The producer behind the controversial documentary "Melania" has revealed the musicians who refused to allow their songs to be used in the film, highlighting ongoing political tensions despite claims that the project is not political.
Musicians Decline Participation in First Lady Documentary
Released in January by Amazon MGM Studios, "Melania" follows the US first lady in the 20 days leading up to husband Donald Trump's second inauguration. The film has sparked polarised reactions, with critics and audiences divided, and earlier this year, musician Jonny Greenwood and director Paul Thomas Anderson made headlines when they condemned the use of their "Phantom Thread" score in the soundtrack.
Producer Shares Disappointments Over Music Licensing
In a new interview with Variety, producer Marc Beckman opened up about the team's efforts to include music from various acts who ultimately said no. Beckman insisted that "Melania" was "not a political film," but acknowledged that politics played a significant role in these refusals.
"There was music that we tried to get, but sadly, there [was] politics to it," Beckman told the publication. He described a "beautiful song" by Guns N' Roses that they had wanted to use, but the group could not reach a unanimous decision on granting permission.
"One of the guys – I don't want to name, it's not fair – said, 'You got it. Go.' And the other one was basically like, 'There's just no way,'" Beckman recalled. "So Guns N' Roses was definitely a disappointment for us; we all have a lot of respect for Guns N' Roses."
Grace Jones and Prince Estate Also Block Music
Beckman also revealed that they had attempted to use a track by Grace Jones, an artist for whom he expressed a "tremendous amount of respect." However, Jones reportedly could not "get over the political hurdle," despite the producer's assertion that the film is non-political.
"She apparently couldn't get over the political hurdle, notwithstanding the fact that the film is not a political film. So that was disappointing, too," Beckman said. "It's disappointing when people put politics so far ahead, and that happened a little bit with the film, for sure."
Additionally, the Prince estate blocked the use of one of the late singer's songs at the last minute. According to Beckman, the estate's lawyer stated that "Prince would never want his song associated with Donald Trump."
"We're like, 'But it's not a Donald Trump film! He comes into the movie once in a while, but this is all about Melania. It's not political.' And that guy blocked it. It's so ridiculous," Beckman commented.
Background on Soundtrack Controversy
The issue of the "Melania" soundtrack first gained attention in February when Greenwood and Anderson requested the removal of their music from the film. Greenwood explained that the score had been licensed by its owner, Universal, without consulting him, which breached his composer agreement.
This series of refusals underscores the challenges faced by the documentary team in navigating the political landscape, even as they maintain the film's focus on Melania Trump's personal story rather than partisan politics.
