Current:Home > reviewsOpinion: Mourning Harris' loss? Here's a definitive list of her best campaign performers. -ChatGPT
Opinion: Mourning Harris' loss? Here's a definitive list of her best campaign performers.
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:37:35
This presidential election has been a nail-biter for many Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris has called president-elect Donald Trump to concede. As we grapple with Trump's win and return to the White House, allow me (your favorite USA TODAY columnist) to provide a moment of levity in a time when it's so rare.
Since August, Harris has made stops in 11 states on the campaign trail, according to Axios. Harris' rallies have been graced with guests ranging from Cardi B to Beyoncé to Samuel L. Jackson and myriad musical performers have breathed life and energy into these events.
In an attempt to take my mind off of ... well, everything ... I took it upon myself to score some of the most notable performances.
Megan Thee Stallion performs at a Harris rally in Atlanta
The Houston-born rapper gave an energetic performance at Harris’ first rally in Atlanta. Megan Thee Stallion and her ensemble donned blue suits, similar to those worn by Beyoncé’s background dancers during a Hillary Clinton rally performance in 2016. The rapper opened with her 2020 song “Girls in the Hood.” The song’s second line, “I’m sick of motherf---ers tryna tell me how to live,” read less like a personal confession and more like a political rallying cry. After performing “Mamushi,” Thee Stallion took a beat before transitioning into “Body.” “Now I know my ladies in the crowd love their bodies,” she said. “And you want to keep loving your body ‒ you know who to vote for!” #HottiesforHarris
Kofi score: 4/5
Bon Iver performs in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Justin Vernon, front man of Bon Iver, performed at a Harris rally in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with bandmates Sean Carey and Michael Lewis. The performance was mellow and pensive, like much of the band's music and provided an atmosphere to reflect the political moment. The band performed their songs “Towers,” “Flume” and “666 ʇ.” Before their last song, an acoustic rendition of “The Battle Cry of Freedom” by George Frederick Root, Vernon stated his place in all of this: “We all know what we’re here for, so we’re going to do our thing ‒ make this music and make way for the people that we need to hear from.”
Kofi score: 4/5
Opinion:Harris has adapted to changing media reality. It's time journalism does the same.
Bruce Springsteen joins Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee and Obama
Bruce Springsteen is probably as American as it gets. Last month, he joined Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee and former President Barack Obama at a Harris rally in Atlanta where he performed an acoustic set.
“I want a president who reveres the Constitution, who does not threaten, but wants to protect and guide our great democracy, who believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, who will fight for a woman’s rights, a woman's right to choose, and who wants to create a middle-class economy that will serve all our citizens,” Springsteen said. “There is only one candidate who holds those principles dear, that's Kamala Harris.”
Eight days before Election Day, the rock 'n' roll superstar lent his star power to a Harris rally in Philadelphia and played a solo acoustic set with his classic guitar and harmonica. His performance included songs like "The Promised Land" and "Dancing in the Dark."
Kofi score: 3/5
Maggie Rogers sings 'Don't Forget Me' in Ann Arbor, Michigan
At a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers performed her songs “Light On,” “Don’t Forget Me” and “A Different Kind of World” among others. She was able to engage the crowd of young voters with her songs while sharing her personal thoughts on the election and our future.
“The future feels so uncertain and I don’t always know what to do with that feeling,” Rogers said. “Voting is the key to the future.”
She said voting is the key to a candidate who believes in reproductive freedoms, will fight climate change and uphold "basic human dignity for all people.”
“In these next eight days, you can fight back against the fear of Donald Trump and everything that he creates,” Rogers said. “You can take action against his darkness. You can choose the light.”
Kofi score: 5/5
Opinion:Taylor Swift has 'done her research.' Did her Harris endorsement make any difference?
Gracie Abrams, with 'Free Now,' captivated in Madison, Wisconsin
Before she captivated the audience with a performance of “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and “Risk,” Gracie Abrams expressed grievances shared by many young voters at a Harris rally in Madison, Wisconsin.
