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Out of the shock and confusion of President Joe Biden’s announcement last Sunday to remove himself from the 2024 election, came a thunderous wave of hope, soundtracked by none other than Beyoncé.
After Biden publicly endorsed Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president, the Vice President addressed her supporters the following day at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware. Beyoncé’s “Freedom” was her walk-on music playing in the background along with roaring applause. Powerful. But surely a one-off. Until it wasn’t.
The vice president headed to a rally in Wisconsin the very next day and we heard Queen Bey again! Music has played an integral part in the success of a political campaign. William Henry Harrison’s “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” campaign song helped rally him to victory in the 1840 election (although he died of pneumonia a month after his inauguration, so maybe I’ll move on from that example).
The Music as the Message is Not for the Faint of Heart or Orange of Color
In the 20th century, candidates began to lean on pre-existing songs to galvanize voters. Bill Clinton adopted Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” when he ran in 1992. The band even played the song at his 1993 inauguration. On the other hand, when an artist does not allow a candidate to use their music, it can have just as much of an impact on voter perception as well.
When artists publicly allow their music to be used by a candidate, it can be seen as an endorsement, whether explicit or implicit. This can significantly influence public perception and rally fans who align with the artist’s views to support the candidate. Conversely, when artists refuse or publicly denounce the use of their music by a candidate, it can create a powerful counter-narrative. It sends a message that the artist does not support the candidate’s platform, policies, or values, which can sway public opinion and draw media attention.
Donald Trump tried to use several songs during his campaign for the 2016 Presidential election, and nearly all of the artists took exception to him doing so. In 2015, Trump used Aerosmith’s “Dream On” during a rally, and Steven Tyler, the band’s frontman and the song’s composer, sent him a cease-and-desist letter. Other artists, including Elton John, Adele, Bruce Springsteen, and Phil Collins (and the Rolling Stones, R.E.M., the Estate of Luciano Pavarotti, Queen, Rihanna, Guns-n-Roses, Pharrell Williams, the Estate of Prince, well, you get the picture).
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For many musicians, their work is a form of political expression. Allowing or refusing the use of their music in political campaigns becomes a part of their broader activism. It’s a way for them to assert their voice in the political arena and influence the discourse. Elton John said it wasn’t right for a British singer’s music to be used in an American election. Springsteen said his politics didn’t align with Trump’s—and he even made a response song in the process, announcing his support of Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton.
In an age where political messages are disseminated through various media, the alignment of an artist’s music with a campaign can amplify their political stance. Beyoncé’s allowance of Harris’ use of “Freedom” implies that she supports the vice president’s campaign. While the superstar has not publicly endorsed Harris, she did sing at Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony in 2009, who like Harris, is a Democrat.
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We Need Freedom Now
Candidates latch onto specific songs because they fit an emotional or anthemic aesthetic to their campaign, even if the song’s original meanings don’t match. Clinton’s usage of “Don’t Stop” repurposed the chorus lyrics, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow, don’t stop, it’ll soon be here, it’ll be here better than before.” Those words line up with Clinton’s hopeful rhetoric of change, despite the song being written about the aftermath of a love affair gone wrong.
Trump likely wanted to use Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” as a rallying cry for his supporters who (fake) honor patriotism, particularly since Trump was preaching more American-bred businesses and deportation of immigrants. But since Trump is perhaps not the music-loving DJ we heard about during the RNC, he missed the whole meaning of the song: “Born in the U.S.A.” is actually an indictment of how poorly veterans are treated. In fact, Springsteen criticized President Ronald Reagan for doing the same thing to the same song back for his reelection campaign in 1984. Oops!
For Harris, it’s brilliant to use Beyoncé’s “Freedom” as her theme music for several reasons.
As with previous presidents, it deviates from the song’s original inspiration (“Freedom” is taken from Beyoncé’s Lemonade, a narrative album centered around her husband’s infidelity). Lyrically, it is an anthem of self-affirmation and achievement through adversity.
Tryin’ to rain, tryin’ to rain on thunder,
Tell the storm I’m new
The storm could represent the turmoil that came from Biden stepping down as well, while the storm represents the prospect of President Trump returning to office. It can also serve as a warning to Trump, who was expecting to challenge Biden again, that he isn’t prepared to go toe-to-toe with Harris.
In the song’s anthemic chorus, Beyoncé sings:
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you? Cause I need freedom, too,
I break my chains all by myself, Won’t let my freedom rot in hell,
I’ma keep running cause a winner don’t quit on themselves
These words deeply connect with Black Americans who remember the pitfalls, hard work and sacrifices of millions of Black people to achieve legal and social changes.
In addition, Queen Bey represents authenticity in her embrace of her Blackness and her womanness—while never attacking or diminishing people who are neither. Her albums Lion King: The Gift and Cowboy Carter showcase the ideal of the Black diaspora reclaiming a history they’d been erased from. For Harris, an American woman of Jamaican and South Asian descent, her narrative is one that resonates with the millions and millions of us whose histories are a majestic coat of many colors.
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