As children we have all heard, (well at least most of us), the expression “what part of NO don’t you understand????
Apparently the White House does not have a clue about the word NO!
As a part of the Freedom 250 festivities and the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. are singers Lee Greenwood and opera stinger Christopher Macchio.
Macchio’s set list includes Leonard Cohen’s iconic hit “Hallelujah”.
However, permission to perform the song was not asked or given. Cohen’s estate has objected to the performance of the song.
The Leonard Cohen estate took to social media to post the message: “The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song ‘Hallelujah’ is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24. This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The message was IGNORED and Macchio sang the song during the June 24 “rally”.
The Canadian born artist died at the age of 82 in 2016.
The performance of “Hallelujah” is just the latest in a growing list of songs that the White House has used in various events without asking permission ahead of time. Several lawsuits and cease and decist orders have been field to prevent the use of music by artists who do not agree with what the White House is doing.
Tom Petty’s family, Neil Young, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter have all taken legal steps to keep their music from any event tied to the White House.