Watch Fiona Apple Yell ‘Donald Trump, F–k You’ at Standing Rock Benefit
Fiona Apple gave a fiery version of her anti-Trump “Christmas Song” parody, “Trump’s Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” during the all-star Standing Rock benefit concert at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre on Sunday.
The reclusive singer released a casual a cappella recording of the song earlier this month. But her live takedown featured a smooth, quietly jazzy backing band. Like the original version, Apple’s live performance swapped Bob Wells and Mel Tormé’s holiday lyrics to call out Trump’s misogynistic and racist remarks.
“Everybody knows some money and entitlement/ Can help to make the season white,” Apple sang. “Mothers of color with their kids out of sight/ Will find it hard to sleep at night.” Apple ended the performance by screaming a cathartic “Donald Trump, fuck you!”
The “We Rock With Standing Rock” concert benefited the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, whose recent, nationally publicized protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline resulted in a halt of construction. The concert also featured TV on the Radio, Sky Ferreira and Devendra Banhart.
“Trump’s Nuts” is one of several popular holiday-timed parodies marking the end of 2016 (and possibly the end of times). Michael Stipe, James Franco and Stephen Colbert vented about the year’s numerous disasters by lampooning R.E.M.’s classic “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” on The Late Show last week. Over the weekend, Chance the Rapper mourned the end of Obama’s presidency with a Run D.M.C. “Christmas in Hollis” spoof on Saturday Night Live called “Jingle Barack.”