News | Entertainment
24 Dec 2025 16:51
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
     24 Dec: Jeremy Allen White spends his free time "fantasising" about real estate
     24 Dec: Buck Rogers star Gil Gerard has died just days after being diagnosed with a "viciously aggressive" form of cancer
     24 Dec: Danielle Fishel has "a lot to be grateful for" after completing her breast cancer treatment
     24 Dec: Lily Collins asked for some "grace" when filming the new series of Emily In Paris because she was "very tired" as a new mother
     24 Dec: Finn Wolfhard credits Joe Keery as a "huge influence" on his passion for music
     24 Dec: Prosecutors in Los Angeles have vowed to "pursue justice" following the "shocking and tragic" murder of Rob Reiner and his wife
     24 Dec: Billy Crystal will miss Rob Reiner and his wife Michele "forever"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Aussie surprise packet Joe Comito has lost his second round World Darts Championship clash against Northern Ireland's Josh Rock in London More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Purse strings appear to be tight this Christmas Eve - as last minute-shoppers hit the stores More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Four people have been arrested and 22 fined after a convoy of around 200 boy-racers attempted to set up multiple meets in Wellington last night 16:27

    Entertainment:
    Jeremy Allen White spends his free time "fantasising" about real estate 16:20

    Entertainment:
    Buck Rogers star Gil Gerard has died just days after being diagnosed with a "viciously aggressive" form of cancer 15:50

    Living & Travel:
    Christmas festivities return to Bethlehem after two years as Palestinians hope for 'better future' 15:47

    Business:
    Purse strings appear to be tight this Christmas Eve - as last minute-shoppers hit the stores 15:37

    Health & Safety:
    Health New Zealand funding for teens to get free dental treatment is short by roughly 20 to 750-dollars a treatment 15:27

    Accident and Emergency:
    One person's died following a house fire in New Plymouth overnight 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Danielle Fishel has "a lot to be grateful for" after completing her breast cancer treatment 15:20

    Entertainment:
    Lily Collins asked for some "grace" when filming the new series of Emily In Paris because she was "very tired" as a new mother 14:50

    Law and Order:
    Fire and police investigators are looking into the cause of a fatal house fire in New Plymouth in the early hours of this morning 14:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd