Some of the biggest and iconic songs in history were the part of the soundtrack to the official nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday evening at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as delegations from all 50 states and several territories pledged their support to Ms. Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota.
The music was mixed and organized by DJ Cassidy, a mainstay of Democratic conventions dating to 2012, who tried to pair the music with the state whose delegates were speaking. The process of compiling the playlist took about a month, and he worked with each state’s delegation to find a song that captured a spirit of “unity and celebration” and had meaning to the state.
DJ Cassidy used Eminem‘s “Lose Yourself” when it was Michigan’s turn to pledge their support for Kamala Harris. Dr. Dre’s “Next Episode” was also chosen for California, alongside to 2Pac’s “California Love” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” and “Not Like Us.” The following is a list of the songs that accompanied each state and territory for Kamala Harris convention:
Alabama — “Sweet Home Alabama,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (which formed in Florida).
Alaska — “Feel It Still,” by Portugal. The Man, originally from Alaska.
Arizona — “Edge of Seventeen,” by Stevie Nicks, a native of Phoenix.
Arkansas — “Don’t Stop,” by Fleetwood Mac, the 1992 campaign song for Bill Clinton, the former governor of Arkansas.
California — “Next Episode” by Dr. Dre, then “California Love,” by Tupac, followed by “Alright” and “Not Like Us,” both by Kendrick Lamar, a selection of hip-hop songs about the state and by some of its most famous artists.
Colorado — “September,” by Earth, Wind & Fire. Philip Bailey, one of the band’s two lead singers, hails from Denver.
Connecticut — “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” by Stevie Wonder. Connecticut is known as the Constitution State.
Democrats Abroad — “Love Train,” by the O’Jays. (“People around the world, join hands,” the lyrics say.)
District of Columbia — “Let Me Clear Me Throat,” by DJ Kool, one of the earliest rap artists from Washington, D.C.
Delaware — “Higher Love,” by Kygo and Whitney Houston. President Biden, Delaware’s favorite son, has played this song regularly at his events, including after his acceptance speech in 2020.
Florida — “I Won’t Back Down,” by Florida’s own Tom Petty, and used by Florida politicians for decades, including, most recently, Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Georgia — “Welcome to Atlanta,” by Jermaine Dupri, followed by “Turn Down for What,” by Lil Jon and DJ Snake and “Get Low.” Lil Jon performed part of it live at the United Center in Chicago, singing with the Georgia delegation.
Guam — “Espresso,” by Sabrina Carpenter.
Hawaii — “24k Magic,” by Hawaii’s most successful pop artist, Bruno Mars.
Idaho — “Private Idaho,” by the B-52’s, who are not from Idaho.
Illinois — “Sirius,” by the Alan Parsons Project, which played while the Chicago Bulls were introduced during the Michael Jordan era of the 1990s.
Indiana — “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,” by Indiana’s own Michael Jackson.
Iowa — “Celebration,” by Kool & the Gang.
Kansas — “Carry On Wayward Son,” by, um, Kansas.
Kentucky — “First Class,” by Jack Harlow, a hip-hop artist from Louisville, Ky.
Louisiana — “All I Do Is Win,” by DJ Khaled of New Orleans.
Maine — “Shut Up and Dance,” by Walk the Moon.
Maryland — “Respect,” by Aretha Franklin.
Massachusetts — “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” by Dropkick Murphys, a loud-and-proud Massachusetts punk band that regularly wears Boston sports jerseys while playing.
Michigan — “Lose Yourself,” by Eminem, one of the most iconic rappers in the universe. The Oscar-winning song that is chosen to be an anthem of motivational music for athletes.
Minnesota — “1999,” by Prince, Minnesota’s own, well, prince.
Mississippi — “Twistin’ the Night Away,” by Sam Cooke, the “King of Soul,” who helped expand the genre in Mississippi.
Missouri — “Good Luck, Babe,” by Missouri’s Chappell Roan.
Montana — “American Woman,” by Lenny Kravitz (originally by Guess Who, a Canadian band).
Nebraska — “Firework,” by Katy Perry.
Nevada — “Mr. Brightside,” by the Killers, a rock band from Las Vegas.
New Hampshire — “Don’t Stop Believin’,” by Journey.
New Jersey — “Born in the U.S.A.,” by the New Jersey native son Bruce Springsteen. The song has often been misread by politicians; it is not an enthusiastic celebration of American birthright but instead a conflicted protest song, with criticisms about the Vietnam War.
New Mexico — “Confident,” by Demi Lovato, the New Mexico singer who has performed at the Democratic National Convention in the past.
New York — “Empire State of Mind,” a duet by two New York artists — Alicia Keys and Jay-Z — that became the anthem for the New York Yankees’ 2009 World Series run.
North Carolina — “Raise Up,” by Petey Pablo, a hip-hop artist from North Carolina.
North Dakota — “Girl on Fire,” by Alicia Keys.
Northern Mariana Islands — “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” a Motown staple by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Ohio — “Green Light,” by John Legend, the Ohio native scheduled to play a concert in Chicago after the convention’s proceedings on Tuesday night.
Oklahoma — “Ain’t Going Down (Till the Sun Comes Up),” by Garth Brooks, the Tulsa, Okla., country legend.
Oregon — “Float On,” by Modest Mouse, a band born in Washington but now based in Portland, Ore.
Pennsylvania — “Motownphilly” by the Philadelphia group Boyz II Men and “Black and Yellow,” by the Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa, a staple at Pittsburgh Steelers games.
Puerto Rico — “Despacito,” by Luis Fonsi, one of the biggest singles ever by a Puerto Rican artist.
Rhode Island — “Shake It Off,” by Taylor Swift, who owns a home in Watch Hill, R.I.
South Carolina — “Get Up,” by James Brown, who grew up in rural southwestern South Carolina.
South Dakota — “What I Like About You,” by the Romantics.
Tennessee — “9 to 5,” by the Tennessee singer, artist and activist Dolly Parton.
Texas — “Texas Hold ’Em,” by Beyoncé, a Texas native.
Utah — “Animal,” by Neon Trees, from just outside Salt Lake City.
Vermont — “Stick Season,” by Noah Kahan, who hails from Vermont and mentions “I Love Vermont” in the song.
U.S. Virgin Islands — “VI to the Bone,” by Mic Love, about the Virgin Islands.
Virginia — “The Way I Are,” by Timbaland, born and raised in Norfolk, Va.
Washington — “Can’t Hold Us,” by the Seattle based hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
West Virginia — “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” by John Denver, a song so core to West Virginia that it is considered an official state anthem.
Wisconsin — “Jump Around.” Though written by California’s House of Pain, this song is played at University of Wisconsin football games.
Wyoming — “I Gotta Feeling,” by the Black Eyed Peas.
[VIA]