Lil Jon performs during the roll call on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 20, 2024.
Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters
The Democratic National Convention changed its tune this election year, getting delegates joyfully dancing and singing as they nominated Vice President Kamala Harris to lead their presidential contest ticket.
DNC musical host DJ Cassidy blasted a different song in Chicago’s United Center as each state’s delegation rose to cast their votes for the nomination roll call Tuesday night, boosting an already celebratory mood in the hall.
Some songs featured the state’s name in their title, including Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Beyoncé’s “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” and The B-52s’ “Private Idaho.”
Other songs were chosen due to the artist’s home state: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A” for New Jersey, Prince’s “1999” for Minnesota; Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough” for Indiana; and Chappell Roan‘s “Good Luck, Babe,” for Missouri.
Rhode Island’s delegation cast their ballots to the tune of “Shake It Off,” by Taylor Swift, who owns a home in the state.
And when DNC Secretary Jason Rae asked Georgia’s delegates how they cast their votes, Lil Jon — an Atlanta native — emerged from the stands to the roar of the crowd.
The rapper sang his hit song “Turn Down for What,” changing its lyrics to “Turn out for what,” and led the crowd in chants of Harris’ slogan: “We’re not going back.”
The roughly hour-long roll call, normally one of the dullest segments of a party’s convention, took social media by storm.
Many compared it to the Republican National Convention‘s roll call in July, which was markedly quieter.
“I’m sorry but this #DNC2024 roll call with DJ Cassidy, themed state music and party/club atmosphere is blowing the RNC’s roll call out of the water,” Meghan McCain wrote in a post on X.
“It looks like a giant party and celebration and everyone in that room looks like they’re having a blast,” wrote Mccain, whose father, late Republican Sen. John McCain, was the party’s nominee for president in 2008.
The Lincoln Project tweeted: “Tired: RNC roll call.”
“Wired: DNC roll call,” the tweet said.
The Democratic National Convention Committee published the setlist of 62 songs on Spotify, as requested by a number of social media posts.
Unlike past conventions, Tuesday’s delegate roll call was only ceremonial. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison announced earlier this month that Harris had secured the party’s nomination after an online vote.
DJ Cassidy speaks during Roll Call during the 2024 Democratic National Convention at United Center in Chicago on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 in Chicago, IL.
Myung J. Chun | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Here is the full DNC roll call playlist:
- Alabama: “Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Alaska: “Feel It Still,” Portugal. The Man
- Arizona: “Edge of Seventeen,” Stevie Nicks
- Arkansas: “Don’t Stop,” Fleetwood Mac
- California: “The Next Episode,” Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg; “California Love,” Tupac and Dr. Dre; and “Alright,” and “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
- Colorado: “September,” Earth, Wind & Fire
- Connecticut: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” Stevie Wonder
- Democrats Abroad: “Love Train,” The O’Jays
- Washington, D.C.: “Let Me Clear My Throat,” DJ Kool
- Delaware: “Higher Love,” Whitney Houston and Kygo
- Florida: “Won’t Back Down,” Tom Petty
- Georgia: “Welcome to Atlanta,” Jermaine Dupri; and “Turn Down for What” and “Get Low,” Lil Jon
- Guam: “Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter
- Hawaii: “24k Magic,” Bruno Mars
- Idaho: “Private Idaho,” The B-52s
- Illinois: “Sirius,” Alan Parsons Project
- Indiana: “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” Michael Jackson
- Iowa: “Celebration,” Kool & the Gang
- Kansas: “Carry on Wayward Son,” Kansas
- Kentucky: “First Class,” Jack Harlow
- Louisiana: “All I Do Is Win,” DJ Khaled
- Maine: “Shut Up and Dance,” Walk the Moon
- Maryland: “Respect,” Aretha Franklin
- Massachusetts, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” Dropkick Murphys
- Michigan, “Lose Yourself,” Eminem
- Minnesota: “1999,” Prince
- Mississippi: “Twistin’ the Night Away,” Sam Cooke
- Missouri: “Good Luck, Babe,” Chappell Roan
- Montana: “American Woman,” Lenny Kravitz
- Nebraska: “Firework,” Katy Perry
- Nevada: “Mr. Brightside,” The Killers
- New Hampshire: “Don’t Stop Believin’,'” Journey
- New Jersey: “Born in the U.S.A,” Bruce Springsteen
- New Mexico: “Confident,” Demi Lovato
- New York: “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
- North Carolina: “Raise Up,” Petey Pablo
- North Dakota: “Girl on Fire,” Alicia Keys
- Northern Mariana Islands: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- Ohio: “Green Light,” John Legend
- Oklahoma: “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’til the Sun Comes Up),” Garth Brooks
- Oregon: “Float On,” Modest Mouse
- Pennsylvania – “Motownphilly,” Boyz II Men and “Black & Yellow,” Wiz Khalifa
- Puerto Rico: “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee
- Rhode Island: “Shake it Off,” Taylor Swift
- South Carolina: “Get On Up,” James Brown
- South Dakota: “What I Like About You,” The Romantics
- Tennessee: “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton
- Texas: “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” Beyoncé
- Utah: “Animal,” Neon Trees
- Vermont: “Stick Season,” Noah Kahan
- U.S. Virgin Islands: “VI to the Bone,” Mic Love
- Virginia: “The Way I Are,” Timbaland
- Washington: “Can’t Hold Us,” Macklemore
- West Virginia: “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” John Denver
- Wisconsin: “Jump Around,” House of Pain
- Wyoming: “I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas