Presidential Candidates and the Musicians who love them
My last post talked about some of the recent concerts that accompanied the Presidential rallies.
No, I don't believe that the endorsement of a celebrity will push someone to vote for someone, but the endorsement does rally the base.
Somewhat ironically, the recent politicians who have energized the youth the most have been the oldest. Opposite sides of the spectrum supposedly, Ron Paul and Bernie Sanders have arguably best connected with young voters than anyone else running.
Let's talk Bernie Sanders - the guy who brought 5000 people to his rally in Iowa City with Vampire Weekend and Foster the People in 2016.
As mentioned in my last post, Sanders has had first, Jack White, and then Prince's New Power Generation appear with him. Any mention of Sanders also should include the fact that Cardi B is a very vocal supporter of his as well.
Sanders's musician fans is like a who's who. Besides the ones I mentioned above, there's also Ariana Grande, TI, Brandi Carlile, Killer Mike, Tony!Toni!Tone!, Belinda Carlisle, Mika, Dan Deacon, Portugal the Man, Deerhoof, Lil Yachty, Norah Jones, Buffy Ste. Marie, Jason Mraz, and that's if you don't count Lizzo's seemingly supportive tweet and all of the musicians who supported him in 2016, who must still like him at least a little.
He also has Raffi, which seems appropriate, for some reason.
There is seemingly enough surplus here that I could probably just focus on Bernie, but there are other candidates with energy who are grabbing some of the endorsements you might expect to go to Bernie.
I should also refer you to Spins donor list- which is a primary spot I used for this post- to note that musicians like Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and Joan Jett have donated to multiple candidates.
Surely, Andrew Yang scoring Weezer was a coup, and yet, the media seemed to downplay the whole thing as if Rivers Cuomo wasn't fully behind Yang- as Billboard called out.
I suspect there are other musicians drawn to Yang, but the only other one I saw called out was Liturgy (described as avant-garde metal).
Pete Buttigieg scored Ben Harper for the LJ Dinner, but he has also snagged some big Liberal names like David Crosby, Barbara Streisand,Mandy Moore, and Zoey Deschanel. Mayor Pete also has the endorsement of Joe Walsh. Walsh, the former Presidential candidate who played guitar for the Eagles is not to be confused with the Joe Walsh currently running for the Republican nomination. Besides Harper, he had Broadway star Ben Platt sing at one of his fundraisers.
In any other year, Elizabeth Warren would likely have the parade of musicians behind her. She has endorsements from John Legend, Roseanne Cash, Chely Wright, and Bette Midler. Melissa Ethridge has also performed for her and hugely vocal in support. The two marched in Boston's Pride parade back in 2018.
Cory Booker has been looking for momentum, but at least has scored the support of Steve Aoki and New Jersey's own Jon Bon Jovi.
Tulsi Gabbard has some maverick appeal, and it shows in her support from Sean Ono Lennon and Esperanza Spalding.
Kamala Harris has had a very musical campaign, but as far as I can tell, her biggest musician endorsements to date are Lance Bass and Tears for Fears's Curt Smith. She also has had contributions from kd lang and Demi Lovato.
Marianne Williamson surely has celebrity fans and followers, and endorsements included Chaka Khan, Taylor Dayne and Dave Navarro. However, she did have Katy Perry and Alannis Morrissette support her Congressional run in 2014, and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler often appeared with her and says she got him off drugs.
Dayne has played fundraisers for Williamson in New Hampshire.
Steve Bullock has support of actor/musician/Dude Jeff Bridges. No idea if Jeff is as touchy about being a musician as Billy Bob Thornton. Lyle Lovett called Bullock his "Favorite Democrat".
Joe Biden has many celebrity endorsers, but the only musician I have seen is Don Henley.
There were musicians who supported candidates who have since dropped. The clean-shaven Beto O'Rourke attracted Willie Nelson and the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh. Jay Inslee's environmental message reached Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam and Carole King. Inslee also was supported by singer/songwriter/actress/model Lola Blanc and close, personal friend of Soundgarden (and Science Guy), Bill Nye. John Hickenlooper joined Big Head Todd on RAGBRAI, and has a history of music supporters like Todd and John Fogery.
It doesn't help that Steve Bullock (guitar/engineer), Micheal Bennet (Bennett-theater) and John Delaney (blues) have music related dopplegangers that make Google search a bit more challenging.
