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P!nk assembled her own powerful girl group at Thursday’s (Aug. 22) final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, joining daughter Willow Sage Hart, three backup singers and one acoustic guitar to perform an unplugged version of her top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit “What About Us.” The septet hit the stage at Chicago’s United […]
The Chicks hit the stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention on Thursday night (Aug. 22) to play “The Star Spangled Banner,” on the fourth and final day of the DNC at Chicago’s United Center before a crowd fired up and waiting for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to speak. Introduced as the winners of […]
Dear Doug,
When I got the call in June to join you at my local NY deli, Russ & Daughters, to riff for an hour on Big Oil, music and copyright in a tiny Secret Service swarmed kitchen I wanted to grab a bagel! Who knew that within weeks Kamala’s trajectory would change, and soon you’ll hopefully become America’s 1st First Gentleman. Congratulations Doug!
Learning you had been playing “You Get What You Give” hundreds of times since 2020 as your campaign “walk on song” touched me deeply — particularly when you told me you had selected the song merely as a music fan, not even being aware of the Biden family’s emotional connection to the song via Beau.
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Needless to say, we were thrilled to get your personal invite to once again play our song live (as we did in January 2021 for the Biden inauguration), this time at the DNC just before Kamala’s introduction accepting the VP nomination. Of course, Kamala suddenly had bigger fish to fry becoming the presidential candidate, but thanks for blasting the record as your “walk-on” song at the DNC instead!
I’m writing this letter to you to send out an S.O.S. to all the artists and music people across America that the clock is truly ticking for us to save our democracy.
The time is clearly NOW for all to jump in and use whatever influence for the greater good and endorse the candidate who doesn’t “weirdly” (love that Coach Walz!) advocate taking away women’s rights and everyone’s freedoms. Or brags he’ll cancel America’s Presidential election in 2028!?
In that spirit, if we can talk music a moment, we are releasing the first New Radicals music in 25 years to rally the cause of democracy and encourage all artists to get out the vote. This isn’t some “comeback”; this is us doing our small part to support the fight for freedom!
As a musical gift to you, Doug, and our other fans, we’re releasing our version of “Murder On The Dancefloor,” plus our version of the Oscar-nominated hit, “Lost Stars,” from John Carney’s biggest music film Begin Again. It’s co-written by New Radical Danielle Brisebois who gave the world “Unwritten” and our film and Keira Knightley’s character’s songs their powerful female POV.
Listen to the New Radicals’ “Lost Stars” here and listen to “Murder On the Dancefloor” here.
Interestingly, we even learned through our mutual friends that Begin Again is headed to Broadway. We’re honored that co-star Adam Levine’s friends in Train are adapting what Adam declared the “perfect song,” and hoping Train adds more for Carney’s Broadway follow-up to Once!
Many people may not know that “Murder On The Dancefloor” was nearly our debut single, but then debuted as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s bawdy hit which went Top 10 globally twice (this year from that dancing naked end scene in the often sadly “true to life” Saltburn).
When we spoke in NY, it was clear that you’re a family man of conscience who cares about his country and its people. It’s what makes Kamala and you true “new radicals” of the best kind. And anyone knowing Hall & Oates covered our “Someday We’ll Know” or king of critics, Robert Christgau, gave our album an “A” is pretty cool in my book!
In an era where a third of “Pizzagate” Republicans believe Taylor Swift is a Democrat Psy Op (who knew!?), it will be a breath of fresh air when the Harris administration passes critical things for the middle class. Like funding family and “frenemy” Village Troll mental health care in the states it’s most needed, or limits overpriced prescriptions that often “cost” more than a teacher’s salary.
For the record, New Radicals turn down every request from drug companies or anyone asking to change our lyrics (never!) and our publishers support that by saying “no problem.” We’d never morally support any type of industry that might contribute to an opioid epidemic that has already killed a million Americans.
Doug, I wonder what song these Silicon Valley jingle masseuses will try diseasing next, “Celebrex Sadness”? Well just a month past our July 12th, 25th anniversary — to any FDA Big banker Pharma’s out there…come around we’ll STILL kick your ass in!
We’re grateful our music is still inspiring some young “new radical” athletes and musicians who are jumping in too. Like BRAT Charli XCX who loves Kamala’s politics (and we beyond love Charli’s “1999” New Radicals video homage!), or Travis Kelce who tweeted “I’ve got the Dreamers Disease!”, which choked me up because that just means fighting for what you believe!!
In closing, Doug, sadly violence from toxic politics, BPD “biz con abuse bros” and Covid isolation has catalyzed much of today’s mental health crises leading to conspiratorial family criminality. But if anyone can heal or “prosecute” that, President Kamala Harris can — starting with RFK and Donald J Trump! Sorry, I had to sneak in a joke.
Democracy is at stake, not just in the USA but also in much of the world watching closely. With grieving artistic flourish for my own beloved Korean War vet Dad who tragically wrongfully passed mid-May, and my immobile, fragile Mom in memory care in Florida—don’t let the darkness shake down the light from the mothers and grandsons we’ll lose in the fight. Save democracy for the next generation and vote with your soul!
And to any DJs or TikTokers out there around the world, always feel free to play and use these songs to support and celebrate women’s, minority and LGBTQ+ rights and the spirit of freedom thriving and surviving around the globe!
Doug, Kamala—You got the Music in you. Go Lions!! Gregg
P.S. Doug, Since Broadway’s next to our favorite deli, if you’re in New York when Begin Again opens let’s grab that bagel and walk over with Adam and Train, Keira and John, Kamala and Danielle to all sing “Lost Stars” together!
P.P.S. VOTE!!!
“Lost Stars,” out on Flatiron Records, pre-save is here; “Murder On The Dancefloor” pre-save is here. Both are out on DSPs at midnight ET tonight.
Donald Trump is sharing how he feels about artificial intelligence after re-posting a doctored series of photos to his Truth Social account that appeared to show an endorsement from Taylor Swift. “I didn’t generate them,” Trump said during an interview with Fox Business Network’s The Evening Edit. “Somebody came out. They said, oh, look at this. […]
We learned a lot about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night (August 21). The former high school football coach, Army National Guard veteran and social studies teacher fired up the packed crowd at the United Center with a rousing address about his midwestern values and loving family while accepting the party’s nomination for Vice President alongside current VP and presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
And, in keeping with his reputation as a “dad rock” guy who has raged against the machine for not yet inducting Warren Zevon into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and whose picks at his favorite Minneapolis record store Electric Fetus last year included vinyl classics by Genesis, the Moody Blues and Steve Winwood, he entered and exited the stage to some solid meat-and-potatoes rock.
In fact, a spokesperson for Neil Young confirmed to Billboard on Thursday (August 22) that the Gov. got a personal sign-off from the 78-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to cap his emotional speech with Young’s blistering 1989 anthem “Rockin’ in the Free World.” The song from Young’s Freedom album took a sledgehammer to then-Republican President George H. W. Bush’s signature phrase “thousands points of light” with lyrics lamenting a lack of urgency about climate change and missing conservative compassion for homeless Americans amid what Young deemed empty promises to “keep hope alive.”
The official stamp of approval from Young is in contrast to his complaint that Walz and Harris’ White House rival, former one-term Republican President Donald Trump, had not sought approval to play the song during his first run for office in 2015, an action that led Young to consider suing Trump. In 2020, Young did sue Trump for copyright infringement for playing “Rockin’” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” at rallies, with Young saying that in “good conscience” he could not allow his music to be used by the divisive former reality TV star.
After Trump lost his second bid for office, Young dismissed the copyright case.
In a post on his Archives site earlier this week, Young noted that he was closely watching the DNC — not on network or cable TV but on C-Span, where he said there are “no smarmy talking heads… No slant” — in a missive that included a reprint of artist Shepard Fairey’s “FORWARD” poster for the Harris campaign.
