As with every electoral campaign, music is involved in the race for the White House. On this occasion, RFI offers a small anthology of songs used by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris to convey political messages.
The duel between the two candidates pits the America of the past against that of the future. But between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, music is also at odds. For example, mixed-race mega-star Beyoncé uses her title Freedom to defend women’s freedom against the extremism of the Republican Party. For his part, the billionaire takes the repertoire of 81-year-old country star Lee Greenwood to exalt the strength of patriotism.
But in addition to this campaign playlist, there are mainly amateur artists who publish propaganda or humorous songs in honor of their favorite candidate.
Like Los 3 de la Habana. Popular in Cuba before going into exile in the United States in 2008, this salsa trio is supporting Donald Trump for the second time. And he repeats the same refrain: “ I vote for Trump “. A slogan that reflects the majority choice of Cuban-Americans in Florida. They are convinced that only Republicans can stop the dictatorship of communism in Cuba.
In a violent rap, musician Burden glorifies candidate Trump and his program, while trashing his rival with “ Fuck Kamala “. There is no shortage of shocking phrases in this explosive title. The virile and tattooed rapper is not shy and continues his fight against the Democrat’s immigration policy on social networks.
Other radically different music illustrates the contrasts between the two presidential candidates. Concerning the feminist Kamala Harris, it is mainly pop, funk, hip hop and gospel songs that are popular with her supporters: young people, women, African-Americans and the LGBT community. The British group Marsh Familly, known for its viral song parodies on the web, celebrates the political and social progress of the Democratic candidate’s program with the cover of the emblematic Gimme Hope Jo’anna by Eddy Grant, an anti-apartheid anthem from the late 80s. Joyful and full of hope, it can be listened to while dreaming of a black woman at the head of the White House.
For these 2024 American presidential elections, we are a long way from the cascade of committed songs from celebrities like Stevie Wonder or Nas for Barack Obama. But with a handful of titles, these activist artists or admirers, often unknown, do not lack imagination to defend the democrat tooth and nail. This is the case of Rita Brent. The American comedian and writer puts on her musical hat to support Kamala Harris to the sound of well-paced hip hop.
