TThe setting is Des Moines, Iowa, in recent times. On the stage stands an individual vying to become the Republican party’s next nominee for US president. Suddenly, a familiar song blares over the speakers. It happens to be one of the candidate’s favorite tunes. Excitedly, he grabs the microphone and starts rapping along: “You better lose yourself in the music / The moment, you own it, you better never let it go.”
This incident not only marks one of the most peculiar moments of the Republican primaries but also exemplifies the culture clash. Why would someone like Vivek Ramaswamy, whose net worth is estimated to be well over $950 million, be singing about life in a mobile home? What does a Yale and Harvard-educated individual know about wearing a sweater smeared with vomit (referred to as “mom’s spaghetti”)?
Eminem, the creator of “Lose Yourself,” became troubled by these questions and took legal action, demanding that the politician cease using his song. Just as the lyrics of the song suggest, Mr. Ramaswamy only had one opportunity, which sadly did not work out in his favor.
Over the years, politicians have found themselves entangled with popular music. One notable example is Harold Wilson awarding MBEs to the Beatles. However, in recent times, political contenders have felt obligated to feign interest in popular music. Margaret Thatcher, for instance, selected Beethoven and Dvořák as her Desert Island Discs choices in 1978. Three decades later, Gordon Brown stumbled when asked about his opinion on the Arctic Monkeys and attempted a cheerful bluff, claiming that their music would “certainly wake you up in the morning.”
As the former chancellor later confessed, he had never even heard of the band, let alone soaked his sweater in cider while listening to their song “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.” However, Brown was correct in noting that in today’s political climate, politicians must try to demonstrate relatability by showing enthusiasm for popular culture, even if it has no direct connection to their responsibilities.
Marshall Mathers, or Eminem, will turn 51 in a few weeks. He is considered one of the most talented figures in hip-hop, a genre that recently celebrated its own 50th anniversary. Both Eminem and hip-hop have solidified their presence in our daily lives, surpassing the reach of politicians. “Lose Yourself” has accompanied numerous gym workouts, featured in a Chrysler advertisement, and served as a campaign anthem for Joe Biden. Despite the fact that its creator dislikes Donald Trump and his Republican followers, artists cannot choose their fans.
Nonetheless, it is peculiar to witness a venture capitalist like Mr. Ramaswamy portraying himself as an underdog, or to hear David Cameron, an Old Etonian, proclaim his admiration for The Eton Rifles by the Jam. This era of tremendous inequality thrives on the notion that those at the top are just like those at the bottom. They even listen to the same music! The CEO of Goldman Sachs moonlights as a DJ, and our own prime minister enjoys rap. Although, in the case of Rishi Sunak, he can recite every word of the ’90s hit “Ice Ice Baby”. Personally, we prefer Eminem any day.
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