Music and politics has been linked for quite a long time.
FDR began the trend of using popular music for the campaign when he used “Happy Days Are Here Again” for his campaign. From political movements to presidential elections, music is used to express feelings. Additionally, music can be used to get specific political messages out to the people whether it be from political candidates or social movements and protestors. Rock n’ Roll is a popular genre for candidates to use.
For example:George McGovern used Paul Simon’s “Bridge over Troubled Water“.
Here is a list of a few others that have been used by political candidates.
Ronald Reagan: “Born in The USA” Bruce Springsteen
Michael Dukakis: “America” by Neil Diamond
Ross Perot: “Crazy” by Patsy Cline
Bill Clinton: “Don’t Stop” Fleetwood Mac
Al Gore: “You ain’t seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
George Bush: “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty – “Right Now” Van Halen
John Kerry: “No Surrender” by Bruce Springsteen – “Fortunate Son” by John Fogerty – “Beautiful Day” U2
Mike Huckabee “More Than a Feeling” By Boston
John Edwards “Our Country” John Cougar Mellencamp
Hillary Clinton “Taking Care of Business” Bachman-Turner Overdrive – “Roar” Katy Perry – “American Girl” Tom Petty
Bernie Sanders “America” by Paul Simon
Donald Trump “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” The Rolling Stones – “Rolling in the Deep” Adele – “We’re Not Gonna Take It” Twisted Sister – “Rockin in A Free World” Neil Young – “Dream On” Aerosmith
John McCain “Take A Chance On Me” by Abba
Mitt Romney “Let’s Stay Together” Al Green
Candidates need to make sure the music they pick appeals to the audience and gets the votes, but they also need to make sure the artists support the use of their song. That isn’t always the case, especially with this most recent election.
Bruce Springsteen was not happy with Ronald Reagan using his song, “Born in the USA” and made sure that the song not only was no longer used, but that he was compensated for the previous unauthorized use.
However, unauthorized usage continued by the GOP with George W. Bush’s campaign. Tom Petty famously threatened to sue the GOP if they did not stop using his song, “I Won’t Back Down”. In fact, Petty protested the use of his song by playing it at a fund raiser for Bush’s opponent Al Gore.
Mike Huckabee’s use of the Boston classic, “More Than a Feeling” was also unauthorized by the band and they made sure the usage stopped.
Van Halen was also not thrilled with John McCain’s use of their song “Right Now” and demanded he stop using it. John Cougar Mellencamp, who has referred to himself as “as left as you can get” has protested the use of his music by all Republican candidates. Abba also requested that John McCain quit using their music at his rallies as well.
The Rolling Stones have protested current candidate Donald Trump’s use of any of their music. They have publicly stated that they do not support Trump nor have they ever given permission for him to use any of his songs. They have demanded he stop using the songs immediately.
Al Green also asked Mitt Romney to stop using his song for his campaign. Adele also protested Trump’s use of her songs at a campaign rally. Additionally, Dee Snyder made it known that Twisted Sister did not give permission for Trump to use any of their music, either. Neil Young also protested the use of his song, also used by Trump as did Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
But music hasn’t always been used just for elections. Protests involving civil rights, women’s rights, anti-war sentiments and many other politically charged subjects were particularly suited to the sentiments of the 1960’s. Some protest songs that were popular during this time included:
Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit
This song focused on the social activism of the day, particularly the civil rights movement. However, some people don’t realize it also touched on the anti-war sentiments. Many of the marches, protests and sit-ins during this time were echoed in the lyrics of this Billie Holiday classic.
Respect–Aretha Franklin
Though it may not seem like a political protest anthem, Aretha Franklin’s trademark hit “Respect” is actually an ode to women’s rights. Originally written and recorded by Otis Redding, Franklin made it her own by modifying the lyrics, turning the song into an anthem for female empowerment. The song would be played at many feminist movement rallies during the 70’s.
Fortunate Son–Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR’s contribution to the protest movement included their well-known song, “Fortunate Son”. This song actually was against the Vietnam War but actually very supportive of the troops who were fighting the war. John Fogerty said in later interviews that he wasn’t happy with the fact that president Nixon seemed to be allowing some people to dodge the draft but not others. Particularly, Fogerty felt that the rich, upper class “sons” were being spared war service while those who weren’t as “fortunate” were forced to go to Vietnam.
Eve of Destruction — Barry McGuire
Perhaps the most well-known song of the 60’s protest era was McGuire’s Eve of Destruction, originally written by a 19-year-old named P.F. Sloan. This song touches on subjects of protest including antiwar, social issues surrounding civil rights, and even the issue of people being old enough to go to war but not to vote. Back then, the voting age was 21. Some feel this song fueled the movement to change the voting age to 18, the age eligible for draft, as it was changed shortly after. This protest song, written in 1965 by 19-year-old P. F. Sloan, became a modern day protest movement standard, but the most well-known version is Barry McGuire’s of 1965 which appeared on his album of the same name.
Only a Pawn in Their Game–Bob Dylan
Though Bob Dylan wrote many protests songs, “Only a Pawn in Their Game” was a protest song about civil rights activist Medgar Evers murder. The song was first performed at the Jobs for Freedom March in Washington in 1963. This was where Martin Luther King would give his iconic, “I Have a Dream” speech. Dylan uses the lyrics to point out that not only was Evers murder to blame for his killing, but the racists thoughts and beliefs of the time as well.