Does Beyonce granting Kamala Harris permission to use her song in campaign mean something more?
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US Vice-President Kamala Harris arrives at her US campaign headquarters. She walked out as the Beyonce's Freedom blared in the background.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
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NEW YORK – The Beyonce anthem returned to the campaign trail this week.
On July 22, US Vice-President Kamala Harris walked out during her visit to her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, as music star Beyonce’s song, Freedom, blared through the speakers in the background.
Ms Harris, 59, spoke to her supporters after US President Joe Biden, 81, stepped away from his re-election campaign
On July 23, Ms Harris used the song again during her first campaign rally in Wisconsin.
The song from the Grammy winner’s sixth studio album, Lemonade, which features Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar, is intended to be used during Ms Harris’ campaign events for the next 15 weeks leading up to the election day, according to a CNN report.
The Harris campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Musicians have been both supportive and have objected to politicians using their work as background music.
After former US president Donald Trump used R.E.M. songs Everybody Hurts and Losing My Religion during campaign rallies, the band threatened legal action
Singer Beyonce was not available for comment. But in the past, she has come out publicly in support of candidates.
At a rally, three days before the 2016 election, for then Democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton, she sang Formation and then framed the election in the context of the feminist movement.
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman leading the country,” the singer said to roars from the crowd in 2016. “That’s why I’m with her,” she added, echoing Mrs Clinton’s campaign slogan.
In 2013, she sang the national anthem at former US president Barack Obama’s second inauguration, and in 2009, she sang a cover of Etta James’ At Last at an inaugural ball for the Obamas.
Her mother, Ms Tina Knowles, has come out publicly for Ms Harris.
“New, youthful, sharp, energy,” Ms Knowles wrote under a photo of her with the candidate on Instagram. “Kamala 2024.”
Other celebrities have voiced their support for Ms Harris. Most notably, pop starlet Charlie XCX, who posted on social platform X: “kamala IS brat.”
Other supporters include celebrities Barbra Streisand, Kesha, Katy Perry, George Clooney, Janelle Monae and John Legend. NYTIMES
