As the US election approaches, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is getting more and more support from celebrities.
Last Sunday, American megastar Taylor Swift publicly endorsed the incumbent vice president in her campaign.
Now another star, Billie Eilish, has endorsed Harris for US President. In a clip posted on social media, she and her brother, Phineas O'Connell, voiced their support for Harris and her running mate, Tim Waltz, citing their stance on reproductive rights and concern for the environment and democracy.
"Vote like your life depends on it, because it does," the singer said in the video.
Swift and Eilish have now joined the ranks of famous musicians and entertainers supporting the campaigns.
Many musicians feel honored when their music is used as a candidate's campaign anthem. However, this is not always the case.
The White Stripes vs. Donald Trump
The White Stripes have taken legal action against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, because he used their big hit "Seven Nation Army" without permission.
In a video posted on Platform X, which has since been deleted, Trump was seen entering the plane while the song's signature opening part played. Jack White, the band's lead singer and guitarist, posted a photo of the lawsuit on Instagram.
Back in August, Canadian singer Celine Dion announced that she would not tolerate the use of her song "My Heart Will Go On" in the Trump campaign.
A long list of artists - ABBA, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, Rihanna, bands Creedence Clearwater Revival, Earth, Wind and Fire, Foo Fighters, Guns N' Roses, REM, Rolling Stones, Village People, as well as Sinead's heirs O'Connor and Tom Petty have already asked Trump's team not to use their music during the campaign.
However, the use of music in election campaigns is nothing new, because the long tradition goes back to the first president of the USA, George Washington.
George Washington: "God Save Great Washington"
George Washington was the first presidential candidate to use a particular song in his election campaign. "God Save Great Washington" is considered the personal anthem of the first president of the United States of America.
The melody of the British national anthem "God Save The King" received new lyrics, where the president's name replaced the words "Our gracious king" in the song.
John F. Kennedy, 1960: "High Hopes" by Frank Sinatra
Sammy Kahn wrote the new words for Frank Sinatra's 1959 Oscar-winning song "High Hopes" for Kennedy's 1960 election campaign. It became the official song of the campaign.
Ronald Regan, 1984: „Born in the U.S.A.“ Brusa Springstina
The song chosen for Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign is one of the biggest misinterpretations of the song's meaning in the history of campaign anthems.
"Born in the USA" is not as patriotic as one might think. In the song, Bruce Springsteen takes a critical stance towards the Vietnam War and condemns the US government for its treatment of war veterans.
Bil Klinton, 1992: „Don’t Stop“ benda Fleetwood Mac
The choice of the 1977 hit "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" is believed to have been carefully calculated by the Clinton campaign. That song was hugely popular among young Americans at the time, and fifteen years later, Fleetwood Mac fans were middle-aged voters — a generation with particularly high turnout in elections.
George W. Bush, 2000: "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty
Protesting against the use of his song at campaign rallies, Tom Petty banned George W. Bush from using it in 2000.
Twenty years later, when President Donald J. Trump used the same song at a campaign rally for his re-election bid in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the late musician's family sent a cease-and-desist letter.
Barak Obama, 2008: „Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)“ Stivija Vondera
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder was regularly played during Barack Obama's 2008 election campaign. The message to his voters was "I am yours!"
Many pop stars have endorsed Obama, including Springsteen, Beyoncé and Katy Perry. Rapper and producer will.i.am from the band Black Eyed Peas produced the song "Yes We Can" in his honor.
Kamala Harris, 2024: "Freedom" by Beyoncé
Democratic Party Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her 2024 presidential campaign with Beyoncé's "Freedom" as her anthem. The singer gave Harris permission to use her legendary song, while denying that right to Trump, after seeing a promotional video with the same song on social networks.
Bonus video:
