I can still recall our last summer. You know, the one before we had to deal with any Donald Trump electoral campaigns or the numerous musicians forced to demand that the former US president stop using their music at the hate-mongering gatherings he calls political events.
ABBA and/or their Voyage holograms are the latest to demand that Trump stop using their music at his rallies after the Republican candidate reportedly played some of their hits, including "Money, Money, Money" (because of course), "The Winner Takes It All" and "Dancing Queen" in St. Cloud, MN — the US state with the highest Swedish population — on Tuesday (August 27), Svenska Dagblade reported [via The Guardian]. Film footage of the pop group and messaging urging supporters to donate to the campaign was also shown on the video screen at the hockey arena where the rally was held.
"Together with the members of ABBA, we have discovered that videos have been released where ABBA's music/videos [have] been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately taken down and removed," a spokesperson for Universal Music said in a statement. "Universal Music Publishing AB and Polar Music International AB have not received any request, so no permission or licence has been given to Trump."
Last week, Foo Fighters claimed they did not permit Trump's use of "My Hero" to introduce M.I.A.'s beloved RFK Jr. at a rally in Glendale, AZ. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung countered that they had a license to play the song, while a representative for the band reiterated, "Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and again, even if they had been they would not have granted it." They added that any song royalties gained from its play at the Republican event would be donated to Kamala Harris's campaign.
So far in his reelection campaign, Trump has also been slammed by Beyoncé, Céline Dion and Isaac Hayes for unauthorized use of their music. As Mamma Mia! star Christine Baranski recently suggested, ABBA's music would be better served (and probably permitted) at Democratic rallies.