The campaign theme song has always been an awkward part of the American democratic process. Watching the presidential candidates wave from the convention stage while a rock song blasts from the speakers behind them is akin to watching your dad dance in his seat at a Rolling Stones concert: the effort is endearing, but the spectacle is a little uncomfortable for everyone involved. Just as it’s not your dad’s job to go to shows, it’s not a politician’s job to make mixtapes for the American voters. Can you fault the presidential candidates, then, for not knowing the lyrics to their campaign songs? (Or, in some cases, for not knowing that the musician behind the song hates everything their campaign stands for and is totally voting for the other guy?).

Here are a few musical highlights from the presidential campaign trail of the last few decades. Try not to get too embarrassed when you think about the man (or woman) in the suit doing the would-be presidential wave to these numbers.

1984 – Ronald Reagan – “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen:

“The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog thats been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up.”
(Springsteen insisted that Reagan stop using the song.)

1988 – Michael Dukakis – “America” by Neil Diamond

1992 – Bill Clinton – “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac

1992 – Ross Perot – “Crazy” by Patsy Cline

1996 – Bob Dole – “Dole Man” (a take-off on “Soul Man” by Sam & Dave)

2000 – George W. Bush – “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty:
“Well I wont back down, no I wont back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I wont back down.”
(Petty threatened to sue Bush if he didn’t stop using the song, so Bush switched to Van Halen.)

2000 – Al Gore – “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

2004 – John Kerry – “Fortunate Son” by John Fogerty

——–2008 ——-

Primary Candidates:

Hillary Clinton – “You & I” by Celine Dion

Rudy Giuliani – “Rudie Can’t Fail” by The Clash

Mike Huckabee – “More Than A Feelin’” by Boston

Presidential Candidates:

Barack Obama – “Better Way” by Ben Harper

John McCain – “Our Country” by John Mellencamp, until Mellencamp told McCain he couldn’t use it. Now McCain is using “Take A Chance on Me” by Swedish supergroup ABBA.

Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin:

Until band members Ann and Nancy Wilson threatened to sue, Palin was using Heart’s “Barracuda” as her VP campaign song:
“If the real thing don’t do the trick
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn burn burn burn it to the wick
Ooooooh, barracuda?”

Yes, politicians and their campaign songs are awkward, even to read about – even more awkward than your dad at a Stones show. At least when your dad does the hokey pokey to “Start Me Up,” it doesn’t go down in anyone’s history books but your own.

Popularity: 5% [?]