THE NEW YORK TIMES: Does Beyoncé granting Kamala Harris permission to use her song mean something more?
The Beyoncé anthems returned to the campaign trail this week.
On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris walked out during her visit to campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, as Beyoncé’s song, “Freedom,” blared through the speakers in the background. Harris, 59, spoke to her supporters after President Joe Biden, 81, stepped away from his reelection campaign Sunday and endorsed her as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
On Tuesday, Harris used the song again during her first campaign rally in Wisconsin.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The song from the Grammy winner’s sixth studio album, “Lemonade,” which features Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar, is intended to be used during Harris’ campaign events for the next 15 weeks leading up to Election Day, according to a CNN report.
The Harris campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Musicians have been both supportive and have objected to politicians using their work as backdrops. After Donald Trump used R.E.M. songs “Everybody Hurts” and “Losing My Religion” during campaign rallies, the band threatened legal action. Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” became a kind of anthem for President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign.
Beyoncé was not available for comment.
But in the past, she has come out publicly in support of candidates. At a rally, three days before the 2016 election, for the then-Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, Beyoncé sang “Formation” and then framed the election in the context of the feminist movement.
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman leading the country,” Beyoncé said to roars from the crowd in 2016. “That’s why I’m with her,” she added, echoing Clinton’s campaign slogan.
In 2013, she sang the national anthem at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, and in 2009, she sang a cover of Etta James’ “At Last” at an inaugural ball for the Obamas.
Her mother, Tina Knowles, has come out publicly for Harris: “New, Youthful, Sharp, energy!!!!” Knowles wrote under a photo of her with the candidate on Instagram. “Kamala 2024,” she wrote.
Other celebrities have voiced their support for Harris. Most notably, pop starlet Charlie XCX, who posted on social platform X: “kamala IS brat.” The official Harris campaign account quickly updated its header to match the color and typography of the album. Others include Barbra Streisand, Kesha, Katy Perry, George Clooney, Janelle Monae and John Legend.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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Originally published on The New York Times
