There exists a rich tradition of political campaign songs that dates back many years. Music has always served as a powerful tool for bringing people together, fostering unity among large groups when sung collectively. This unique aspect of music has not gone unnoticed by politicians throughout history.
As early as the 1700s, political candidates recognized the influence of a catchy song in capturing people’s attention. Campaign jingles were crafted to evoke emotion and often carried a spirited “fight song” vibe. Even George Washington, the inaugural president of the United States elected in 1789, had his own campaign song.
In contrast to the United States, Canadian politicians have not had a similarly extensive history of using campaign jingles. While every presidential candidate has had a campaign song, the same cannot be said for Canadian prime ministers. Nevertheless, music has played a significant role in Canadian elections.
In a notable incident, Ed Broadbent, who retired as leader of the NDP party in 1989 after a long tenure since 1975, made a surprising return to politics as an MP candidate in the 2004 federal election. A video featuring the 68-year-old Broadbent rapping was released on the NDP website, garnering widespread attention and significantly boosting website traffic.
Originally produced by an independent company for the CBC show “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” the video was not aired due to concerns about political balance. However, the NDP obtained permission to feature it on their website. While Broadbent’s Conservative opponent raised objections to the video, alleging a breach of campaign contribution limits, it was revealed that Broadbent’s appearance was voluntary, and the production company provided the video to the NDP free of charge.
Despite the controversy, Ed Broadbent emerged victorious in the election, securing his seat in the House of Commons.
For more insights on Political Campaign Songs, listeners can access the full episode of “Under the Influence” by clicking or tapping the play button above. Additional episodes are available on the CBC Listen app or through podcast subscriptions.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/this-canadian-politician-rapped-his-way-to-the-house-of-commons-1.7482622)
