Weeks in advance of Election Day, I’d already compiled a playlist to celebrate Kamala Harris winning. (I was that optimistic.) Many of the songs had already been in recent posts, e.g., Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings’s “This Land Is Your Land,” the often-covered “A Change is Gonna Come,” and “Wake Up Everybody.”
Although so soon after Election Day I remain in shock and disbelief, and certainly not in a celebratory mood, I will likely retain my list and eventually use it to offset, if possible, my now more pessimistic outlook. Or perhaps something else will come along that inspires some partying.
The format for the letdown playlist for Election Day 2024 is “instead of X” now I feel compelled to choose “Y.”
I. Instead of “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang…
This group was one of the first live concerts I ever attended, and this song’s simple lyrics include the notion of celebrating not only here but globally. Everyone around the world, come on/It’s a celebration…I believe more countries and leaders than not would’ve joined us in this.
…”Zombie” by The Cranberries
Anti-terrorism and anti-war.
Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken
But you see it’s not me
It’s not my family
In your head, in your head
They are fighting
With their tanks and their bombs
And their bombs and their guns
In your head, in your head
They are cryin’…
II. Instead of “Happy” by Pharrell Williams…
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof…? What if the roof has caved in? What if it feels as though the sky is about to fall?
…”Iron Sky” by Paolo Nutini
Nutini’s live performance, presented below, is less depressing than the video that accompanied the release of this 2014 song, which features a dystopian view of a poor community ravaged by pain.
III. Instead of “Freedom” by Jon Batiste…
Batiste called this 2021 song a tribute to New Orleans and black people’s evolution toward better days. But it’s also “the whole aspect of fighting for [all] people’s rights and their freedom,” Batiste told Dean Budnick, Relix. Kamala Harris’s campaign, of course, was all about freedom.
Following Election Day 2024 we’re not currently grooving in the streets like Batiste, but these lyrics of his do resonate: The reason we get down, is to get back up…
…”What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
This well known protest song, which came out many decades ago, was about the social ills of that period. In 2019 “What’s Going On” was set to the following video that reflects still unresolved issues.
…Oh, you know we’ve got to find a wayTo bring some understanding here today…
