Kamala Harris has officially got permission from Beyoncé to use the “Freedom” song from the 2016 “Lemonade” album in her presidential campaign.
CNN reported that Harris’ team got approval from Beyoncé’s camp just hours before the presumed Democratic candidate walked into her campaign headquarters to the anthem. The song will be used throughout her campaign.
Although Beyoncé has not yet given an official endorsement of Harris, her approval of the song’s use suggests tacit support. Beyoncé previously endorsed the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket in 2020 and supported Hillary Clinton in 2016. She also performed at Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
“Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, was never released as a single but peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016. It remains a significant track from the “Lemonade” album, gaining renewed importance following George Floyd’s murder.
During the 2020 election, Harris used Mary J. Blige’s “Work That” for her victory speech. This recent approval highlights the intersection of Harris’ campaign with contemporary music, as seen with Charli XCX endorsing Harris through a social media post, which Harris’ campaign embraced.
Other musicians supporting Harris include Ariana Grande, Barbra Streisand, John Legend, Katy Perry, Janelle Monáe, Carole King, Lizzo, Demi Lovato, Lil Nas X, Cardi B, Moby, Questlove, and Kesha. In contrast, Republicans have artists like Lee Greenwood and Kid Rock performing at events, as seen at the recent Republican National Convention.
Notably, political candidates often use songs without approval, leading to objections. Artists like the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Neil Young, R.E.M., and Adele have objected to Donald Trump’s use of their songs. In contrast, Sam Moore objected to Barack Obama’s use of “Soul Man” but not to Trump’s use of “Hold On, I’m Comin'”.
