Music generates ardour and emotion, so it’s little shock that in style tunes have been featured in presidential contests for the reason that days of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
However as a scholar of music’s role in American politics and patriotism, I’ve by no means seen music assume as a lot electoral significance because it has in latest months.
Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris is headline news, as had been the mere rumors that Beyoncé might perform at the Democratic National Convention. Donald Trump, too, has his popular culture supporters, together with Child Rock and Lee Greenwood.
In a good race, music has the potential to make an enormous distinction. Most voters right now have already made up their minds, and the presidential race remains a statistical dead heat, in response to polls. On this state of affairs, I feel music affords a deceptively easy, emotional hook that may encourage the occasion base with out alienating these few undecideds within the center.
When crowd size matters, getting your supporters to sing, scream, and dance can domesticate an aura of electoral triumph.
Fired up, able to go
Music had a starring function on this yr’s dueling nominating conventions.
Past the anticipated fare of the nationwide anthem and the background music that crammed the voids between audio system, pop hits had been used to remodel every occasion’s usually tedious state-by-state roll name. When Florida’s 125 votes took Trump excessive, confirming that he could be the official Republican nominee, organizers played Kool & the Gang’s 1980 No. 1 hit, “Celebration.”
Over on the Democratic conference, movie star emcee DJ Cassidy turned the comparatively banal proceedings of the roll name right into a dance occasion. As every state and territory was referred to as to vote, a signature track burst forth to introduce, welcome, and energize the group. Alabama’s callout was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Candy House Alabama”; Eminem’s “Lose Your self” announced Michigan; whereas California featured the music of native emcees Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.
And in a moment designed to go viral, Atlanta native and crunk rapper Lil’ Jon answered the decision for Georgia with the guttural shout “Heyaaah . . . ” adopted by the opening lyrics of his occasion anthem “Flip Down for What?”
Quickly afterward, Axios posted a full Democratic convention roll call playlist on Spotify, and its 61 songs showcase a tactical musical benefit held by Democrats.
Not one of the artists featured at that conference have publicly objected to their songs getting used. In distinction, dozens of musical artists have disavowed Trump’s use of their music at rallies. In 2024 alone, they embody ABBA, Adele, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Jack White, and the heirs of Isaac Hayes.
Quite than fulminate towards these slights, Trumpworld appears to embrace the headlines they generate. The objections of those artists reinforce the candidate’s trademark outsider standing, and are yet one more signal that he and his supporters are scorned by the nation’s political and cultural elites.
Each candidates’ soundtracks declare very totally different ideological territory. Harris favors youth-oriented hits with a excessive proportion by artists of coloration and girls. Her choices ship a message. Enjoying Chappel Roan’s “Femininomenon,” for instance, indicators each an inclusive, affirming message about gender fluidity whereas additionally suggesting to followers who know the track that it’s about time for a lady to be in cost.
Trump usually options basic hits, together with James Brown’s 1966 single “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” which emphasize conventional masculinity. Rock anthems and patriotic hymns dominate the Make America Nice Once more playlist, resembling Child Rock’s “American Unhealthy Ass” and Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” although the British band has protested its use. Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” has become an unofficial Republican hymn, and rally attendees routinely sing alongside.
Sonic stars and stripes
Merely put, I see the musical contest between Trump and Harris as a battle for vibes.
Every occasion’s base needs to listen to an affirming, confidence-building musical message loud and clear. Whether or not it’s a present hit or a basic one, chart-toppers convey familiarity and recognition.
The basic query, nonetheless, is whether or not this soundscape of enthusiasm can gas a victory.
Harris’s marketing campaign notched a win after receiving Beyoncé’s permission to make use of “Freedom” because the candidate’s theme song. In distinction, the Trump staffer who used the identical track in a video triggered a cease-and-desist letter. Trump’s crew pulled the video and stopped using the contested track.
Harris’s embrace of Beyoncé’s political anthem connects the vice chairman to the pop star’s personal biography as a troublesome, unbiased, and profitable lady of coloration. The track’s propulsive drumbeat tells a narrative of dedication, utilizing “freedom” to “break chains all on my own” and “hold operating ’trigger a winner don’t stop on themselves.” Harris would in all probability love voters to see her on this similar mild.
But Harris’s track alternative can be shocking, in that it appeals to the uncooked patriotism of one of many nation’s defining values. American flags have lengthy served because the compulsory backdrop of each nationwide events. However Republicans, significantly in latest many years, have gone into overdrive to claim patriotic symbols as their very own, maybe so voters see them because the nation’s true patriots.
I see Harris’s overt use of patriotic songs, whether or not Beyoncé’s “Freedom” or the Civil Struggle-era “Battle Cry of Freedom,” as a strategic reclamation of patriotism for the Democratic Celebration.
Political fandom
These playlists, pop star endorsements, and battles over utilization rights might present how presidential politics has change into much less a contest of concepts and more a form of passionate fandom that’s rooted in notions of movie star, recognition, and tribe.
Younger voters, nonetheless, do appear to be discovering their political voice via music and social media. British singer Charli XCX’s “Kamala IS brat” endorsement might have given an early increase to Harris’s marketing campaign, however some influencers declared its politicization as proof of brat summer’s early death.
Nonetheless, music has shortly change into a weapon within the campaigns’ battle to win youthful voters, with the demographic more tightly contested than it’s been in previous cycles. On this regard, Swift’s post-debate endorsement of Harris to her 283 million followers takes on extra significance. The megastar might deliver extra younger individuals into Harris’s camp, particularly since her nation music roots imply that Swifties span the ideological spectrum.
The power of a democracy in the end will depend on the individuals exercising their energy via the poll field. If music will get extra People to the polls, no matter whom they vote for, People usually tend to have a end result that they’ll belief.
For that purpose alone, I’m glad to maintain singing alongside.
Mark Clague is a professor of musicology, arts management, and entrepreneurship on the University of Michigan.
This text is republished from The Conversation underneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the original article.