Among all the other things that transpired at and around President Trump’s reelection campaign in Minneapolis Thursday night, his team played the music of a hometown hero: Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Soon after, the estate of Minnesota’s late musical hero made it clear just how unhappy it was — and shared a letter from Trump’s legal team from a year ago, in which the campaign explicitly promised not to use Prince’s music.
Politicians soundtracking – or co-opting, depending on your point of view — famous songs is a familiar conundrum for artists. Candidates want well-known, usually mood-boosting hits to get the crowd going. (One notable exception: the rather doleful “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones, which was a favorite for then-candidate Donald J. Trump in 2016.)