The traditional roll call at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago turned into a boisterous dance party Tuesday, with each delegation announcing their votes for presidential nominee Kamala Harris to a fitting song.
The musical nods spun by DJ Cassidy were mostly obvious. Massachusetts went with a punk song about Boston. Kansas picked a song from the band Kansas. But there were some downright inscrutable picks, like American Samoa rolling out Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.”
Here’s how each song (likely) fits each state or territory, in order of the roll call:
Yes, the Southern state picked its most famous name-check, even if the band itself is originally from Florida.
Despite the European nation in its name, the rock band is from Wasilla, Alaska (also the hometown of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin).
The territory’s Democratic Party didn’t respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday but NPR reports this is a “tongue-in-cheek nod to the territory’s position as the southernmost territory in the United States.” So we’ll go with that.
The former Fleetwood Mac singer is from Phoenix.
The Southern state also went with a Nicks’ hit when it picked this song, which was also famously the theme of then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton’s winning 1992 presidential campaign.
One of the original lead singers of the band, Philip Bailey, was born in Denver, where he and other band members from the Mile High City are also in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.
The New England state’s pick was one of former President Barack Obama’s go-to songs during his two successful presidential runs, but there’s no apparent connection to Connecticut. (Wonder is from Michigan.)
The home state of President Joe Biden went with a song that had been a mainstay of his 2020 campaign.
The organization says the song is appropriate because it has members in more than 190 countries.
The delegation from the nation’s capital went with the party anthem by a native son.
The late rock star was born in — you guessed it — the Sunshine State.
Atlanta’s own Lil Jon delivered a raucous version of his hit live and in person to the crowd at Chicago’s United Center.
The island territory went with one of the biggest hits of the summer, though Carpenter was born and raised in Pennsylvania, some 7,800 miles (12,500 kilometers) away.
If you haven’t already picked up on a theme here, the R&B star hails from Honolulu.
The song is by the Georgia band most famous for “Love Shack” and other hits, but singer Fred Schneider told the Idaho Statesman he chose this song title because the state is “pretty mysterious to, you know, all of us.”
The British prog rock band’s song was the intro music for the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, who played in the very arena hosting the convention.
Jackson and his famous family were originally from the industrial city of Gary, Indiana.
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