Music Icon Tells Nikki Haley To Stop Using His Songs

Music Icon Tells Nikki Haley To Stop Using His Songs

(RepublicanJournal.org) – A member of the 1980s band Survivor has demanded that Nikki Haley stop using his music as a part of her campaigning. The Republican presidential candidate kicked off her run on February 15, featuring the hit song “Eye of the Tiger,” but the song’s co-writer took issue with the tune’s use as a political tool.

This incident isn’t the first time Frankie Sullivan has stood up to a politician over the song, which became an overnight sensation as the theme for the “Rocky” franchise and received an Academy Award nomination. The co-writer previously filed cease and desist paperwork against Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and Mitt Romney, and he succeeded in all three instances. Donald Trump had also attempted to use the song but heeded the writer’s request to stop playing it at his rallies without the need for litigation.

Sullivan insists he isn’t targeting anyone individually based on their ideologies, stating he simply doesn’t want those in the political arena using his music. He told Daily Mail that people on the campaign trail could write their own theme songs.

Unauthorized music use is nothing new among candidates. The music industry has a long list of instances when politicians have used — and pulled — songs during their campaigns. Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, and R.E.M. all sued Trump for playing their music, according to the Current. Insider reported that Dr. Dre demanded Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) cut his music from her political platform. Sting went after both George W. Bush and Al Gore, ABBA pursued a cease-and-desist against John McCain, and Sam Moore asked Barack Obama to stop using his music during the 44th president’s campaign. The list goes on.

Nikki Haley might be minus a theme song for the moment, but the 51-year-old Republican has hit the ground running with her stabs at both Biden’s and Trump’s advancing ages. During her rally, she stated the country wasn’t past its prime, but rather, “our politicians are past theirs.”

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