The Republican National Convention entered its second day in Cleveland, Tuesday (July 19). After Donald Trump was formally nominated as the GOP nominee, a wide range of speakers took the floor — among them former presidential challengers Chris Christie and Ben Carson, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and Trump’s children Tiffany Trump and Donald Trump Jr.
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Following last night’s slogan “Make America Safe Again,” tonight’s theme was “Make America Work Again.” While the convention’s second night was largely free of the rancor and controversy of its first, there were still some notable music happenings.
1. Alaska vote total challenge spurs Earth, Wind & Fire dance party
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After Alaska’s delegation disputed the allocation of all 28 of its votes to Donald Trump, the house band launched into a lukewarm rendition of the seminal Chicago act’s classic “September.” The number was especially popular among the older attendees, who hoisted “Make America Great Again” signs in time with the beat.
2. Queen blasts Trump for using “We Are the Champions”
The British rock band said Trump’s “unauthorized use” of the song was “against our wishes.”
An unauthorised use at the Republican Convention against our wishes – Queen
— Queen (@QueenWillRock) July 19, 2016
Queen’s publishing company, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, also issued an official statement on the matter:
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has never been asked by Mr. Trump, the Trump campaign or the Trump Organization for permission to use “We are the Champions” by Queen. On behalf of the band, we are frustrated by the repeated unauthorized use of the song after a previous request to desist, which has obviously been ignored by Mr. Trump and his campaign.
Queen does not want its music associated with any mainstream or political debate in any country. Nor does Queen want “We are the Champions” to be used as an endorsement of Mr. Trump and the political views of the Republican Party. We trust, hope and expect that Mr. Trump and his campaign will respect these wishes moving forward.
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3. David Bowie’s drug references
In one of the oddest sights on the convention’s crazy first day, the house band playing David Bowie’s drug-tinged single, “Station to Station.
“It’s not the side-effects of the cocaine/ I’m thinking that it must be love/ It’s too late to be grateful,” the house band’s vocalist crowed while blissfully unaware attendees grooved along.
4. Another Van Morrison song gets poached by the GOP
One day after Rudy Giuliani departed the stage to “Brown Eyed Girl,” the house band treated attendees to “Domino.”