The hauntingly beautiful Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah” was used twice at the Republican National Convention despite not being authorized by Leonard Cohen’s estate. Following Trump’s speech a recording of the song performed by Tori Kelly played during the fireworks display, and tenor Christopher Macchio performed a live version as well. All done without authorization — indeed, despite the explicit denial of authorization. Michelle L. Rice, a legal representative of the Cohen estate stated:
We are surprised and dismayed that the RNC would proceed knowing that the Cohen Estate had specifically declined the RNC’s use request, and their rather brazen attempt to politicize and exploit in such an egregious manner “Hallelujah”, one of the most important songs in the Cohen song catalogue. We are exploring our legal options.
Of course, this should come as no surprise from an RNC that equally egregiously misled New York public housing tenants in gathering interview footage, and misappropriated footage of a naturalization ceremony without the knowledge of the participants.
My first reaction was disgust at Trump’s almost sacrilegious misuse of this song- but as I thought through the lyrics some of them actually sort of fit.
You say I took the name in vain, I don’t even know the name
That works — Trump basically blasphemes every time he refers to God, and even used tear gas to drive people — including clergy — from an historic church so he could get a photo op with the Bible, a book he (Mr “Two Corinthians”) clearly hasn’t read and doesn’t know.
I did my best, it wasn’t much, I couldn’t feel
Hmmm — seems like a pretty apt description of Trump’s inability to handle the Covid pandemic, and his complete lack of empathy.
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch, Love is not a victory march
Cohen alludes to the image of the Nazi flag hanging on the Arc de Triomphe here — that certainly fits the neo-fascism of Trump.
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool ya
Well, I guess that’s the end of the road on this. No, there really is no way to make Hallelujah an appropriate song for Trump and his RNC.
Fortunately, the Cohen estate had a better suggestion. Attorney Rice concluded her comment with some brilliant shade:
Had the RNC requested another song, “You Want it Darker,” for which Leonard won a posthumous Grammy in 2017, we might have considered approval of that song.
Here’s a link to a performance of Hallelujah that we can all appreciate:
