The Ultimate 2024 Election Playlist
Need Some Election Based Tunes to Set the Mood.... We're Here for it
Let’s be honest here a moment. Campaigns make shitty decisions when making campaign theme songs. The only one in memory that ever made sense to me was when Bill Clinton chose “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac as the theme. It was a great choice for a new generation of Democrats who grew up in the baby boom. Does anyone remember when Hillary Clinton chose that Celine Dion song nobody remembers? More people I suppose remember Will.I.Am’s “Yes We Can” video, but that was put together after Obama’s speech—it wasn’t really a theme until then, and by the time it took off, there was no need to change it. Trump, well he’s had more artists threaten to sue him for playing their music than you can count; soon the only song he’ll be able to play is Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A..” Kamala’s choice of Beyonce’s “Freedom” doesn’t seem too great a choice either; if you’re a fan of the song chances are you’re already in her camp to begin with, it’s not much of a “branch out/unifying” theme. Say what you will about country music, but it has a lot more pro-patriotism/nationalistic kind of ethos to it than rap/hip-hop which tends to be more anti- in those veins.
So if you wanted to put together an uplifting, playlist for the election, most of the time I’d say you’re shit out of luck. However…
OK Folks, here it is. The Ultimate Playlist to Jam to in anticipation of the 2024 Election. All the songs are Americana/Election based tunes intended to get your Nationalistic Patriotic blood going just in time for this years elections (with a few more abstract songs tangential to elections thrown in for good measure). So without further ado, let’s kick it off with a song about where we are now being “Lost between tomorrow and yesterday…”
“Do it Again” by The Kinks
It’s ELECTION DAY!
”Election Day” by Arcadia
Do you like American Music?
“American Music” by the Violent Femmes
"Ask not what your country can do for you…”
Cult of Personality by Living Colour
How about one for the crazy radical nuts out there… yeah, them. We know they’re out there.
Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider
Don’t worry. Just a reminder that…
“(You Can Still) Rock in America” by Night Ranger
How about a Little Diamond Dave wanting some Yankee Rose?
“Yankee Rose” By David Lee Roth
How about we slow it down for a few… Let’s talk about going back home to what makes America great….
“Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver
…The American immigrant experience…
“Coming to America” by Neil Diamond
… And just some little Pink Houses for You and me.
“Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp
Probably the greatest song to come out of the ‘60s.
“Fortunate Son” by Credence Clearwater Revival
How about a couple songs talking about doing something RIGHT NOW (like voting or getting people to the polls?)
“Right Here, Right Now” by Jesus Jones
“Right Now” by Van Halen
Let’s take a moment to spend some time with a Canadian icon jamming with some Seattle kings…
“Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young with Pearl Jam
And a little something from the Godfather of Soul
“Living in America” by James Brown
Let’s reflect a little about the places we all live…
“My Hometown” by Bruce Springsteen
“Small Town” by John Mellencamp
“Society” by Eddie Vedder
“American Pie” by Don McLean
'“Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver
Let’s now go with something a little hopeful. I love the Lennon original, but this version always gave me the chills….
“Imagine” by Jordis Unga
“(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding” by Elvis Costello
Let’s play one for the American Girls out there…
“American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
One for the kiddos…
“Kids in America” by Kim Wilde
How about an ode to Donald Trump…
“American Idiot” by Green Day
So let’s take a moment to diverge here. If your favored candidate loses, you’re going to want to listen to a few of these songs….
“Road to Nowhere,” by the Talking Heads
“Some Days are Better than Others” by U2
“Even the Losers Get Lucky Sometimes” by Tom Petty
“It’s the End of the World as We Know it” by R.E.M.
“How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox 20
“This is Not America” by David Bowie and Pat Methany Group
“This is America” by Chidlish Gambino
“Nobody Told Me” by John Lennon
“What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes
But let’s be a little more optimistic shall we? What do want to hear when our candidate wins?
“Beautiful Day” by U2
“Still the One” by Orleans
“The Best” by Tina Turner
“What a Wonderful World” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
“I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas
“Today” by Smashing Pumpkins
“Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus
But in the end let’s give the nod to an American icon singing a truly American song…
“America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles
Let’s close out with a song giving our thanks to everyone across this great country of ours and turning the page into a new future….
“Let the Day Begin” by The Call
PurpleAmerica’s Final Word on the Subject
“More than any other country, America is the one with the greatest song in her heart.”
-John Philip Sousa
Peace of mind.
Imma gonna do what I did in 2020, queue up John Wick 1, 2, & 3, turn off my phone and fall asleep to the righteous carnage of the Baba Yaga
I will check in in the morning, whatever might pass