Rufus Wainwright Outraged Over Donald Trump’s Performance of ‘Hallelujah’ Calling It ‘The Height of Blasphemy’

Donald Trump has curated an extensive selection of favorite songs, many of which he seemingly does not grasp. On October 14, during a town hall gathering, he opted to skip the typical inquiries and simply… play music. Yes, this is the individual currently campaigning for the presidency of the United States.

His musical selection featured several well-loved tracks, including “Rich Men North Of Richmond.”Under normal circumstances, songs like the Village People’s “YMCA” and Rufus Wainwright’s “Hallelujah” would be well-received, but at a Trump event, the atmosphere felt completely bizarre. It was surreal to witness Trump, a convicted felon, awkwardly swaying along to the music. The line “The baffled king composing Hallelujah” seemed to encapsulate the absurdity of Trump standing there in blissful ignorance. Recently, even Kamala Harris’s team has voiced concerns about his mental clarity.

Wainwright, on the other hand, is far from pleased.

In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, the artist expressed his discontent, stating, “The song ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen has evolved into an anthem symbolizing peace, love, and a commitment to truth. I have felt incredibly honored to be associated with this tribute to acceptance. Watching Trump and his supporters engage with this music last night was a profound blasphemy.”

Wainwright is not alone in his frustration regarding Trump’s use of his music. Most of the tracks played during the town hall were from artists or their estates that have explicitly denied Trump permission to utilize their creative works. This extensive list includes notable names like Axl Rose, Sinéad O’Connor, The Village People, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Luciano Pavarotti, Celine Dion, Prince, Jack White, R.E.M., and many others.

He concluded his statement with, “Naturally, I completely disapprove of this and was appalled; nevertheless, I hold onto a glimmer of hope that by immersing himself in the lyrics of Cohen’s masterpiece, Donald Trump might begin to feel a fraction of the remorse for the damage he has wrought. But I’m certainly not expecting anything.”

Moreover, his statement to Entertainment Weekly revealed that Sony Music Publishing has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Trump’s team, seeking to halt the use of the song. One can only hope for action.

Source