Obama Calls for “Lose Yourself” at Harris-Walz Campaign Rally

Former President Barack Obama referenced rapper Eminem's hit song “Lose Yourself” when he told a Harris-Walz campaign rally in Detroit on Tuesday night that “his palms are sweaty, his knees are weak and his arms are heavy.” “.

“I felt like I was kind of following Eminem,” Obama told the crowd, adding, “I thought Eminem was going to perform, I was ready to get out.”

During the rally, Eminem deviated from his typical quick-witted, tongue-twisting turn of phrase and instead said, “In this election, we are in the spotlight more than ever.” The Michigan native introduced Obama, who has often said he is an Eminem fan and has Heard “Lose Yourself” during the 2008 election campaign.

The rapper has not been shy about expressing his disdain for former President Donald Trump, previously saying a “fucking bastard would have been a better president.” The lyrics in his Trump diss were deemed “threatening” by US intelligence track from 2017 led to him being interviewed by the agency.

Obama also acknowledged the differences in music choices between the Trump campaigns, noting that the Harris campaign playlist “might be better. I would have 'Lose Yourself' on it,” Obama said.

“Music is a very effective shortcut to connecting with interest voters and specific constituencies without having to say specific things,” said Loren Kajikawa, director of the music program at George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design Newsweek by phone on Tuesday. “You can use certain attitudes and feelings that are anchored in the music. It can be a way of saying, 'I'm like you because we share this music together.' It can also be a way to share the president’s identity.”

Harris' musical guests on the campaign trail included Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, Usher, Lil Jon, Maren Morris, Quavo, Lance Bass and Stevie Wonder. She has been supported by Taylor Swift, Cher, John Legend, Stevie Nicks, Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Moby, Lil Nas X, Katy Perry, Kesha, Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish and Bon Iver , Ariana Grande, Barbra Streisand, Cardi B and Bruce Springstein.

Harris' music choices, such as Beyoncé's “Freedom,” “fit well with her evolving from top cop Kamala into someone who will stand on the side of the marginalized and vulnerable in our society,” Kajikawa said.

This is a recurring theme in many of the songs played at their events.

“Beyonce is a smart choice, pairing her with another strong black woman with a large fan base,” Kajikawa said. “The Millennial and Gen Z fan base likes who they have to show.”

Trump's choices, Kajikawa said, closely resemble his idiosyncratic personality – ranging from country tunes to opera arias.

According to Billboard Magazine, Trump received support from Jason Aldean, Kid Rock, Kanye West, Sexyy Red, Anuel AA, Justin Quiles, Azealia Banks, Billy Ray Cyrus, DaBaby, Waka Flocka, Lil Pump, MIA and Kodak Black.

“Trump's musical choices are eclectic and when I think about the use of music at his rallies, it's usually music that puts people in a good mood and what he likes,” Kajikawa said. “He had also made choices that fit his identity, music that expressed his defiance and disregarded the conventional etiquette of what politicians are allowed to say or do.”

Since Trump's 2016 campaign, he has also received a number of cease-and-desist orders from artists who do not want to be associated with him.

However, Eminem is complicated, Kajikawa notes.

“The complicated thing about Eminem is that a lot of the white men who grew up with Eminem are Trump voters,” Kajikawa said. “Eminem, the person, says one thing, but the personal, the character in Eight Mile, there's a good chance he's a Trump voter,” Kajikawa said of the white, male, working-class fictional character “B-Rabbit.” Eminem, who is portrayed in the film. “The other thing is that the GOP under Trump is the party of insurrection and the Democrats are defending our institutions and our norms.”

The irony, Kajikawa said, is that currently in politics, “the left is 'the man,' and hip-hop is anti-establishment music.”