Stardust and Scrutiny: The Perilous Mix of Pop Culture and Politics

Politics and popular culture are an awkward fit – here's the explanation

Political figures often try to borrow some celebrity glamour and demonstrate that they have similar interests as the general populace. The problem, however, is that cultural figures have their own views and are rarely in alignment with political leaders for an extended period.

Sky News analyst @adamboultonTABB

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 3:

Many individuals find it perfectly acceptable to attend a Taylor Swift concert, and often consider it a family-friendly event to bring their loved ones to.

Certainly, the financial responsibility for the event is significant. Sir Keir Starmer has settled the expenses for the complimentary tickets he received from the FA, the proprietors of Wembley Stadium, the venue for Swift's performances.

Despite the numerous significant events currently unfolding globally, the new administration continues to grapple with the controversy surrounding Freebiegate.

Labour exacerbated its issue as its top officials seemed reluctant to admit they attended the concert.

Parents, Sir Keir among them, readily cited "doing it for the children" as their justification.

The media had to meticulously uncover each aspect. It goes beyond merely the tickets.

Subsequently, we discovered that high-ranking officials discussed with law enforcement the possibility of arranging blue light security for Swift.

Further News on Donald Trump

Donald Trump walks back and forth on the stage quietly when his microphone suddenly stops working during a campaign rally.

An elephant reminiscent of Trump loomed over the Quad meeting.

Donald Trump's speech escalates in intensity, yet it might not impact voter opinions.

Associated Subjects:

It emerged that the Starmer family had the privilege of an encounter with the show's leading celebrity, a chance that wasn't available to the multitude of other fans present, despite her efforts to engage with her audience.

Explore further on Sky News: Trump shows irritation when microphone fails – Observe100 days under Starmer

Understandably so. Despite it being against the usual procedures, few would argue against providing security for one of the world's most famous performers. She's returning to London for another series of shows, having previously canceled her events in Austria due to a serious terrorist threat against her, a situation reminiscent of the tragic incident at the Manchester Arena.

The odor begins when initial denials are succeeded by tentative confirmations regarding who communicated with whom, including the involvement of the home secretary, at Wembley.

No criminal activity

Likewise, best wishes to the children of prime ministers. They merit some benefits given the numerous stresses they face.

This prime minister has decreed his identity to be confidential, strictly restricting access to him—though exceptions are made for Arsenal game tickets and photo opportunities with Taylor Swift at Wembley.

No laws have been broken. However, Sir Keir, who previously served as a leading attorney, is learning that merely adhering to the legal requirements is insufficient. A higher level of caution is anticipated from a prime minister, particularly one who has frequently held others responsible.

Prominent cultural figures hold personal views

Another guideline the prime minister might consider is that politics and popular music often clash. The allure is to borrow some celebrity sparkle and demonstrate alignment with the public’s preferences.

The caveat is that cultural figures possess their own viewpoints and are not likely to consistently align with any political leader for an extended period.

Consider Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president, who is famously fond of well-known songs.

This past Monday, he abruptly ended a congested town hall meeting in Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state, after several attendees passed out.

"The candidate proposed, 'Let's skip the questions and enjoy some music instead,' and then remained silently on stage for 38 minutes, moving rhythmically to the songs from his playlist."

Critical observers used terms like "confusing," "strange," and "odd" to depict the event, mockingly noting that the lyrics featured the phrase "Time to say goodbye."

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris participated with a tweet that implied concern, saying, "Hope he's okay."

Confidentially, supporters of Mr. Trump believe the most effective strategy for their unpredictable candidate to succeed in the upcoming 5 November election is to maintain a low profile in the interim.

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Rejections in Music

As numerous attendees began to leave, Mr. Trump's "musical fest" featured multiple renditions of Ave Maria, as well as performances of Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U, The Village People's YMCA, James Brown's It's a Man's Man's Man's World, Oliver Anthony's Rich Men North Of Richmond, Elvis Presley's An American Trilogy, November Rain by Guns N' Roses, Memory from the musical Cats, and Rufus Wainwright III's interpretation of Hallelujah.

