Neil Young has become the quintessential old man yelling at a cloud. These days, he just seems to be pissed off at everything, whether it’s the fact that music doesn’t sound good enough, vinyl is too popular, or that Walmart and Starbucks are big companies who employ a lot of people and provide a valued service.
Most recently, Young went off at high-profile billionaire, reality television star, and now Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, because the Don used his 1989 classic ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ during the launch of his 2016 presidency campaign last week.
In a video that has since gone viral, Trump can be seen descending a Trump Tower escalator as the song rings out across a field of press. He then makes his way over to the podium to announce to everybody that a guy who made celebrities sell cupcakes on TV is the right person to lead the free world.
As News Corp reports, this so incensed Young that his manager released a statement insisting Trump “wasn’t authorised” to use the song and explained that the Canadian rock icon is in fact barracking for Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, not that he can vote in a US federal election or anything.
Regardless, never one to back down from a fight, Trump’s campaign manager said the mogul did in fact pay for the rights to use the song. While Trump’s campaign manager insisted they would respect Young’s sentiment, The Don apparently isn’t so sympathetic and has gone ahead and laid the smack-down on Young.
On Wednesday, Trump fired off a barrage of tweets criticising Young for being a “total hypocrite”. Trump was apparently surprised by Young’s dissatisfaction, seeing as the rocker recently attempted to broker a business deal with him and even invited him to a concert last week.
“A few months ago Neil Young came to my office looking for [money] on an audio deal and called me last week to go to his concert. Wow!” Trump tweeted. Of course, one has to remember that Trump is now a politician and everything he says is almost certainly a lie.
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“For the nonbeliever, here is a photo of [Neil Young] in my office and his [money] request — total hypocrite.” Oh, damn… yeah, you just got owned, Neil Young. As readers can see in the tweet below, not only did Young try to do business with The Don, he gladly smiled for the cameras as he shook hands with him.
“[Neil Young’s] song, ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ was just one of 10 songs used as background music. Didn’t love it anyway,” Trump coldly tweeted before dropping the proverbial mic. What’s more, he was right about that too.
Business Insider reports ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ was played alongside Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On’, the Rolling Stones’ ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, ‘The Music of The Night’ from the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera, and ‘Memory’ from Cats. You were just a side piece, Neil Young.
Young is yet to respond to Trump’s serving, but really, what are you going to say to come back at that? In the meantime, Trump will be focusing on his election campaign, which will presumably take the form of a reality show in which he fires his way to the White House.
For the nonbeliever, here is a photo of @Neilyoung in my office and his $$ request—total hypocrite. pic.twitter.com/Xm4BJvetIa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015
.@Neilyoung A few months ago Neil Young came to my office looking for $$ on an audio deal & called me last week to go to his concert. Wow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015
For the nonbeliever, here is a photo of @Neilyoung in my office and his $$ request—total hypocrite. pic.twitter.com/Xm4BJvetIa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015
.@Neilyoung’s song, “Rockin’ In The Free World” was just one of 10 songs used as background music. Didn’t love it anyway.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2015