There have been many instances of politicians using unauthorized songs for their own campaigns in American politics; Ronald Reagan using Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A." against the singer-songwriter's wishes is a famous example. At the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this past week, Donald Trump caused some controversy when he came on stage to Queen's "We Are The Champions," prompting a response on Twitter from member's of the group.
In a recent segment from his HBO show Last Week Tonight, John Oliver detailed the history, and recent instances, of unauthorized usage of songs in political campaigns. He also brought together Usher, Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds, and more for collaborative song with a clear message: Don't use our songs. Watch the campaign songs segment above.