In any case, though not related, John Delaney and the Indestructibles is a great name for a band.
No, I don't believe that the endorsement of a celebrity will push someone to vote for someone, but the endorsement does rally the base.
Somewhat ironically, the recent politicians who have energized the youth the most have been the oldest. Opposite sides of the spectrum supposedly, Ron Paul and Bernie Sanders have arguably best connected with young voters than anyone else running.
Let's talk Bernie Sanders - the guy who brought 5000 people to his rally in Iowa City with Vampire Weekend and Foster the People in 2016.
As mentioned in my last post, Sanders has had first, Jack White, and then Prince's New Power Generation appear with him. Any mention of Sanders also should include the fact that Cardi B is a very vocal supporter of his as well.
Sanders's musician fans is like a who's who. Besides the ones I mentioned above, there's also Ariana Grande, TI, Brandi Carlile, Killer Mike, Tony!Toni!Tone!, Belinda Carlisle, Mika, Dan Deacon, Portugal the Man, Deerhoof, Lil Yachty, Norah Jones, Buffy Ste. Marie, Jason Mraz, and that's if you don't count Lizzo's seemingly supportive tweet and all of the musicians who supported him in 2016, who must still like him at least a little.
He also has Raffi, which seems appropriate, for some reason.
There is seemingly enough surplus here that I could probably just focus on Bernie, but there are other candidates with energy who are grabbing some of the endorsements you might expect to go to Bernie.
I should also refer you to Spins donor list- which is a primary spot I used for this post- to note that musicians like Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and Joan Jett have donated to multiple candidates.
Surely, Andrew Yang scoring Weezer was a coup, and yet, the media seemed to downplay the whole thing as if Rivers Cuomo wasn't fully behind Yang- as Billboard called out.
I suspect there are other musicians drawn to Yang, but the only other one I saw called out was Liturgy (described as avant-garde metal).
Pete Buttigieg scored Ben Harper for the LJ Dinner, but he has also snagged some big Liberal names like David Crosby, Barbara Streisand,Mandy Moore, and Zoey Deschanel. Mayor Pete also has the endorsement of Joe Walsh. Walsh, the former Presidential candidate who played guitar for the Eagles is not to be confused with the Joe Walsh currently running for the Republican nomination. Besides Harper, he had Broadway star Ben Platt sing at one of his fundraisers.
In any other year, Elizabeth Warren would likely have the parade of musicians behind her. She has endorsements from John Legend, Roseanne Cash, Chely Wright, and Bette Midler. Melissa Ethridge has also performed for her and hugely vocal in support. The two marched in Boston's Pride parade back in 2018.
Cory Booker has been looking for momentum, but at least has scored the support of Steve Aoki and New Jersey's own Jon Bon Jovi.
Tulsi Gabbard has some maverick appeal, and it shows in her support from Sean Ono Lennon and Esperanza Spalding.
Kamala Harris has had a very musical campaign, but as far as I can tell, her biggest musician endorsements to date are Lance Bass and Tears for Fears's Curt Smith. She also has had contributions from kd lang and Demi Lovato.
Marianne Williamson surely has celebrity fans and followers, and endorsements included Chaka Khan, Taylor Dayne and Dave Navarro. However, she did have Katy Perry and Alannis Morrissette support her Congressional run in 2014, and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler often appeared with her and says she got him off drugs.
Dayne has played fundraisers for Williamson in New Hampshire.
Steve Bullock has support of actor/musician/Dude Jeff Bridges. No idea if Jeff is as touchy about being a musician as Billy Bob Thornton. Lyle Lovett called Bullock his "Favorite Democrat".
Joe Biden has many celebrity endorsers, but the only musician I have seen is Don Henley.
There were musicians who supported candidates who have since dropped. The clean-shaven Beto O'Rourke attracted Willie Nelson and the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh. Jay Inslee's environmental message reached Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam and Carole King. Inslee also was supported by singer/songwriter/actress/model Lola Blanc and close, personal friend of Soundgarden (and Science Guy), Bill Nye. John Hickenlooper joined Big Head Todd on RAGBRAI, and has a history of music supporters like Todd and John Fogery.
It doesn't help that Steve Bullock (guitar/engineer), Micheal Bennet (Bennett-theater) and John Delaney (blues) have music related dopplegangers that make Google search a bit more challenging.
In any case, though not related, John Delaney and the Indestructibles is a great name for a band.
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