Music and its subsequent effect on voters; from Kamala Harris being BRAT to Trump’s controversial rally playlists
Amid the upcoming election, everything has a role and effect on its outcome, especially music. Candidates rely on several things for votes and connecting with potential voters, including music and the support of artists to appeal to voters. Some candidates might not intentionally use music to rile up voters, but it still causes a stir and publicity. How have some of this year’s political candidates used music to their advantage (or in some cases, disadvantage)?
Recently, Donald Trump has been under fire for pausing a rally in Pennsylvania on October 14 to play music for his crowd instead of discussing politics. Trump said, “Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Let’s make it into a music. Who the h*** wants to hear questions, right?”. Trump played nine songs and took up 40 minutes swaying on his heels behind his podium on stage while his supporters watched.
Originally Trump had paused the rally because there had been two people to pass out, so you can imagine the conditions. It is unsure what stopping talking about politics to listen to music would do for the condition of the rally and how it would help others to not pass out, but that is what he (Trump) decided to do nonetheless.
Many find the playing of so much music to be ironic considering several artists have taken legal action to stop Trump from playing music at his rallies or publicly condemned him or his usage of their music. Many are upset that Trump wasted the time of his supporters for a “dance party” instead of discussing what he would like to achieve if he wins the election. Voting day is mere weeks away and instead of trying to earn more votes, he shows off his playlist.
Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Let’s make it into a music. Who the h*** wants to hear questions, right?
– Donald Trump
After this melodic display, some are worried about Trump’s well-being, even his opposers. Vice President Kamala Harris even acknowledged this incident at her own rally just a few days later. Kamala Harris is also no stranger to using music to reach voters, but her attempt at this has been met with much more open and less critical arms.
Harris is using music differently, not to entertain herself in front of valuable voters in a known swing state. Harris is capitalizing on the popularity of Charli XCX’s BRAT album for her campaign. She is appealing to young and first-time voters by connecting with what is popular and important to them. And unlike Trump, she has the support of the artists she uses to promote herself.
Harris’s team has created a TikTok account because of the success of people saying she is “brat.” Many people created “edits” of Harris to Charli XCX songs when the album first dropped, as it correlated with Harris first announcing her presidential candidacy. Harris and her team immediately capitalized on the fact that music brought her more popularity, especially in such a neglected demographic (in the political sense). Her team and “Kamala HQ” utilize music to make TikToks and interact with artists, which draws in a large number of potential Gen-Z voters.
Kamala HQ was so fast and methodical with their promotion of Kamala Harris using the brat album that Charli XCX both noticed and positively acknowledged the interactions, despite her not even being from the United States. Charli XCX tweeted “kamala IS brat.” Harris and Trump clearly differ in the way the artists they use for their campaigns publicly acknowledge them, and it will have an effect on the way some vote.
While both candidates embrace the music that is around them, they differentiate in the type of music they use, the listeners for the music, and how they use the songs and albums. One promoted herself online to millions of potential new voters, and the other used precious rally time to play from his playlist.
With the election approaching swiftly, it is crucial to take into account the actions of the candidates you are considering, but ultimately it hinges on the policies of everyone involved.
While instances like these might be entertaining and newsworthy, there is nothing more vital than the beliefs of those you are voting for.
