News | Entertainment
20 Mar 2025 0:19
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Donald Trump's administration has been slammed by the band Semisonic for using their hit song 'Closing Time' in a controversial deportation video shared on social media

    The White House and Border Patrol's official Instagram accounts posted a video showing agents searching undocumented immigrants before deportation, set to the group's 1998 track


    Their post was captioned with lyrics from the song, reading: "'You don't have to go home but you can't stay here' @borderpatrol."

    Minneapolis-based band Semisonic has now responded to the use of their music in a statement to DailyMail.com.

    They said: "We did not authorise or condone the White House's use of our song in any way. And no, they didn't ask.

    "The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely."

    The track was written by frontman Dan Wilson, 63, who has previously spoken about its meaning.

    In a 2018 interview with Billboard, the musician explained 'Closing Time' was partially inspired by the birth of his daughter, Coco.

    He said: "The guys wanted a new song to close our sets with. I thought 'Closing Time' would be a good title.

    "We had spent seven years of our lives at that point, four nights a week entertaining people. That was our life.

    Some bouncers yelling things, closing time coming, all that imagery - literally, that's how the song started.

    "And then when I was halfway done, I started realising the whole thing was a pun about being born, so I just made sure that the rest of the thing could ride with that double meaning. But nobody got the joke and I didn't bother to explain. I thought everyone would get it."

    Dan has continued a successful career in songwriting and co-wrote the Grammy Award-winning 2011 Adele track 'Someone Like You'.

    'Closing Time' became a major hit in the late 1990s, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and charting in the top 50 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     19 Mar: Kesha has spoken out about the importance of authenticity in a world she thinks is increasingly focused on curated perfection
     19 Mar: Courtney Love has announced she is permanently relocating to the UK over fears about the impact of Donald Trump's second term as US president
     19 Mar: Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump are said to be taking their relationship slowly
     19 Mar: Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa was still alive a full day after authorities initially believed she had died, according to newly uncovered phone records
     19 Mar: Kim Kardashian is reportedly considering changing her custody agreement with ex-husband Kanye West after he released a song featuring their eldest daughter, North West, without her approval
     19 Mar: Conan O'Brien is returning to host the Oscars again next year
     19 Mar: Catherine, Princess of Wales wants to take her children to Australia and New Zealand
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A group of high-profile New Zealanders, including NBA star Steven Adams and former All Blacks lock Ali Williams, have proposed a new 12,500-seat stadium at Auckland's Western Springs More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New figures show how pandemic lockdowns pushed up rents More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway One is blocked south of Levin as emergency services respond to a house fire 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Kesha has spoken out about the importance of authenticity in a world she thinks is increasingly focused on curated perfection 21:44

    Accident and Emergency:
    Police say a 24-year-old Turangi man who'd been missing since last month has been found safe 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Courtney Love has announced she is permanently relocating to the UK over fears about the impact of Donald Trump's second term as US president 21:14

    International:
    The Trump administration has released thousands of unredacted files on the JFK assassination. Here's what they tell us 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump are said to be taking their relationship slowly 20:44

    Entertainment:
    Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa was still alive a full day after authorities initially believed she had died, according to newly uncovered phone records 20:14

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian is reportedly considering changing her custody agreement with ex-husband Kanye West after he released a song featuring their eldest daughter, North West, without her approval 19:14

    Business:
    New figures show how pandemic lockdowns pushed up rents 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Conan O'Brien is returning to host the Oscars again next year 18:44


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd