Sinead O’Connor’s iconic cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U has resonated with listeners for decades, its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics capturing the essence of longing and loss. However, recent events have cast a shadow over the song’s legacy as it becomes entangled in the political sphere.
The estate of Sinead O’Connor has issued a formal request to former US President Donald Trump, urging him to cease using the track in his political campaigns. This comes after reports surfaced of the song being played without authorization at Trump’s rallies and events.
In a statement released by O’Connor’s estate and her longtime label Chrysalis Records, they expressed their dismay and concern over the unauthorized use of the song, emphasizing that it goes against the wishes of the late artist herself.
O’Connor, known for her outspoken activism and uncompromising stance on issues, has been vocal about her disapproval of certain political figures and their ideologies. In 2020, O’Connor told Hot Press, “I actually do believe Donald Trump is the biblical devil.”
In a joint statement by the artist’s estate and Chrysalis on Monday (March 4), they highlighted that O’Connor stood by a “fierce moral code.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil.’”
Sinead O’Connor’s estate & Chrysalis Records
“Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings. It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies,” the statement read.
“It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil.’ As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump, and his associates desist from using her music immediately,” they added.
O’Connor died of what a coroner called “natural causes” at the age of 56 in July 2023.
This is not the first time artists have spoken out against the unauthorized use of their music in political campaigns. In recent years, numerous musicians have taken action against politicians for using their songs without permission, citing copyright infringement and misrepresentation.
“As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump, and his associates desist from using her music immediately.”
Sinead O’Connor’s estate & Chrysalis Records
R.E.M. has consistently opposed the use of their music by Trump, with frontman Michael Stipe calling Trump’s campaign a “moronic charade” and demanding that he stop using their songs.
The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards also both spoke out against Trump’s use of their song You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and the band threatened legal action if he continued to use it.
Bruce Springsteen, who previously objected to Ronald Reagan’s plans to use Born in the USA during his reelection run in 1984, also slammed Trump in 2016 for using The Boss’ same hit during Trump’s rallies without permission. In response, Springsteen released a track widely seen as an ‘anti-Trump anthem,’ called That’s What Makes Us Great, a play on Trump’s campaign phrase, Make America Great Again.
In 2020, Neil Young sued the Trump campaign for using his song Rockin’ in the Free World at rallies, while Adele has requested that Trump remove her songs from his public playlists, with a spokesman saying she “has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning.”
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