In the 2024 campaign trail, the famous song “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion has become a new bone of contention. On August 9, 2024, former President Donald Trump used a video of Dion singing her renowned song, the theme for the 1997 film “Titanic,” at a rally in Bozeman, Montana. Dion’s team was unaware that her song would be played at the event and immediately expressed their displeasure.
After the rally, Dion’s management and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, released a statement to express their objection to the unauthorized use of the song. They stated they had just discovered that a video, recording, and musical performance of Dion performing “My Heart Will Go On” was used without their knowledge at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana and questioned the choice of the song.
The decision to use “My Heart Will Go On” at a political gathering is significant due to its association with the sinking of the Titanic. Observers did not miss this connection. Some social media users stated that the song matched a campaign heading towards disaster, while others wondered if the song choice was an internal joke, suggesting that someone within the campaign was perhaps ridiculing it.
This event has attracted fresh attention to the larger problem of political campaigns using popular music without the artist’s permission. Dion is now among a growing list of musicians, including The Rolling Stones, Adele, Neil Young, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, who have objected to Trump using their songs at his rallies. Despite these protests, the Trump campaign continues to play music from various artists, often resulting in public disagreements.
Legal professionals state that political campaigns need to acquire a public performance license to use copyrighted music at events. These licenses are usually provided by organizations like Broadcast Music Inc. or the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Although many venues have overall licensing agreements that allow them to play a variety of music, the specific use of an artist’s work in a political context can be more controversial, particularly when the artist does not support the candidate.
In Dion’s case, the concern goes beyond copyright issues to include her image and reputation. The Trump campaign’s use of a video showing Dion performing “My Heart Will Go On” could have wrongly implied that she supported the candidate, an idea that her team promptly refuted. Her management underlined that the use was unauthorized and Dion did not support or endorse it in any form.
The timing of the incident is noteworthy, as Dion had recently returned to the stage after a long health-related absence. She had surprised fans with a performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics just two weeks prior, her first since 2020. The singer, who disclosed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, has mostly kept a low profile in recent years, making her comeback even more significant.
For Donald Trump, the unauthorized use of Dion’s music will likely not deter him from continuing to play popular songs at his rallies. His campaign is well-known for its varied playlist, featuring everything from patriotic songs to musical theater tunes. Nevertheless, the ongoing conflicts with artists over the use of their music raises questions about the campaign’s strategy and the potential legal and reputational risks involved.
As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s team will respect the objections of artists like Dion or continue to push the envelope in using music at political events. However, one thing is certain: Celine Dion’s heart will not go on with Trump’s campaign.
