Johnny Marr, the legendary guitarist, has openly expressed his disapproval of Donald J. Trump. The catalyst? A clip surfaced showing his band The Smiths’ track “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” echoing through the speakers at a Trump rally in South Dakota.
Political reporter Ben Jacobs highlighted that the song seems to have become a staple in Trump’s pre-event playlist. Marr’s reaction on Twitter was a mix of disbelief and immediacy: “Ahh…right…OK,” he tweeted. “I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now..”
Marr’s been vocal about his disdain for Trump, even before the 2016 election circus began. Now, he’s part of a growing chorus of artists, including big names like Rihanna and the Rolling Stones, who’ve all said ‘no way’ to Trump using their tunes. This group also nods to the estates of music icons Prince and David Bowie.
Wanna dive deeper into this tussle of tunes and politics? Marc Hogan penned an insightful piece in 2020 about the legal hurdles artists face when they try to block politicians from jamming to their hits. It’s a must-read for anyone following this melodious drama.
