At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz took the stage to Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
According to CNN, Walz personally sought Young’s permission to use the song and received the musician’s approval.
The song is an apt choice, as it had been previously used by Donald Trump during his initial presidential announcement way back in 2015. However, Trump did not have Young’s permission to use the song then, and despite Young’s repeated cease-and-desist threats, the song continued to be played on the campaign trail in the years that followed. In 2020, Young finally filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Trump.
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Originally released on Young’s 1989 album Freedom, “Rockin’ in the Free World” is a protest anthem inspired by Reagan-era policies and disillusionment with the American dream. Much like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” it is often misinterpreted as a straightforward patriotic anthem; in reality, the song expresses a more critical form of patriotism that questions and challenges the nation’s direction.
Like Walz, Kamala Harris has her own campaign theme song after receiving permission from Beyoncé to use “Freedom.” Earlier today, Beyoncé threatened legal action against Trump’s campaign after a spokesman used the song in a video promoting Trump. The video was subsequently removed.
“Health care and housing are human rights. And the government stays the hell out of your bedroom!” — Walz ends his DNC speech on a rousing note, and the music afterward is Neil Young’s “Keep On Rocking in the Free World,” which is one of the greatest rock songs ever IMO pic.twitter.com/kI04Bk3tMp
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 22, 2024