Walz took the stage to John Mellencamp’s 1985 homage to his midwestern upbringing, “Small Town. At press time a spokesperson for the Indiana-bred rocker had not confirmed that Mellencamp had given his personal approval for the use of the song.
Young is on a long list of artists who have either sued, threatened to sue or complained about Trump using their music during his rallies. That roster recently added the estate of late soul icon Isaac Hayes and Beyoncé’s label, which issued a cease-and-desist order to convicted felon Trump’s campaign this week over his spokesperson’s unauthorized use of her anthem “Freedom” — the official Harris/Walz theme song , personally approved by Queen Bey — in a social media post; that post has since been taken down.
Trump has long used the music of popular artists over their public objections, drawing complaints about the twice-impeached former commander-in-chief’s unauthorized playing of songs at his rallies from artists including the Rolling Stones, Adele, Rihanna and the late Sinead O’Connor, among many others.
The Chicks are set to perform the national anthem at this year’s Democratic National Convention Thursday (Aug. 22), as originally reported by CNN and confirmed by Billboard. In support of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s 2024 White House bid, the country trio will take the stage at Chicago’s United Center on the final day of […]
DJ Snake will not, apparently, turn down for American political conventions. In a statement Wednesday (Aug. 21) on X, the French producer responded to the performance of his 2013 Lil Jon collab “Turn Down for What” being performed by the Atlanta rapper during night 2 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. “I did not […]
With the Democratic National Convention fully underway, more star-studded performers have been added to the lineup at Chicago’s United Center to celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential nomination. On Wednesday night (Aug. 21), John Legend will take the stage to perform, according to CNN. The “All of Me” singer has been an outspoken supporter of Harris, […]
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama rallied the United Center crowd at the 2024 Democratic National Convention with a pair of fiery speeches on Tuesday night (Aug. 20), and drawing comparisons to Kendrick Lamar‘s Drake disses in the process.
The former president and first lady electrified democrats on night two of the DNC while attacking Republican nominee Donald Trump and encouraging citizens to get out and vote to make sure they’re heard on Nov. 5, which is 76 days away.
“We don’t need four more years of bluster and chaos,” Barack said. “We’ve seen that movie — and we all know that the sequel’s usually worse. America is ready for a new chapter. America’s ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”
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Rap fans immediately began connecting the Obamas’ speeches toLamar’sdisses against Drizzy. “They should’ve put the ‘meet the grahams’ beat behind this michelle speech,” former Desus & Mero host Desus Nice tweeted.
Others were a step ahead and edited the harrowing instrumental behind the speeches, which some dubbed the remix as “Meet the Trumps.”
“His limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happened to be Black,” Michelle Obama said of Trump before her mic drop as the music plays in the remixed video. “I wanna know who’s gonna tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?”
Apple Music host Lowkey continued to quote lyrics from K. Dot’s “Euphoria” alongside clips of Obamas’ speeches. “There’s three goats left and i see two of them kissing and hugging on stage,” he tweeted.
Another viewer chimed in: “Trump’s Truth Social meltdown on the Obama’s is like Drake tryin to respond after Kendrick left him for dead. Done and dusted.”
Music has also been at the center of the DNC in Chicago this week, with Patti LaBelle, Common and DJ Cassidy hitting the stage on night two. Lil Jon even made a surprise appearance to fire up the thousands in attendance, which included Spike Lee and Eva Longoria.
During the California roll call, West Coast hip-hop dominated the segment. Lamar’s “Not Like Us” provided the soundtrack for a set that included K. Dot’s “Alright,” Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” and 2Pac’s “California Love.”
