News | Entertainment
26 Dec 2025 11:23
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
     26 Dec: Jelly Roll has been pardoned over his robbery and drug convictions
     26 Dec: Russell Brand has called Katy Perry's new man Justin Trudeau a "globalist stooge"
     26 Dec: Brad Pitt spent his 62nd birthday with his girlfriend Ines de Ramon, who he is "more in love than ever" with
     26 Dec: Erika Jayne claims her estranged husband Tom Girardi is yet to divorce her because he is "incompetent"
     26 Dec: Idris Elba is "honoured" to have a Madame Tussauds waxwork
     26 Dec: Pete Davidson and his girlfriend Elsie Hewitt have welcomed a baby girl into the world
     26 Dec: Justin Bieber surprised his fans by covering Eminem's big hit Forgot About Dre on a recent Twitch livestream
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders coach Rob Penney's revealed what's on his 'Dear Santa' wish list as he plots their Super Rugby title defence in 2026 More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Some good news on the horizon for cattle and sheep farmers More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    Premier League football club Nottingham Forest are mourning the death of a club legend 11:06

    Entertainment:
    Jelly Roll has been pardoned over his robbery and drug convictions 10:50

    Politics:
    The Greens say they're after every vote possible - which could include pinching support from potential partners Labour and Te Pati Maori 10:47

    Rugby League:
    Steve Smith says he's feeling a hundred per cent ready to return to the Australian line-up for the Boxing Day cricket test in Melbourne 10:26

    Entertainment:
    Russell Brand has called Katy Perry's new man Justin Trudeau a "globalist stooge" 10:20

    Sailing:
    Callisto - one of four New Zealand entries - is being tipped as a contender for overall honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race 10:06

    Boxing:
    Scott Boland's hopeful the collective effort of the Australian bowling group can continue in the Ashes Boxing Day cricket test at the MCG 9:57

    Entertainment:
    Brad Pitt spent his 62nd birthday with his girlfriend Ines de Ramon, who he is "more in love than ever" with 9:50

    Business:
    Some good news on the horizon for cattle and sheep farmers 9:27

    Entertainment:
    Erika Jayne claims her estranged husband Tom Girardi is yet to divorce her because he is "incompetent" 9:20


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd