Music generates passion and emotion, so it’s little surprise that popular tunes have been featured in presidential contests since the days of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
But as a scholar of music’s role in American politics and patriotism, I’ve never seen music assume as much electoral importance as it has in recent months.
Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris is headline news, as were the mere rumors that Beyoncé might perform at the Democratic National Convention. Donald Trump, too, has his pop culture supporters, including Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood.
In a tight race, music has the potential to make a big difference. Most voters today have already made up their minds, and the presidential race remains a statistical dead heat, according to polls. In this situation, I think music offers a deceptively simple, emotional hook that can inspire the party base without alienating those few undecideds in the middle.
When crowd size matters, getting your supporters to sing, scream and dance can cultivate an aura of electoral triumph.
Fired up, ready to go
Music had a starring role in this year’s dueling nominating conventions.
Beyond the expected fare of the national anthem and the background music that filled the voids between speakers, pop hits were used to transform each party’s typically tedious state-by-state roll call. When Florida’s 125 votes took Trump over the top, confirming that he would be the official Republican nominee, organizers played Kool & The Gang’s 1980 No. 1 hit, “Celebration.”
Over at the Democratic convention, celebrity emcee DJ Cassidy turned the relatively banal proceedings of the roll call into a dance party. As each state and territory was called to vote, a signature song burst forth to introduce, welcome and energize the crowd. Alabama’s call-out was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” announced Michigan, while 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 call for Georgia with the guttural shout “Heyaaah … ” followed by the opening lyrics of his party anthem “Turn Down for What?”
Soon afterward, Axios posted a full Democratic convention roll call playlist on Spotify, and its 61 songs showcase a tactical musical advantage held by Democrats.
None of the artists featured at that convention have publicly objected to their songs being used. In contrast, dozens of musical artists have disavowed Trump’s use of their music at rallies. In 2024 alone, they include ABBA, Adele, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Jack White and the heirs of Isaac Hayes.
Rather than fulminate against these slights, Trumpworld seems to embrace the headlines they generate. The objections of these artists reinforce the candidate’s trademark outsider status, and are yet another sign that he and his supporters are scorned by the nation’s political and cultural elites.
Both candidates’ soundtracks claim very different ideological territory. Harris favors youth-oriented hits with a high proportion by artists of color and women. Her selections send a message. Playing Chappel Roan’s “Femininomenon,” for example, signals both an inclusive, affirming message about gender fluidity while also suggesting to fans who know the song that it’s about time for a woman to be in charge.
Trump often features classic hits, including James Brown’s 1966 single “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” which emphasize traditional masculinity. Rock anthems and patriotic hymns dominate the Make America Great Again playlist, such as Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” and Queen’s “We are the Champions,” though the British band has protested its use. Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” has become an unofficial Republican hymn, and rally attendees routinely sing along.
Sonic stars and stripes
Simply put, I see the musical contest between Trump and Harris as a battle for vibes.
Each party’s base wants to hear an affirming, confidence-building musical message loud and clear. Whether it’s a current hit or a classic one, chart-toppers convey familiarity and popularity.
The fundamental question, however, is whether this soundscape of enthusiasm can fuel a victory.
Harris’ campaign notched a win after receiving Beyoncé’s permission to use “Freedom” as the candidate’s theme song. In contrast, the Trump staffer who used the same song in a video triggered a cease-and-desist letter. Trump’s team pulled the video and stopped using the contested track.
Harris’ embrace of Beyoncé’s political anthem connects the vice president to the pop star’s own biography as a tough, independent and successful woman of color. The song’s propulsive drumbeat tells a story of determination, using “freedom” to “break chains all by myself” and “keep running ’cause a winner don’t quit on themselves.” Harris would probably love voters to see her in this same light.
Yet Harris’ song choice is also surprising, in that it appeals to the raw patriotism of one of the nation’s defining values. American flags have long served as the obligatory backdrop of both national parties. But Republicans, particularly in recent decades, have gone into overdriveto claim patriotic symbols as their own, perhaps so voters see them as the nation’s true patriots.
I see Harris’ overt use of patriotic songs, whether it’s “Freedom” or the Civil War-era “Battle Cry of Freedom,” as a strategic reclamation of patriotism for the Democratic Party.
Political fandom
These playlists, pop star endorsements and battles over usage rights may show how presidential politics has become less a contest of ideas and more a form of passionate fandom that’s rooted in notions of celebrity, popularity and tribe.
Young voters, however, do seem to be discovering their political voice through music and social media. British singer Charli XCX’s “Kamala IS brat” endorsement may have given an early boost to Harris’ campaign, but some influencers declared its politicization as proof of brat summer’s early death.
Nonetheless, music has quickly become a weapon in the campaigns’ battle to win younger voters, with the demographic more tightly contested than it’s been in previous cycles. In this regard, Swift’s post-debate endorsement of Harris to her 283 million followers takes on more significance. The megastar could bring more young people into Harris’ camp, especially since her country music roots mean that Swifties span the ideological spectrum.
The strength of a democracy ultimately depends on the people exercising their power through the ballot box. If music gets more Americans to the polls, regardless of whom they vote for, Americans are more likely to have a result that they can trust.
For that reason alone, I’m happy to keep singing along.
Mark Clague is Professor of Musicology, Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan.
The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.
© The Conversation
23 Comments
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blue in green
Not really.
But it may effect her relationship with the fans she has alienated,
with her public announcement.
dagon
Definitely a case of 'one of these things is not like the other'.
The funniest instance of this is Tea Party and MAGA rocking out to Marxist Rage Against the Machine.
Banthu
RATM signed with SONY, one of the biggest corporations on the planet.
Whereas Taylor Swift is signed with Universal Music, another megacorp.
The corporations tell them what ideas to peddle and whom to publicly support, it's in their contracts.
wtfjapan
But it may effect her relationship with the fans she has alienated,
with her public announcement.
500k Swifties have registered to vote in the election, 77% of Swifties 18-30 are either democrat or independents. yeah shes not alienating much
Cephus
"Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris shows how big a role music is playing in 2024 election."
Aren't we glad that, it's one vote for each American Citizen. And the votes have no weighted average based on how famous, rich or fat you are!
virusrex
Of course you can show which part of their contracts stipulates this, right? A baseless claim would be irrelevant in the discussion.
The text you quote talks about the importance of the endorsement, not the vote. The impact of that endorsement on the public obviously is affected on how famous and rich the person is (how fat would be mostly irrelevant), thinking otherwise is naive.
Daniel Neagari
mmmm... really, becasue Kid Rock and Kanye are there but not much is moving on the Orange side...
rcch
According to a new poll released Saturday, only eight percent of voters said the superstar’s approval would see them “somewhat” or “much more likely” to vote for Harris.
The poll also found that twenty percent of those surveyed would be less likely to vote for her after the endorsement.
Cephus
"The text you quote talks about the importance of the endorsement, not the vote. The impact of that endorsement on the public obviously is affected on how famous and rich the person is (how fat would be mostly irrelevant), thinking otherwise is naive."
Endorse or not those gonna vote will vote anyways. And those who don't want to vote, wont. So it makes no difference except cute publicity stunt.
bass4funk
Uh-oh.....
https://x.com/CannedSpam/status/1835327676493500791
Strangerland
Fake news.
Strangerland
Trump should definitely make sure to crap on Taylor Swift publicly more. He should also be pointing people at his own musical talent, Kid Rock. These two actions will see him win the white house.
bass4funk
In the minds of the left, could be.
I hope so as well.
Not him, but the economy and border, absolutely.
Strangerland
Fake news.
Kamala is polling higher in regards to the economy AND the border now than Trump.
The people realized that Trump's Tariff Tax was going to be devastating to everyone but the super rich.
And the people have realized he is more into a border problem than a border solution.
bass4funk
In the minds of the left, could be.
Where?
Interesting, why are then the Ueber rich voting for Kamala if the Trump Tariff Tax is supposedly devastating? One would not think the super-rich would vote for a Marxist. My, my what a very strange world we live in.
Like sealing the border. Sending illegals back and putting US sovereignty first, why how dare he!
Strangerland
Fake news.
Everywhere. But they are hiding the truth from you in your far-right extremist safety bubble.
Elon Musk.
Blocked borer legislation so he could campaign on it. Kamala exposed him during the debate.
bass4funk
Where?
Specifically, if you can't. it's ok, I know you just do what you do best, talk.
No, he's not suicidal.
As he should have since he would never have stopped the flow of illegals, thank God.
Strangerland
Yes trump couldn’t do it in his term so Biden had to come in and fix it. That’s why illegal border crossings are lower than in trumps entire term.
virusrex
A personal idea about the situation is not an argument that proves anything, it has been shown that people visited in large numbers the voter registration site thanks to the promotion she did, so that is enough to disprove your belief, famous people promoting vote do make a difference.
FizzBit
and
LOL trust?
delusional conclusion
Cephus
"A personal idea about the situation is not an argument that proves anything, it has been shown that people visited in large numbers the voter registration site thanks to the promotion she did, so that is enough to disprove your belief, famous people promoting vote do make a difference."
It makes no difference to me, if does to you good for you. I'm capable of making my own decisions without outside influences and many I know do the same.
virusrex
"It makes no difference" and "it makes no difference to me" are two completely different things. The argument is neither what it does for me but what can be objectively proved with data.
The actual case is that people mistakenly believe they are not being influenced, then act accordingly to what their friends, family, coworkers do, or what their religion imposes. To say you are not being influenced by nothing is extremely easy, but it ends up being false all the time.
It does make a difference for literally thousands of people, that one single person with fixed prejudices already decided their votes no matter what horrible things their favorite candidate does is what makes no real difference.
Strangerland
Billie Eilish also stepping up to the plate to put that piece of garbage in the mirror as a part of history.
His delusion is getting worse daily. The Republicans are hiding his cognitive decline and the media is sanewashing his ridiculousness to write about what they think a sane person would be meaning if they were rambling like the old man is.