Just like a boxer needs his opening music, US presidential candidates have long used songs as campaign anthems.
For bands and musicians, this can be an honor, although this is not always the case.
The White Stripes are taking legal action against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump because he used their smash hit Seven Nation Army without permission. In a video posted on social network X that has since been deleted, Trump is seen boarding a plane with the iconic riff beginning of the song playing in the background.
Jack White, the band’s singer and guitarist, posted a photo of the lawsuit on Instagram.
In August, Canadian singer Céline Dion announced that she would not tolerate her song My Heart Will Go On be used in Trump’s election campaign.
A long list of artists, including ABBA, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Foo Fighters, Guns’N’Roses, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, REM, the estates of Sinead O’Connor and Tom Petty, Rihanna, the Rolling Stones and the Village People, have already asked the Trump campaign not to use their music.
The use of music in election campaigns has a long tradition. The first president of the United States, George Washington, pioneered this practice in the country.
George Washington: “God Save Great Washington”
George Washington was the first presidential candidate to use a specific song in his election campaign. God Save Great Washington It is considered the personal anthem of the first president of the United States.
The tune of the British anthem God Save The King received new lyrics, and the president’s name replaced the words “our gracious king” in the song.
John F. Kennedy, 1960: “High Hopes,” by Frank Sinatra
Sammy Cahn wrote new lyrics for Frank Sinatra’s Oscar-winning 1959 hit High Hopes for Kennedy’s 1960 election campaign. It became the official campaign tune.
Ronald Reagan, 1984: “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen
The song chosen for Reagan’s 1984 re-election campaign is one of the biggest misinterpretations of a song’s meaning in the history of campaign anthems.
Born in the USA It’s not as patriotic as one might think. In the song, Bruce Springsteen takes a critical stance on the Vietnam War and criticizes the U.S. government for its treatment of war veterans.
Bill Clinton, 1992: “Don’t Stop”, by Fleetwood Mac
It is believed that the choice of success Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrowfrom 1977, was carefully calculated. That song had been especially popular among young Americans at the time, and 15 years later, Fleetwood Mac fans were middle-aged voters, a generation with particularly high voter turnout.
George W. Bush, 2000: “I Won’t Back Down,” by Tom Petty
In protest against the use of his song at campaign rallies, Tom Petty banned George W. Bush from using it in 2000. Twenty years later, President Trump had the same song played at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the late musician’s family sent a letter requesting a cease and desist.
Barack Obama, 2008: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)”, by Stevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed, DeliveredStevie Wonder’s “I’m Yours” was played frequently during Barack Obama’s 2008 election campaign. The message to his voters was “I’m Yours.” Many pop greats supported Obama, including Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and Katy Perry. Rapper and producer will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas produced the song. Yes We Can in his honor.
Kamala Harris, 2024: “Freedom”, by Beyoncé
Vice President Kamala Harris launched her 2024 Democratic presidential nomination with FreedomBeyoncé’s “The Song” as an anthem. The superstar had given Harris permission to use her iconic song, while she blocked Trump from doing so after a campaign video featuring the same hit was posted on social media.
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