Yahoo News Leonard Cohen fans furious after Trump plays ‘Hallelujah’ twice at RNC speech
Leonard Cohen fans are unhappy after Donald Trump’s campaign team played covers of Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” at the Republican National Convention.
The song was played twice at the conclusion of Trump’s speech at the RNC on Thursday (27 August), including a cover by singer Tori Kelly.
A number of Cohen fans shared their displeasure on social media when they heard Kelly’s version playing during a fireworks display that spelled out “TRUMP” and “2020”, between “She’s a Grand Old Flag” and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”.
To add insult to injury, the song appeared again as an operatic rendition by Christopher Macchio, on camera and at full volume.
Kelly shared a since-deleted note on Twitter commenting: “Seeing messages about my version of ‘Hallelujah’. All I know is neither myself nor my team received a request.”
Other fans pointed out the irony that Trump’s campaign chose to use a song by a Canadian to follow his deeply patriotic acceptance speech.
Cohen died the day before the 2016 election, which some fans maintain to be symbolic, given his political views and the fact that he wrote the protest song, “Democracy”.
Leonard Cohen wrote 80 verses in the original composition of “Hallelujah”. He couldn’t stop writing. The song grew into a reflection about love and loss and spirituality and empathy. Above all, it has space for countless views on what it means to be human.
The opposite of Trump.— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer)
I guarantee that the Trump family was watching that guy sing Canadian Leonard Cohen’s poetry and thinking about Shrek, and not of what the song is about which is orgasms.
— Theo Ward (@theopward)
Someone please mash up Trump’s fireworks w/ “Everybody Knows” by Leonard Cohen instead.
— B. Dolan (@BDolanSFR)
Before “Hallelujah” was played, Ivanka Trump had employed Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” to soundtrack her walk on stage. John has consistently spoken out against Trump.
