Running for president of the United States of America isn’t any small activity, however it might probably assist to have some nice music behind you.

For one factor, using a marketing campaign track (or a few them) is a option to give voters a way of what sort of a candidate you’re. Do the track’s lyrics emphasize peace? Doggedness? Hope?

Additionally, past merely getting approval to make use of a specific track, it might probably’t be understated how necessary the endorsement of a well-known musician can develop into. If you could have, for instance, the assist of Bruce Springsteen, that is an entire lot of potential voters who could also be extra inclined to hearken to what you must say.

Below, we’re having a look on the marketing campaign music of candidates from throughout 50 years of American elections. To be clear: this isn’t an exhaustive checklist, as candidates sometimes use quite a lot of songs throughout their campaigns, however these are a number of the highlights.

Candidate: Robert F. Kennedy (D), 1968
Song: “Omaha Rainbow,” John Stewart

John Stewart, the author and performer of “Omaha Rainbow,” was a member of the folks group the Kingston Trio. He additionally wrote a lot of songs for different artists, together with “Daydream Believer” for the Monkees and “Never Goin’ Back” for the Lovin’ Spoonful. In 1968, Stewart toured the nation with Democratic candidate Robert Kennedy, whose marketing campaign can be reduce quick when he was shot and killed after successful the California main.

Candidate: George McGovern (D), 1972
Song: “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon and Garfunkel

George McGovern could not have been capable of safe the presidency, however he was capable of do one thing maybe much more spectacular: deliver Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel again collectively. A one-off reunion occurred on June 14, 1972 on the Together for McGovern profit live performance, produced by the actor Warren Beatty. Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits was launched the identical day.

Candidate: Walter Mondale (D), 1984
Song: “Gonna Fly Now,” Bill Conti

Nothing says motivational just like the theme from Rocky, which Democratic candidate Walter Mondale used for his 1984 marketing campaign towards the actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan.

Candidate: George H.W. Bush (R), 1988
Song: “This Land Is Your Land,” Woody Guthrie

Few songs have change into as synonymous with America as Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” Though utilized by Republican candidate George H.W. Bush, this track has roots in what was as soon as thought-about the “radical left,” a type of various nationwide anthem that advocated for a extra inclusive society.

Candidate: Michael Dukakis (D), 1988
Song: “America,” Neil Diamond

Running towards Bush in 1988 was Democrat Michal Dukakis, who went with the Top 10 1981 hit “America” by Neil Diamond for his marketing campaign. This was a nod to Dukakis’ personal roots — his father was a Greek immigrant from Edremit in Turkey, making Dukakis the primary ethnic Greek nominated for the presidency by a significant celebration.

Candidate: Ross Perot (Independent), 1992
Song: “Crazy,” Willie Nelson

There are many who imagine that working for president on every other ticket except for Democratic or Republican is, nicely, loopy. Ross Perot did it anyway in 1992 and, surprisingly, polled exceptionally nicely towards the 2 main celebration candidates, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. “There are millions of crazy people in this country,” he mentioned on the final day of campaigning, utilizing Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” the Patsy Cline model. “And I’ll say tomorrow I bet it’ll be a crazy day at the polls.”

Candidate: Bill Clinton (D), 1992
Song: “Don’t Stop,” Fleetwood Mac

Bill Clinton isn’t just a music fan — he and his spouse Hillary Clinton named their daughter Chelsea after the Joni Mitchell track “Chelsea Morning” — he is a musician himself, albeit an beginner one. He discovered to play the saxophone as a child and he even performed it at his 1993 inaugural ball. Also at his inaugural ball, Fleetwood Mac reunited to carry out what had change into Clinton’s official marketing campaign track, “Don’t Stop.”

Candidate: Bob Dole (R), 1996
Song: “Soul Man,” Sam and Dave

When working for president, you must by no means move up a possibility to cleverly insert your personal title into a well-liked track. Republican candidate Bob Dole did this with Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man,” swapping it for “Dole Man.”

