Democrats’ years-long efforts to reclaim the word is cresting in this year’s Presidential race. Presidential candidates choose their walk-on music carefully. Barack Obama liked to set an upbeat tone for his rallies with U2’s “Beautiful Day” and wrap up with Stevie Wonder’s joyful “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).
” For George W. Bush, it was Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” until Petty sent him a cease-and-desist order. Donald Trump has run into similar trouble: the estates of not only Tom Petty but Isaac Hayes, Sinéad O’Connor, and Prince have demanded that he stop using their songs, as have a host of performers, from the Rolling Stones to Rihanna.
Earlier this month, Céline Dion joined them, saying that Trump’s use of her song “My Heart Will Go On,” from “Titanic,” was in no way authorized, adding, “And really, THAT song?” Trump can, however, walk onstage to the rousing strains of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.
” Kamala Harris is being no less strategic in her choice of music, and she does have the artist’s approval. Two weeks ago, as Harris emerged from Air Force Two to enter a hangar at the Detroit airport, where thousands of supporters waited and cheered, speakers blasted “Freedom,” Beyoncé’s anthem of defiance and redemption, with its chorus of “Freedom! Freedom! Where are you? ’Cause I need freedom, too.” The song has fast become the soundtrack of Harris’s campaign, and “freedom” her t.