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During the Democratic National Convention’s roll call, a vibrant celebration fused state pride with musical entertainment. As votes were cast for Vice President Kamala Harris, DJ Cassidy enlivened the atmosphere by playing iconic songs tailored to represent each state.
The event, held in Chicago on the convention’s second day, saw Tennessee delegates energized by Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” while Texas attendees enjoyed Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Over in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the state’s historical landmarks as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” played. California Governor Gavin Newsom later extolled California’s virtues to the tunes of Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
Amidst the musical array, Beyoncé’s “Freedom” accompanied a special moment as Harris accepted her party nomination during a live broadcast from a Wisconsin campaign event with running mate Tim Walz.
Each state enjoyed a unique song that accentuated its characteristics, ranging from Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” in Florida to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” in New Jersey. Other standout tracks included “Fortunate” by Common for Illinois, “The Way I Are” by Timbaland in Virginia, and Prince’s “1999” setting the tone for Minnesota.