Candidate: Al Gore (D), 2000
Song(s): “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “Sir Duke,” Stevie Wonder, “Let the Day Begin,” The Call

Al Gore didn’t win the presidency in 2000, arguably some of the controversial elections to happen in America. Gore used a couple of totally different songs throughout his marketing campaign, together with the Call’s 1989 minor hit, “Let the Day Begin.” “It was incredibly shocking,” Michael Been of the Call advised ABC News then. “It was out of the blue. No one told us anything about it. When I got home [from the recording studio] at four or five in the morning, I had messages on my answering machine from friends. It was a big shock. I don’t know Gore’s motive behind it, but I’m glad they picked it. Any way you can get a song heard by as many people is great by me. I hope he wins; I’m definitely voting for him.”

Candidate: George W. Bush (R), 2000 and 2004
Song(s): “I Won’t Back Down,” Tom Petty, “Right Now,” Van Halen

Tom Petty didn’t admire George W. Bush’s use of his track “I Won’t Back Down” throughout his election marketing campaign in 2000, towards Al Gore. So a lot in order that he not solely despatched a stop and desist letter to Bush’s group, he additionally carried out the track at Gore’s home after he conceded the election, with Gore’s spouse Tipper even becoming a member of in on percussion.

Candidate: John Kerry (D), 2004
Song(s): “No Surrender,” Bruce Springsteen, “Fortunate Son,” Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Beautiful Day,” U2

CCR’s “Fortunate Son” was not written to be a patriotic anthem, however as an alternative an acknowledgment of privilege in America throughout the Vietnam War — these with family and friends in excessive locations appeared to at all times be capable to keep away from being drafted. But John Kerry, future Democratic candidate for president, was not a kind of individuals. He enlisted within the Navy after graduating from Yale and served in South Vietnam, the place he was wounded 3 times and earned three Purple Hearts.

Candidate: Rudy Giuliani (R), 2008
Song: “Rudie Can’t Fail,” The Clash

There’s no option to know this for sure, however it appears unlikely that Joe Strummer of the Clash, famous determine of punk rock rebel, would have supported former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s use of “Rudie Can’t Fail” throughout his 2008 bid for the presidency. By that point, Strummer had been useless for six years, although, in the long run, Giuliani did certainly fail.

Candidate: Mike Huckabee (R), 2008
Song: “More Than a Feeling,” Boston

Republican candidate Mick Huckabee, an beginner bassist, took to not simply taking part in the track “More Than a Feeling” at his marketing campaign occasions, but additionally typically performing it himself with onetime Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau. Tom Scholz, who wrote the track and performed each guitar half on its recording, didn’t take kindly to this, writing a letter to Huckabee that acknowledged, amongst many different issues, the next: “Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for. In fact, although I’m impressed you learned my bass guitar part on ‘More Than a Feeling,’ I am an Obama supporter.”

Candidate: Dennis Kucinich (D), 2008
Song: “Give Peace a Chance,” John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

Lots of people ran for president in 2008 — one among them was certain to include some John Lennon. Democrat Dennis Kucinich used “Give Peace a Chance,” evidently a favourite matter of his. In 2001 as a member of the House of Representatives, he proposed HR 2459, a invoice to determine a Department of Peace.

Candidate: Chris Dodd (D), 2008
Song(s): “Get Ready,” The Temptations, “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” The Four Tops

Chris Dodd, the longest-serving senator in Connecticut’s historical past, did not have an excellent profitable run on the presidency in 2008, however he apparently had a penchant for Motown vocal quartets, as he used songs by the Temptations and the Four Tops.

Candidate: John Edwards (D), 2008
Song: “Our Country,” John Mellencamp

A big a part of John Edwards (D) 2008 marketing campaign revolved across the plight of center class Americans, a message that match properly with John Mellencamp’s “Our Country.” Mellencamp even carried out the track at one among Edwards’ occasions in November of 2007.

