That letter read, “Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind. In 2020, after his death in 2017, Petty’s family issued a cease and desist letter to President Trump’s campaign for the use of the song at a Trump rally in Tulsa. Others have used it subsequently, including Ron Paul of Texas. Hilary Clinton used the song, too, during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary campaign. Jim Webb later used the song for his successful efforts to be one of Virginia’s Senators in 2006. Petty’s team sent Bush a cease and desist and then the artist later played it for Al Gore at his home after Gore conceded the election to Bush. The track has been used at campaign events, including George W. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement.”įor his part, Smith said he hadn’t heard “I Won’t Back Down” before writing “Stay with Me.” But he acknowledged the similarity, calling it a “complete coincidence.” Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case, it got by. Petty commented on the exchange, saying he didn’t think Smith plagiarized him, adding, “All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. In 2015, Petty and Lynne’s people contacted the smooth singing Sam Smith’s representatives after it was realized that Smith’s hit song, “Stay with Me,” contained a resemblance to “I Won’t Back Down.” As such, Petty and Lynne received 12.5% of the royalties and were credited as co-writers of the song. Petty and the Heartbreakers even performed a rendition of it at the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon after the attacks. “I Won’t Back Down” was a popular play on American radio after the tragic September 11 attacks. In a world that keeps on pushin’ me aroundīut I’ll stand my ground, and I won’t back down Well I know what’s right, I got just one life Its meaning, therefore, is genius, as it is. If Petty had said it was the devil, a mother-in-law, a police officer, a thief, then the song would be that much more unrelateable to those without those foes. As a result, the song stands in as something anyone can play, sing or listen to when needing to stand up to someone in their own life. Yet, Petty doesn’t much name who the adversary is, for him. One of the reasons the song was so successful and so well-reviewed is because it’s an anthem for standing up for what you believe. I had a terrible cold that day, and George went to the store and bought a ginger root, boiled it, and had me stick my head in the pot to get the ginger steam to open up my sinuses, and then I ran in and did the take.” Of the experience, he said, “At the session, George Harrison sang and played the guitar. Speaking to Mojo magazine, Petty recalled being sick when he was recording the song. Petty’s debut solo record subsequently hit multi-platinum status. 12 on the Billboard charts and topped the rock songs for five weeks. Co-written by Petty and his songwriting partner and producer, Jeff Lynne, the track hit No. It was the lead track from his first solo record, Full Moon Fever. Petty released the song in April of 1989. All of that is the subject of this inquiry.
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