The musicians were clearly displeased. In an extensive message, Wainwright charged Mr. Trump with committing "the ultimate sacrilege" by using Leonard Cohen's "anthem of acceptance." He also mentioned that the Cohen estate was issuing "a cease and desist order… And it goes without saying: I fully support Kamala."

This is merely the most recent in a series of musical rejections that Mr. Trump has dismissed.

O'Connor's representatives requested a halt to the use of Nothing Compares 2 U. Dave Grohl insisted on stopping the use of Foo Fighters' My Hero, while Celine Dion's label protested against the candidate using My Heart Will Go On.

Several prominent musicians have successfully prevented Mr. Trump from utilizing their songs. He ceased using Sam and Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming" following a copyright threat from Isaac Hayes' relatives.

In 2020, prominent musicians established the Artist Rights Alliance, urging both Republican and Democratic parties to refrain from using their music without permission.

The Rolling Stones united and warned they would take legal action against Mr. Trump for his use of their song "You Can't Always Get What You Want," despite the fact that it had been frequently played during his victorious 2016 campaign.

Mick Jagger expressed dissatisfaction that ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel used the nickname Angie without his approval.

"Should they decide to utilize such a thing in a political setting, they ought to seek permission. That seems reasonable," Jagger commented casually, before hinting that Start Me Up! could be more appropriate for the Chancellor.

Former President Trump is a big fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. It's said that White House staff hired a "music man" to play tunes like Memory or The Music of the Night to soothe him during his outbursts.

Stay informed with the newest updates from the UK and across the globe by tuning into Sky News.

In the 2020 election season, it's reported that Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group issued a cease-and-desist letter to Mr. Trump for using the song "Memory" from Cats.

Upon learning that the president was a fan of her song, Betty Buckley, famed for her portrayal of Grizabella in the 1982 Broadway debut of the musical, expressed her delight on Twitter, exclaiming: "Excellent news!!"

This year, she shifted her stance, responding with "Yup. Awful" to reports that her comments were overheard at the town hall this week.

In both the United Kingdom and the United States, conservative politicians are often criticized by artists when they use their music without permission.

M People were "furious" when ex-Conservative leader Liz Truss expressed a preference for their song Moving On Up.

Friendly Fires criticized ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson regarding "Blue Cassette."

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine expressed her dissatisfaction over the unauthorized use of their song "You've Got The Love" at the Conservative Party conference in 2017.

Ex-Prime Minister David Cameron, a known music enthusiast, frequently used songs without permission. The band Keane expressed shock when he played their hit "Everybody's Changing."

Primal Scream is "completely appalled" by Rocks. The typically understated Johnny Marr has emphatically declared, "Stop claiming you're a fan of The Smiths!"

Sunset Avenue

In the United States, prominent Republicans including Reagan, McCain, the Bush family, and Donald Trump have repeatedly clashed with Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp regarding their use of the songs "Born in the USA" and "Rock in the USA."

For an optimal video experience, it is recommended to utilize the Chrome browser.

The Tory Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber appears to be softening, possibly in an effort to persuade the current administration to back the arts, particularly live theater.

In a correspondence published by The Times, he expressed his endorsement of Sir Keir, referring to the controversy surrounding complimentary tickets as "ridiculous."

"Had I not asked Margaret Thatcher to attend the London premiere of Sunset Boulevard, she wouldn't have remarked upon exiting the theatre, 'I am big – it's the politics that got small'."

Sir Keir openly declares himself a dedicated fan of Taylor Swift. It's unlikely that Lady Thatcher knew of Norma Desmond or Gloria Swanson before Lloyd Webber persuaded her to join him that night.

She didn't actively seek the attention of celebrities, yet the Spice Girls acknowledged her as the muse behind their girl power mantra.

This week, Mr. Trump commended his own spontaneous dance event.

"He emphasized to his followers on Truth Social that despite the differences, it turned out to be a WONDERFUL NIGHT!"

Associated Subjects

Footer for Sky News

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Sky Television Networks

Additional Websites from Sky