“For many of us here onstage and in this crowd tonight, this is either the first or second time that we’ve had the privilege of voting in a presidential election,” Abrams said. “As we know, we’ve inherited a world that is struggling and it’s easy to feel disconnected and disillusioned. Between the advent of social media in our childhoods and COVID-19 and relentlessly targeted disinformation, we’ve been through some things. It’s easy to be discouraged, but we know better. We know that unless we vote and keep our democracy intact, there is nothing we will be able to do to fix it when it is our turn.”
Her closing song, “Free Now,” injected an energetic glimpse of hope into the audience: “I’ve never been less empty, all I feel is free now.”
Kofi score: 5/5
Mumford & Sons, fathers of stomp-clap-hey, underwhelm
Mumford & Sons, the kings of stomp-clap-hey, millennial music, performed four songs, “The Cave,” “Little Lion Man,” “Awake My Soul” and “I Will Wait,” at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin.
Kofi score: 2.3/5
The National is hard to nail down, ironically
Aaron Dessner and Matt Berninger of American rock band The National dedicated their song “I Need My Girl” to Harris at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin.
Kofi score: 2.8842749204/5
Remi Wolf should've performed more songs
Indie singer-songwriter Remi Wolf opened her rally performance by talking about the safe space she creates for her fans at her concerts. She believes America should be the same ‒ a place where everyone feels “safe, accepted and free.”
Wolf’s electrifying vocals soared high above the audience as she belted out “Cinderella” and a rendition of Janis Joplin’s version of “Piece of My Heart.”
Kofi score: 4/5 only because it should’ve been longer.
Lady Gaga goes up in Philadelphia
At the final Harris rally before Election Day in Philadelphia, Lady Gaga took to the stage to perform a rendition of “God Bless America.” She then discussed how the tide is turning for women in America.
“For more than half of this country’s life, women didn’t have a voice. Yet, we raised children, we held our families together, we supported men as they made the decisions,” she said. “But tomorrow, women will be a part of making this decision.”
She later returned to the stage to perform a powerful rendition of “The Edge of Glory.”
Kofi score: 3/5
Katy Perry is a mother
At the final Harris rally, Katy Perry took to the stage to perform a myriad of her hits including “Dark Horse,” “Part of Me” and “Firework.” She then, for some reason, decided to cover “Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston (OK, girl). She ended her performance by discussing how motherhood impacted her choice this election.
"Four years ago, I became a mother," Perry said. "She is the reason I am voting for Kamala Harris. I know she will protect my daughter's future and your children's future."
Kofi score: 2/5
Kofi Mframa is a columnist and digital producer for USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network.
veryGood! (963)
Related
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Review: 'True Detective: Night Country' is so good, it might be better than Season 1
- Double Big Mac comes to McDonald's this month: Here's what's on the limited-time menu item
- As car insurance continues to rise, U.S. inflation ticks up in December
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Nick Saban was a brilliant college coach, but the NFL was a football puzzle he couldn't solve
- What is a spot bitcoin ETF, and how will its approval by the SEC impact investors?
- Why Golden Bachelor's Leslie Was Uncomfortable During Gerry and Theresa's Wedding
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Guatemala arrests ex-minister who resigned rather than use force against protesters
Ranking
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Virginia woman wins $1 million in lottery raffle after returning from vacation
- Ava DuVernay shows, 'Gentefied,' 'P-Valley' amongst most diverse on TV, USC reports
- Microsoft lets cloud users keep personal data within Europe to ease privacy fears
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Ava DuVernay shows, 'Gentefied,' 'P-Valley' amongst most diverse on TV, USC reports
- Tennessee governor unveils legislation targeting use of artificial intelligence in music
- Tons of trash clogs a river in Bosnia. It’s a seasonal problem that activists want an end to
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Recalled charcuterie meats from Sam's Club investigated for links to salmonella outbreak in 14 states
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
What is Hezbollah and what does Lebanon have to do with the Israel-Hamas war?
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
US and allies accuse Russia of using North Korean missiles against Ukraine, violating UN sanctions
'Golden Bachelor' host Jesse Palmer welcomes baby girl with wife Emely Fardo Palmer
New list scores TV, streaming series for on-screen and behind-the-scenes diversity and inclusion