Candidate: Hillary Clinton (D), 2008
Song(s): “Takin’ Care of Business,” Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton, “American Girl,” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

At the time that Hillary Clinton introduced she can be working for president in 2008, no lady had ever been nominated by a significant celebration, and no first woman had ever run both. Among her track selections: the basic ode to working ladies “9 to 5″ by Dolly Parton,” the tough-minded “Takin’ Care of Business” by BTO and the all-around red-white-and-blue “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Candidate: Cynthia McKinney (Green), 2008
Song: “Power to the People,” John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

Turns out Dennis Kucinich wasn’t the only one to use a Lennon song in their 2008 campaign. Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney (and first African American woman elected to represent Georgia in the House) went with “Power to the People,” the title of which doubled as her campaign slogan.

Candidate: John McCain (R), 2008
Song(s): “Take a Chance on Me,” ABBA, “Our Country,” John Mellencamp

Remember earlier in this list when John Mellencamp let John Edwards use his song “Our Country” and endorsed him? Well, Edwards wasn’t the only one using the song. So too was Republican candidate John McCain, but Mellencamp took this right off the table. “If you are such a real conservative,” Mellencamp told AP then, “why are you taking part in songs which have a really populist pro-labor message written by a man who would discover no argument if you happen to characterised him as left of middle?” McCain instead went with ‘Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA, whom he was reportedly a “huge” fan of based on his marketing campaign weblog.

Candidate: Barack Obama (D), 2008 and 2012
Song(s): “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” Stevie Wonder, “City of Blinding Lights,” U2, “Higher and Higher,” Jackie Wilson, “Think,” Aretha Franklin, “We Take Care of Our Own,” Bruce Springsteen

If there’s one factor we learn about Barack Obama, winner of each the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, it is that he loves music — in recent times he has taken to yearly sharing a playlist of his favourite songs. Among his selections throughout his campaigns had been songs by Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin and his very personal pal, Bruce Springsteen, with whom he would later begin a podcast.

Candidate: Mitt Romney (R), 2012
Song: “Born Free,” Kid Rock

It was really 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney who reached out to Kid Rock, asking for his assist. Rock wouldn’t give it till he met personally with Romney to ensure the politician was not “just a rich guy who wanted to become president to out-do [his] dad,” as he advised Howard Stern then. “I know what it’s like to want to be better than your father,” he said. “Of course, I’m getting these ‘I really want to help America [answers]’ and I said, ‘Cut the shit, this is my living room; this isn’t going to depart right here.'” In the end, Rock’s “Born Free” was used during the campaign.

Candidate: John Kasich (R), 2016
Song: “Beautiful Day,” U2

No one said you had to use music by American artists on the campaign trail. John Kasich went with U2, whose singer, an outspoken advocate for many socio-political causes, Kasich had crossed paths with many times. Back in 2000, for instance, he and Bono sat next to one another at the White House as members of Congress met to discuss debt relief.

Candidate: Bernie Sanders (D), 2016:
Song(s): “America,” Simon and Garfunkel, “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, “Starman,” David Bowie

In addition to Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution,” you could also hear songs like “The Revolution Starts Now” by Steve Earle and ‘Revolution” by Bob Marley & the Wailers on Bernie Sanders 2016 marketing campaign path. There was additionally Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” and David Bowie’s “Starman.”

Candidate: Donald Trump (R), 2016
Song: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” The Rolling Stones

George Bush and John McCain are undoubtedly not the one ones who’ve run into points with their musical alternatives. In 2016, Republican candidate and future winner of the election Donald Trump caught flack for his use of the Rolling Stones’ (*50*) — “The Rolling Stones do not endorse Donald Trump,” they tweeted. (He additionally sometimes used “Start Me Up.”) Trump was as soon as once more advised to cease utilizing their music throughout the 2020 election season.

Candidate: Rand Paul (R), 2016
Song: “Revolution,” The Beatles

Sometimes the title says all of it. Rand Paul opted to make use of the Beatles’ “Revolution” throughout his 2016 marketing campaign, which ended shortly after the Iowa caucus.

