George Harrison's family objects to Donald Trump's use of 'Here Comes the Sun'
The musician's estate joked that a more appropriate song would be 'Here comes Darkness'
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Your support makes all the difference.One thing is clear - George Harrison’s family do not appear to be the greatest fans of Donald Trump.
On Thursday evening, as the Republican presidential candidate officially accepted his party’s nomination and spoke to supporters and detractors in Cleveland, the former Beatle’s estate voiced its disapproval of the tycoon’s use of one of the late Beatle’s best-known songs.
As Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, took to the stage to introduce her father, her arrival was accompanied by the Harrison-penned Beatles’ hit Here Comes the Sun.
Shortly afterwards, the official Twitter account of the George Harrison estate, wrote: “The unauthorised use of #HereComestheSun at the #RNCunCLE is offensive & against the wishes of the George Harrison estate."
But that is not where it ended. In a clear indication of the estate’s disapproval of Mr Trump, the account then tweeted: “If it had been Beware of Darkness we might have approved it!”
Here Comes the Sun, which first appeared on the Beatles 1969 album Abbey Road, has been recorded by dozens of artists. The track Beware of Darkness, though less well-known, has also been covered by a number of other performers and first appeared on Harrison’s 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass.
There was no immediate word on Friday from the Harrison estate as to why it was so opposed to Mr Trump making use of the track and why it equated him with darkness. The estate is headed by Harrison’s widow, Olivia, who has lived at the couple’s UK home, Friar Park in Henley-on-Thames, since Harrison’s death in 2001.
What is certain is that this is not the first time Mr Trump or his campaign has run foul of musicians for the apparently unauthorised use of their music. Earlier on Thursday, the O’Jays decried their music being played at the Cleveland convention. Their 1973 hit Love Train was used and even changed to Trump Train.
“Our music, and most especially, Love Train is about bringing people together, not building walls,” singer Walter Williams declared in a statement, according to the New York Daily News.
Rock band Queen delivered a similar comment earlier in the week Wednesday when We Are the Champions was blasted as Mr Trump made his WWE-like entrance.
Joining the list is R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire for the use of September and rock band The Turtles, who objected to the use of Happy Together on opening day of the convention.
Previously, the Rolling Stones, Steven Tyler, R.E.M, Queen, Adele, Elton John and Neil Young asked that their music not be used by Mr Trump.
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