Breaking beats: #NoChill — songs used by political figures without permission

When running for public office, one must consider all types of things: who is my main audience, how can I sabotage the other candidates without going all Tonya Harding on them, and most important of all, wtf is going to be my theme song. Like the Seinfeld “womp-durp-blup” noise (but ideally much more fabulous and grand), a candidate’s walk-out track is a crucial part of their image. Do you think Tyra Banks just walked down the runway to any old garbage track? No, the Queen of Smize doesn’t play that game, and neither should any candidate.

But even worse is when a candidate uses a song without permission. That’s the most #NoChill thing a person could do. Do you think I enter the AJ+ office to the sounds of “Good For You” by Selena Gomez without the pop star’s permission? As if, I would never! (Some political figures truly make me SMH. Almost nothing is as bad as Hillary Clinton trying to dab on Ellen. That was a true crime against youth culture, hip-hop and, honestly, my existence, but that’s a story for another time.)

This week’s playlist is for all those songs that were used without permission and all the candidates that gave zero f**** about it… Sarah Palin is the worst.

ABBA — Take a Chance on Me

Remember when John McCain was trying to be president in 2008? Yeah, I kinda only remember Palin too. Anyway, the senator is apparently a major #fangirl of Abba. His fave track of all time is “Dancing Queen,” which is so something a grandpa like McCain would say. The band ended up sending the senator a cease and desist letter for playing “Take a Chance on Me” at his events. McCain ended up stepping back in the end, which is a good move, because I’m pretty sure everyone in Abba/all Swedish people could be witches.

Adele — Rolling in the Deep

Donald Trump has been playing this track, along with “Skyfall,” at his events, and Adele is not happy about it. I think Trump imagines “Rolling in the Deep” as a metaphor for all the money he rolls around in before he goes to bed every night.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — American Girl

During the 2012 election cycle, Michelle Bachmann got major side-eye from Tom Petty when the Minnesotan used his song “American Girl.”

MGMT — Kids

MGMT sued Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party for using this ‘08 jam. The French d-bags of the UMP party insultingly offered the band a single euro for using the song without permission, a story which eventually ended with a €40k settlement in favor of the psychedelic rockers.

Axwell and Ingrosso — Something New

Apparently Marco Rubio is “really into electronic dance music” which makes me wanna throw TF up. He cited Calvin Harris (who I despise, as you might know) and Tiësto as some of his faves, which is absolute garbage. Well, Rubio used this Axwell and Ingrosso track at some of his events, and the duo were so NOT happy about it that they sent him a cease and desist letter.

Bruce Springsteen — Born in the U.S.A.

Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” was released the same year that Ronald Reagan ran for president (1984), and the #NoChill actor turned politician used the song with no permission. This makes Reagan the OG #NoChill GOP music-stealing politician.

John Mellencamp — Jack & Diane

John Mellencamp has told a lot of politicians to stop using his music, like George W. Bush, John McCain and Ronald Reagan. I really like the production on this song. Remember when Jessica Simpson ripped it on “I Think I’m in Love With You”? Mellencamp’s music is so American it makes me wanna put on denim shorts, drink a Budweiser and shoot a shotgun.

Karate Kid — You’re the Best

Donald Trump thought it would be a good idea to jack this track for one of his tacky rallies. “He is the opposite of everything I stand for,” songwriter Allee Willis said in August of last year. Why does Trump keep doing this?

Heart — Barracuda

2008 Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin was nicknamed “Sarah Barracuda” in high school, which is probably something she only called herself. When Palin and McCain played the song at their group rallies, Heart wasn’t too happy. The sisters obvi think Palin is nutso, and ended up sending her a cease and desist letter. “I feel completely fucked over,” band member Nancy Wilson said.