Candidate: Beto O’Rourke (D), 2020
Song: “Clampdown,” The Clash

Beto O’Rourke selected “Clampdown” by the Clash for his 2020 marketing campaign as a result of they “changed my life,” as he defined to the San Fransisco Chronicle in 2019. “The urgency in that music. Politics in a way I had never experienced before. Joe Strummer — the coolest human being that ever walked the planet.”

Candidate: Bernie Sanders (D), 2020
Song(s): “Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, “Power to the People,” John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band, “Rockin’ in the Free World,” Neil Young

Bernie Sanders didn’t win in 2016, so he got here again once more in 2020, this time with some new music, together with songs by the White Stripes, John Lennon and Neil Young. Jack White even carried out at one among Sanders’ occasions in Detroit, a gig that was on a volunteer-basis. “We do not want an artist on our stage that isn’t sympathetic to the senator and the Bernie 2020 campaign,” Caleb Wilson, nationwide director of expertise outreach for the marketing campaign advised Rolling Stone. “For that reason alone, that’s why we’re not offering paydays.”

Candidate: Joe Biden (D), 2020
Song(s): “We Take Care of Our Own,” Bruce Springsteen, “Higher and Higher,” Jackie Wilson, “We the People,” The Staple Singers

Bruce Springsteen noticed issues in 2020 candidate Joe Biden that he acknowledged in himself: a blue-collar background and a powerful perception in American labor unions. In October 2020, Springsteen shared a video on his social media displaying Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. “This is more than where he’s from,” he mentioned. “This is who he’s for.”

Candidate: Elizabeth Warren (D), 2020
Song(s): “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton, “Respect,” Aretha Franklin

There is one thing about Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” that makes lots of people wish to stand up and dance, and Elizabeth Warren is one among them. She might be seen shimmying to the track throughout her 2020 bid for the presidency.

Candidate: Jay Inslee (D), 2020
Song: “Mr. Blue Sky,” Electric Light Orchestra

When Democrat Jay Inslee introduced he can be working fr president, he famous that he can be focusing intensely on local weather change. That would possibly clarify why he then chosen ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” for his marketing campaign.

Candidate: Donald Trump (R), 2020
Song: “Y.M.C.A.,” Village People

We’re not fairly performed with cease-and-desist letters on this checklist. Donald Trump acquired one from Village People in 2020. At first, singer and co-founder Victor Willis tolerated his use of “Y.M.C.A.” because it was “not being used for a specific endorsement.” But then Trump additionally began utilizing “Macho Man,” and that prompted authorized motion from the band. “Sorry,” Willis mentioned, “but I can no longer look the other way.”

Candidate: Donald Trump (R), 2024
Song(s): “Hold On, I’m Comin,'” Sam and Dave

Regardless of which aspect of the political spectrum you fall on, it is most likely a good suggestion to contemplate the lyrics and title of a track earlier than utilizing it at an official occasion. Donald Trump was criticized for utilizing Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at a National Rifle Association rally in Houston in May of 2022, three days after 19 kids and two academics had been murdered at a college in Uvalde, Texas. Following the incident, it was revealed that legislation enforcement waited outdoors the constructing for over an hour earlier than lastly apprehending the perpetrator. The property of Isaac Hayes, who wrote the track, acknowledged that they didn’t approve and “would never approve” its use by Trump at such an occasion.

Candidate: Nikki Haley (R), 2024
Song(s): “Eye of the Tiger,” Survivor, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, “We Got the Beat,” The Go-Go’s

Nikki Haley, the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cupboard, plus the primary lady to win a Republican Party presidential main contest, appreciates rule breakers like Joan Jett, whose track “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” she used throughout her 2024 marketing campaign. “Let me tell you: Joan Jett was one of the first true rockers, and the industry didn’t like how she looked or how she dressed,” she wrote on social media. “But she never gave up. She was a total badass. That’s a great lesson for everyone.”

Candidate: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent), 2024
Song: “Real American,” Rick Derringer

We’ve come full circle. This checklist started with Robert F. Kennedy Sr. and ends together with his son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His selection for his 2024 marketing campaign: Rick Derringer’s “Real American.”