver way possible: he gathered a bunch of them for a "We Are The World"-style protest anthem called "Don't Use Our Song." "The point here is, if artists want to lend their music to politicians that's fine," he said. "But it is not okay for politicians to just take their songs."
With the likes of Usher, John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow, Michael Bolton, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Cyndi Lauper, Josh Groban and Imagine Dragons singer Dan Reynolds on hand, Oliver said it is time for artists to take a stand. "But we notice something's wrong and it's gone on way too long/ So we're asking you right now, stop using our songs," Usher sings in the bit, where the performers appeared in front of a variety of all-American green screen backdrops, from Yellowstone National Park to state capitals, diners, football stadiums and roller coasters. "If I wanted to sing and not get paid, I'd be on Spotify," Groban croons at one point, putting a fine point on the whole licensing issue as well.
Check out the whole song (but, FYI, you can't use it in your campaign either.):
