Energizing Songs for the 2024 Election
Get geared up to elect Kamala Harris and Democrats with our playlist of songs — new and old — that will supercharge your spirits, inspire you, make you laugh, and keep you dancing
When you share your energy, time, and funds to help elect Kamala Harris and Democratic candidates up and down the ticket, you’re helping all of us. So here’s a little gift to express our gratitude.
We’ve made you a giant playlist of pop songs — from the 1960s to 2024 — that are in some way relevant to the election.
The songs cover many genres — rock, folk, country, hip-hop, soul, and, yes, one from Broadway. Some are meant to keep you feeling powerful, hopeful, happy. Others may release your anger, or comfort you. Some you know. Many will be new.
If you have thoughts about our playlist (which was compiled by Crimson Goes Blue member and former music reviewer Michael Small) — and if you’re a member of Crimson Goes Blue — we hope you’ll chime in on our Facebook page.
Or, if you have friends who are not members and might enjoy a little election uplift, our playlist is accessible to everyone. So please share this page.
Our 2024 Election Playlist for Democrats
(59 songs, 3.5 hours)
Listen on: Spotify Apple Music Youtube
Our playlist kicks off — naturally — with Beyonce’s “Freedom,” the theme song for the Harris campaign. To get the song’s full impact, watch the powerful Youtube video.
Do you prefer a specific mood or topic? We chose songs from our main playlist for these shorter playlists:
Songs to Energize You - 2024 Election
Rev up and get empowered! (26 songs; 87 minutes)
Listen on: Spotify Apple Music
Songs of Hope - 2024 Election
Gentle and upbeat (21 songs; 78 minutes)
Listen on: Spotify Apple Music
Defeat Trump Songs - 2024 Election
Let out your defiance. (14 songs; 47 minutes)
Listen on: Spotify Apple Music
(For more about our song selection, scroll down.)
Video Highlights
In mid-September 2024, the cast of Hamilton released an updated medley from the musical called The Election of 2024. It’s not on Spotify or Apple Music yet — but definitely worth watching on Youtube.
In 2017, at the time of anti-Trump protest marches, Entrance wrote a song called “I’m Not Gonna Say Your Name” to raise money for Planned Parenthood. The lyrics have lost none of their relevance. Definitely worth watching on Youtube.
The most blunt — and catchiest — hip-hop anthem that skewers Donald Trump is 2016’s FDT. It was so successful that two groups of rappers released two versions. If you want to hear it, start with the second version, with lyrics that seem a bit more relevant today. Watch on Youtube.
Out of all the empowerment songs, Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” comes with the video that is most likely to get you dancing — without being embarrassed about it. Enjoy the vibe on Youtube.
Election 2024 Playlists:
Song Selection Notes
By Michael Small
When I created these playlists for Crimson Goes Blue, I had a few goals…
Energize You
Everything we need to do until the election takes a lot of energy. When you’re flagging, Beyonce’s “Freedom” can boost you. So I looked for other songs with the same oomph. Turns out, there’s a whole genre of recent empowerment songs. Though I had heard Sia’s “Unstoppable,” Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Audra Day’s “Rise Up,” Carrie Underwood’s “The Champion,” Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb,” and Sara Bareilles “Brave,” I never focused on the lyrics until now. They’re surprisingly motivating — so you might want to listen too.
Expand Musical Horizons
I know. Many of you still prefer the music you loved in college. And I’m all in favor of that. But if you want to hear “Imagine” and “Blowing in the Wind,” you don’t need my two cents. You can concoct your own playlist. So even though I included a few motivating classics like Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” and Peter, Paul & Mary’s lively version of “This Land Is Your Land” (which was on the first record album I ever owned), I tried to include pop songs from every recent decade. Those of us who graduated in the ‘60s and ‘70s may have to stretch a little to take in The Briggs’ funny punk anthem “Control Alt-Right Delete”. But this is my attempt to help your ears — and your soul — stay young. You’re welcome.
Mix It Up
On our main playlist, I intentionally mixed topics and styles. So the 2009 power anthem “Uprising” by Muse (one of the loudest songs on the list) is followed by Bruce Springsteen’s soft and profound 1992 song “If I Should Fall Behind” (which I thought might take on new meaning if you’re on a canvassing trip). Then there’s Bob Marley’s “One Love” from 1965. I hope you find the variety stimulating. But just in case that’s not your thing, I divided the songs into three other playlists — one energizing, one hopeful, and one all about Trump — so you can hear only what you want.
Kamala vs. Donald
I have a strong suspicion that AI is responsible for some of Kamala Harris songs that came out just days after Biden endorsed her. Couldn’t track down several of the songwriters — one of whom also wrote a pro-Trump song. But I have to admit that the tunes can be catchy. So I added a few for novelty, including BDR Music’s Kamala Harris and Jonathan Mann’s Kamala Coconut. For those who prefer greater artistic merit, I included earlier songs that are not specifically about Kamala, though they’re still quite relevant. Sheryl Crow wrote “Woman in the White House” in 2012, when Obama was elected. The Avett Brothers wrote “New Woman’s World” while Trump was president. Of course, there have been years of inspiration for protest songs about Trump, including some doozies. “FDT” — a hip-hip anthem by YG and Nipsey Hussle — was released in 2016 when Trump was running for president. The initials stand for “F—- Donald Trump.” It was so catchy that YG, G-Eazy and Macklemore released a second version — that’s the one I included on the playlist. Many of the songs about Trump are obscene and angry. Hmmm… a case of getting back what you give out?
Infinite thanks for what you’re doing to support Democrats — and thanks for listening.