In Vice President Kamala Harris’ first 2024 presidential campaign video, a familiar rhythm rings out. The clip, addressing issues of gun violence, health care, and abortion, is soundtracked by Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” a track from her 2016 album, “Lemonade.”
“We choose freedom,” Harris states in the video as Beyoncé’s powerful chorus kicks in: “Freedom! Freedom! I can’t move / Freedom, cut me loose! Yeah.”
“Freedom” has become a key song for Harris. She used it during her first public appearance as a presidential candidate at her campaign headquarters in Delaware on Monday and again at a rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
“Lemonade” is celebrated as an instant-classic and a game-changing collection of songs and visuals that examine personal plight and societal injustice, with revenge songs about infidelity alongside support for Black Lives Matter.
Omise’eke Tinsley, academic and author of “Beyoncé in Formation: Remixing Black Feminism,” notes that Beyoncé has performed “Freedom” in ways that highlight its political significance. It was used by activists ahead of the 2016 presidential election and again in 2020 after George Floyd’s killing. “It’s a song of hope. It’s a song of uplift,” she says.
How the “Freedom” Campaign Video Came Together
Beyoncé granted Harris permission to use the song on Tuesday, a campaign official confirmed. The Biden-Harris creative team wrote the script for Harris’ video on Tuesday, based on her speech at campaign headquarters on Monday. Harris recorded the voiceover while on the road in Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon.
The Meaning Behind Beyoncé’s “Freedom”
Kinitra D. Brooks, academic and author of “The Lemonade Reader,” explains that much of Beyoncé’s album focuses on personal infidelity, but it’s really about self-love and empowerment. “‘Freedom’ shows that freedom isn’t free. You must fight for it, and it is winnable,” she adds, referencing lyrics like: “I break chains all by myself / Won’t let my freedom rot in hell / Hey! I’ma keep running / ’Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves.”
The Musical Legacy of “Freedom”
“Freedom” samples two John and Alan Lomax field recordings, documenting Jim Crow-era folk spirituals and work songs of Black prisoners. Brooks calls this a kind of “inheritance,” emphasizing the importance of using spirituals in a song about freedom.
The song also features Kendrick Lamar, a prominent figure in contemporary rap. Brooks says, “Lamar has that momentum, the momentum of winners.” Tinsley adds, “Harris is evoking the energy of winners like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar to inspire people to take a Black woman seriously.”
The History and Effectiveness of Campaign Songs
Eric T. Kasper, academic and co-author of “Don’t Stop Thinking About the Music: The Politics of Songs and Musicians in Presidential Campaigns,” notes that many presidential campaign songs focus on themes of freedom or liberty. He cites historical examples like John Adams’ “Adams and Liberty” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Lincoln and Liberty.”
Kasper explains that popular campaign songs can connect a candidate to a popular celebrity, serving as a type of celebrity endorsement. Following Harris’ use of “Freedom” at her campaign events, on-demand streams of the song increased by 1300% in the U.S.
Beyoncé’s History with Democrats
In 2013, Beyoncé sang the national anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. She and her husband Jay-Z performed at a pre-election concert for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Last year, Harris and her husband attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour in Maryland. “Thanks for a fun date night, @Beyonce,” Harris wrote on Instagram.
Pop Stars Supporting Harris
Since President Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 race, support from pop music artists has poured in. Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Katy Perry, and Charli XCX are among those expressing their support. On TikTok, users have remixed Harris’ speeches into songs by various artists, further boosting her campaign’s visibility.
