Donald Trump decided to use Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” when announcing his candidacy for president. This, to the surprise of nobody, rankled the left-leaning Young, who said that he did not give Trump permission to use the song, instead giving it to Bernie Sanders. It was the latest in a long line of musicians getting annoyed at politicians for using their song. However, you cannot add Jon Bon Jovi and Chris Christie to the list.
Christie finally got around to announcing that he was officially running for president today, an announcement that’s been expected for months. During the process, he played several Bon Jovi songs, including “It’s My Life” and “We Weren’t Born to Follow.” Christie, like Bon Jovi, is New Jersey born and bred. However, considering that Bon Jovi and his wife hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton yesterday, you might have imagined more musician/politician friction. Not the case!
“My friendships are apolitical, and yes, I absolutely gave him permission to use the songs,” Bon Jovi’s spokesperson told Billboard. New Jersey ties go deeper than political ones, evidently. Somewhere, the New Jersey-born Glenn Danzig is waiting for Christie’s call to use “Die, Die My Darling.”
(Via Billboard)
