It’s been a while since Semisonic had a hit—okay, more than two decades—but they just found their way back into headlines, and not for a reunion tour. Instead, the band is slamming the Trump administration for hijacking their 1998 single “Closing Time” for a White House-produced video that glorifies deporting undocumented immigrants.
The video, posted Monday (March 17) on X, shows Border Patrol agents patting down and escorting handcuffed individuals onto a plane while Closing Time plays in the background. Because nothing says “law and order” like a ‘90s alt-rock anthem about last call at a dive bar.
Semisonic quickly fired back in a statement to Rolling Stone:
“We did not authorize 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.”
Considering Closing Time was last topping the charts when TRL was a thing, this could’ve been an easy W for Semisonic—a chance to remind people they still exist. Instead, they had to use their moment in the spotlight to call out yet another politician for shamelessly using music without permission.
“You Don’t Have to Go Home, But You Can’t Stay Here”—Or Can You?
For those unfamiliar, Closing Time was the lead single from Semisonic’s 1998 album Feeling Strangely Fine. The track hit No. 8 on Pop Airplay, topped the Alternative Airplay chart for five weeks, and became the definitive last song of the night for bar-goers everywhere.
Frontman Dan Wilson, who has since written for Adele, Taylor Swift, and Chris Stapleton, has repeatedly said that the song is about new beginnings. But leave it to the White House to take a song about stumbling out of a bar at 2 AM and twist it into a deportation anthem.
Not the First Time Artists Have Shut Trump Down
Semisonic isn’t the only band shutting down Trump’s playlist of unauthorized hits. The former reality-star-turned-president has a long history of using music without permission, often leading to public rebukes and legal threats. In just the past year, artists like Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Isaac Hayes, and The White Stripes have called him out for using their songs without approval.
At this point, you’d think Trump’s team would at least run a quick Google search before hitting play. But hey, maybe I Will Always Love You will be next on the playlist for announcing more tax cuts for billionaires.
Meanwhile, Semisonic might want to capitalize on this sudden resurgence of relevance. A Closing Time 25th anniversary tour? A deluxe re-release? Maybe just a well-timed merch drop? Either way, they’re back in the conversation—let’s see if they can keep the momentum going.
