The estate of the late Sinéad O'Connor has strongly condemned Donald Trump's use of the singer-songwriter's rendition of 'Nothing Compares 2 U' at his recent campaign rallies. O'Connor's estate and label Chrysalis Records issued a statement to Variety demanding that Trump immediately cease playing the song.
Sinéad O'Connor, known for her fierce moral code characterized by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency, would have been appalled by the misrepresentation of her work at Trump's political events. The estate emphasized that O'Connor would have found it insulting to have her music associated with someone she had referred to as a 'biblical devil.'
O'Connor, who passed away on July 26, 2023, in London at the age of 56, gained international acclaim with her second album, 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got,' released in 1990. The album featured her iconic version of 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' originally written by Prince. The song topped charts in multiple countries, earning O'Connor a Grammy nomination and critical acclaim.
Trump, the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, has faced backlash from numerous musicians for using their music without permission at his rallies. Artists like Johnny Marr, Adele, Aerosmith, and Bruce Springsteen have all spoken out against Trump's unauthorized use of their songs.
The statement from O'Connor's estate underscores the importance of respecting artists' wishes and intellectual property rights. It calls on Trump and his associates to respect O'Connor's legacy by refraining from playing her music without permission.