Find more reactions to the Obamas’ speeches below.
dnc bringing out 2pac tomorrow— Desus MF Nice💯 (@desusnice) August 21, 2024
That Obama family is cookin tonight cyat dang !!!— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) August 21, 2024
President Barack Obama’s speech at the DNC if it were backed by Kendrick Lamar’s “Meet The Grahams” instrumental (produced by The Alchemist). pic.twitter.com/gGf7tGqKgU— Andrés Tardio (@AndresWrites) August 21, 2024
There are two people in the world that you don’t wanna have beef with: Kendrick Lamar and Michelle Obama. You will not win. Worzers!!!— Kafui Dzirasa, MD PhD (@KafuiDzirasa) August 21, 2024
Feel like the Obama’s listened to Kendrick all night and then showed up to the DNC— Trump Is Weird (@UnSpoken_Victim) August 21, 2024
The Obama’s danced on trump’s corps like Kendrick Lamar and Whitney danced on Drake’s— 🇨🇩Sports Guy🇨🇩 (@PlamsAbt) August 21, 2024
I need to see Michell Obama’s Summer playlist because I know every single track that Kendrick dropped recently is on there 😂— Chloe (@CosmicallyChloe) August 21, 2024
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears to have briefly ditched his insult comic schtick and flipped to cheekily borrowing pages from Vice President Kamala Harris’ playbook. In the midst of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that on Tuesday night (August 20) officially nominated Harris in a joy- and music-filled night that featured each state announcing their support with a theme song provided by DJ Cassidy, Trump’s campaign spokesperson pre-empted the celebration with a brazen lift.
A 13-second video of Trump’s arrival in Detroit for a rally on Tuesday posted by mouthpiece Steven Cheung hours before night two of the DNC featured the former reality TV star walking down the steps of his plane onto the tarmac soundtracked by Beyoncé‘s “Freedom.” If you’ve been paying attention over the past month, then surely you know that the soaring song from Bey’s Lemonade album is the official Harris campaign theme song.
Harris walked out to the track at her official campaign kick-off on July 22 and Queen Bey gave the former Senator and California Attorney General her blessing to use the song at her rallies. An a cappella version of the tune helped kick-off the DNC on Monday night, further cementing its spot as the official anthem of the Harris campaign.
At press time spokespeople for the Trump campaign and Beyoncé had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment.
The brazen move from Trump’s team comes less than two weeks after Trump complained that Harris was copying his idea to not tax tips, telling a crowd “she just stole it.” The idea theft accusation is rich considering Trump has landed in hot water repeatedly since he pivoted from real estate and reality TV to politics eight years ago.
Since then, dozens of musicians and songwriters have objected to the twice-impeached former President using their songs at political rallies, including the Rolling Stones, Adele, Rihanna and the Sinead O’Connor estate, among many others. While a number have publicly objected and some have sent cease-and-desist orders after saying they want no connection to the Trump campaign, in July the estate of Isaac Hayes said it was taking legal action against Trump for playing the Hayes co-written “Hold On, I’m Coming” to close his rallies.
As reported by Billboard, when it comes to objections from artists and songwriters, the process of protest is pretty straightforward. The performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP require political campaigns to obtain licenses to use songs in their catalogs, with a caveat in the license that allows songwriters to object to usage in a political campaign. However, that does not prevent a campaign from playing a song at a rally, or in this case, in a promotional video.
That said, a lawyer for Jackson Browne — who sued late Republican Sen. and presidential aspirant John McCain for using his song “Running on Empty” in a 2008 commercial — said “most political campaigns aren’t keen about just taking the song down.” Trump has been especially brazen in this regard and it was unclear at press time if the clip featuring “Freedom” could fall under the fair use provision, which doesn’t require a license at all.
Either way, hijacking a rival campaign’s official song seems decidedly on-brand for the Trump campaign’s “ask for forgiveness, not permission” approach to political combat and it remains to be seen if Beyoncé, or her team, will take action to get the video removed from X. At press time it did not appear that Beyoncé had responded to the Trump video on her socials.
Check out the Trump campaign video below.