- The Republican National Convention (RNC) made a mistake by using unauthorized songs, including Queen's "We Are the Champions" and The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
- Donald Trump has a history of using unauthorized music throughout his campaign.
- Other politicians, such as Sarah Palin and Ronald Reagan, have also faced criticism for using songs without permission.
- Musicians are calling for politicians to stop using their songs without consent.

John Oliver and some of America’s favorite recording artists remind politicians not to use their songs without permission on the campaign trail.

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-♪ ♪ -♪ -♪ I'm a man of my word ♪

There were clearly many mistakes made at the RNC, but I'd like to mention just 1 more regarding Donald Trump's choice of song for his entrance on Monday night.

word ♪ -♪ I'm a man of my word ♪ -♪ We are the

champions of the world ♪ Yes, that is Queen being played at the Republican National Convention.

So it's with a heavy heart that I announce Freddie Mercury dead again at age 69.

Now, Queen didn't give Trump permission to use that song, tweeting it was an unauthorized use at the Republican convention against our wishes.

And yet, on his closing night, Trump used another unauthorized song to cover him dropping what was an almost sarcastic amount of balloons.

And you will never guess what song it was.

♪ You can't always get What you want ♪

want ♪ -♪ What you want ♪ But look, Trump has used unauthorized music throughout his campaign.

And if you think you can't always get what you want, was a bit on the nose.

Just wait until you hear what song he used ahead of a speech he gave on the Iran nuclear deal.

And just so you know, this is real, we did not alter the audio at all.

-♪ It's the end of the world, as we know it ♪ -♪ Oh!

Trump may as well have been riding out on stage with the 3 other horsemen of the apocalypse.

And to be fair, it is by no means just Trump who has angered musicians by using their music without permission.

Mike Huckabee pissed off Survivor by using Eye of the Tiger, and Scott Walker had this happen.

After Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker used music from the Dropkick Murphys, they tweeted at him, -"We literally hate you." -♪ We literally hate you -♪ We literally hate you ♪ -♪ We literally hate you ♪ -♪ We literally hate you ♪ -♪ We literally

They may be angry Boston hooligans, but I'll say this about the Dropkick Murphys.

They know when to properly use the word, literally.

Politicians have been appropriating pop music for as long as anyone can remember.

Over the years, Sarah Palin has gotten in trouble for using Hart's Barracuda.

John McCain was asked to stop using 2 John Mellencamp songs.

The DNC was criticized by Cyndi Lauper for using True Colors.

And perhaps most famously, 3 decades ago, there was this.

Ronald Reagan used the song, Born in the USA in 1984 for his re-election campaign, until Springsteen suggested maybe he should listen to the lyrics.

Springsteen actually penned a tune about the dark side of the American story and the harsh treatment of Vietnam veterans.

Now, to be fair to Reagan, most people don't realize that.

I always assumed that, like every other Springsteen song, it was about struggling midnight heroes and their barefoot lovers, all named Mary, who broke free of that 1 horsepower town on bikes chased by shadows.

But, the point is, the point here is, if artists want to lend their music to politicians, That's fine, but it is not okay for politicians to just take their songs.

And it is time for musicians to come together and take a stand.

♪♪ It's that time of year, campaign season's here.

Your waving point, you make your speeches while balloons fall everywhere.

But we notice something's wrong, And it's gone on way too long So we're asking you right now Stop using our songs applause

I said turn all your laser lights on Fire up your confetti machine

Bring out your smiling backdrop Of ethnically diverse teens

Stop using our music That's a 1 and only rule We didn't write these songs To make your campaign Stop seem cool

Don't use our song You should use it wrong It might seem appealing, but you're just stealing.

By the time this tune is through, You'll be lucky if we don't sue.

You always take our music Out of context anyway.

Why would Reagan be playing Born in the USA?

Thank you for not paying me, that's a license you didn't buy.

If I wanted to sing and not get paid I'd be on Spotify Don't

use our song I mean, come on You knew we'd find out This is like the sixth time now Don't use our song It's

not your song You're lucky we don't sue And what's the deal with all those balloons?

And just to be clearer, you can't use this song either.

But here's 1 tune We all agree that you can use any time for free.

Don't you use it to be lucky if we don't sue.

And what's the deal with all those balloons Don't use our song Stop using my song You all sing along Oh, it might seem appealing You're a fun song But you're just stealing use our song You know it's wrong The crowd might like it But you did it right You know you are Don't you do it It just seems wrong Cause You


Speaker 0: -♪ ♪ -♪ -♪ I'm a man of my word ♪

Speaker 1: There were clearly many mistakes made at the RNC, but I'd like to mention just 1 more regarding Donald Trump's choice of song for his entrance on Monday night. -♪ I'm a man of my

Speaker 0: word ♪ -♪ I'm a man of my word ♪ -♪ We are the

Speaker 1: champions of the world ♪ Yes, that is Queen being played at the Republican National Convention. So it's with a heavy heart that I announce Freddie Mercury dead again at age 69. Now, Queen didn't give Trump permission to use that song, tweeting it was an unauthorized use at the Republican convention against our wishes. And yet, on his closing night, Trump used another unauthorized song to cover him dropping what was an almost sarcastic amount of balloons. And you will never guess what song it was.

