Representatives from the estate of late Montreal singer Leonard Cohen have refused to have his hit “Hallelujah” performed during the Republican convention held last week.
Never mind, the greatest classic of the artist who died in November 2016 was heard twice after the conclusion of President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech on Thursday evening on the floor of the White House.
According to “Variety”, Cohen’s team, including his publishing company, had “specifically refused” Republicans to use “Hallelujah” during the convention.
A lawyer for Cohen’s estate threatened to go to court.
“We are surprised and dismayed that the Republican National Committee (RNC) proceeded with the knowledge that the Cohen estate specifically refused RNC’s request for use, and their rather brazen attempt to politicize and exploit so blatantly.” Hallelujah “, one of the most important songs in Cohen’s song catalog. We are exploring our legal options, ”said lawyer Michelle L. Rice.
Me Rice threw an arrow at the hot White House occupant, adding this: “If the Republican National Convention had asked for another song, ‘You Want it Darker’ [NDLR Tu le veux plus noir»], for which Leonard posthumously won a Grammy in 2017, we could have approved that song, ”she said, an open attack on the Trump presidency.
Leonard Cohen’s publishing company, Sony / ATV Music Publishing, also confirmed Republicans’ requests to use the song “Hallelujah”. A spokesperson says that the Trump campaign has been disqualified, which appears to have ignored this further refusal.