PLAYLIST
Don’t Stop Fleetwood Mac
The “Rumours” hit soundtracked Clinton’s successful campaign for president in 1992.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want The Rolling Stones
President Donald Trump famously ends every rally with this Stones classic, despite the band’s repeated requests for him to stop using their music.
Fight Song Rachel Platten
Platten’s hit will always be associated with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 run.
I Won’t Back Down Tom Petty
George W. Bush chose this song as his 2000 campaign theme, with Petty eventually threatening to sue Bush to stop his use of the song.
Take a Chance on Me ABBA
Similarly, ABBA wasn’t willing to take a chance on John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered Stevie Wonder
Barack Obama relied on a stable of soul classics to soundtrack his presidential wins.
Shipping Up to Boston The Dropkick Murphys
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker took the stage to this track before the band publicly requested he stop.
This Land is Your Land Woody Guthrie
This Woody Guthrie staple was used by George H.W. Bush for his successful run in 1988.
Happy Pharrell
The singer became the most recent artist to come out against President Trump using his music last week.
Fortunate Sun Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR’s anti-Vietnam War anthem was curiously chosen by John Kerry to soundtrack his unsuccessful 2004 campaign.
What’s a campaign rally without music to soundtrack it? The songs politicians choose to accompany their campaigns largely fall into a pattern – uptempo tracks, sometimes with a patriotic bent, almost always with a feelgood message. Sometimes the artists rally around the politicians using their music. And other times, artists don’t want their music anywhere near the politicians playing their tunes. At left, revisit 10 of music’s most notable campaign theme songs.