Speaker 0: ♪ You can't always get What you want ♪

Speaker 1: No shit.

Speaker 0: -♪ You can't always get What you

Speaker 1: want ♪ -♪ What you want ♪ But look, Trump has used unauthorized music throughout his campaign. And if you think you can't always get what you want, was a bit on the nose. Just wait until you hear what song he used ahead of a speech he gave on the Iran nuclear deal. And just so you know, this is real, we did not alter the audio at all.

Speaker 0: Businessman Donald Trump! -♪ It's the

Speaker 2: end of the world, as

Speaker 0: we know it ♪ -♪ Oh! -♪ It's the end of the world, as we know it ♪ -♪ Oh!

Speaker 1: I mean, that is just too perfect. Trump may as well have been riding out on stage with the 3 other horsemen of the apocalypse. And to be fair, it is by no means just Trump who has angered musicians by using their music without permission. Mike Huckabee pissed off Survivor by using Eye of the Tiger, and Scott Walker had this happen.

Speaker 0: After Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker used music from the Dropkick Murphys, they tweeted at him, -"We literally hate you." -♪ We literally hate you -♪ We literally hate you ♪ -♪ We literally hate you ♪ -♪ We literally hate you ♪ -♪ We literally

Speaker 1: hate you ♪ look, you got... They may be angry Boston hooligans, but I'll say this about the Dropkick Murphys. They know when to properly use the word, literally. And none of this is anything new. Politicians have been appropriating pop music for as long as anyone can remember.

Over the years, Sarah Palin has gotten in trouble for using Hart's Barracuda. John McCain was asked to stop using 2 John Mellencamp songs. The DNC was criticized by Cyndi Lauper for using True Colors. And perhaps most famously, 3 decades ago, there was this.

Speaker 3: Ronald Reagan used the song, Born in the USA in 1984 for his re-election campaign, until Springsteen suggested maybe he should listen to the lyrics. Springsteen actually penned a tune about the dark side of the American story and the harsh treatment of Vietnam veterans.

Speaker 1: Now, to be fair to Reagan, most people don't realize that. I always assumed that, like every other Springsteen song, it was about struggling midnight heroes and their barefoot lovers, all named Mary, who broke free of that 1 horsepower town on bikes chased by shadows. But, the point is, the point here is, if artists want to lend their music to politicians, That's fine, but it is not okay for politicians to just take their songs. This happens every single election. And it is time for musicians to come together and take a stand.

Speaker 0: ♪♪ It's that time of year, campaign season's here. Your waving point, you make your speeches while balloons fall everywhere.

Speaker 4: But we notice something's wrong, And it's gone on way too long So we're asking you right now Stop using our songs applause

Speaker 0: I said turn all your laser lights on Fire up your confetti machine

Speaker 4: Bring out your smiling backdrop Of ethnically diverse teens

Speaker 0: Stop using our music That's a 1 and only rule We didn't write these songs To make your campaign Stop seem cool

Speaker 2: Don't use our song You should use it wrong It might seem appealing, but you're just stealing.

Speaker 0: Don't use our song, it just seems wrong. By the time this tune is through, You'll be lucky if we don't sue.

Speaker 4: Don't use our song, no. That's licensing. You gotta call my publisher, okay?

Speaker 0: You always take our music Out of context anyway.

Speaker 2: Why would Reagan be playing Born in the USA?

Speaker 0: It's about Vietnam! Thank you for not paying me, that's a license you didn't buy.

Speaker 2: If I wanted to sing and not get paid I'd be on Spotify Don't

Speaker 0: use our song I mean, come on You knew we'd find out This is like the sixth time now Don't use our song It's

Speaker 2: not your song You're lucky we don't sue And what's the deal with all those balloons? Don't use us, sir!

Speaker 0: Hey! And just to be clearer, you can't use this song either. But here's 1 tune We all agree that you can use any time for free. Don't use our song. All right, come on, y'all.

Don't use our song. For real, come on. Don't you use it to be lucky if we don't sue. And what's the deal with all those balloons Don't use our song Stop using my song You all sing along Oh, it might seem appealing You're a fun song But you're just stealing use our song You know it's wrong The crowd might like it But you did it right You know you are Don't you do it It just seems wrong Cause You

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