In mid-January, one of the hottest mixtapes was released, not by any rapper or singer, but by Kamala Harris, the Democratic senator from California and presumed presidential candidate.
On “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Harris released a mixtape of her favorite songs that she loves to play in any mood, whether she wants to dance, listen attentively, or simply blast the music at full volume.
The mixtape was greeted with enthusiasm by supporters and head-scratching from critics, who saw it as a desperate attempt to look cool, relatable, real — which of course it was.
Sometimes, sharing your favorite music with the public works. Former President Barack Obama popularized politician playlists through the streaming service Spotify in February 2012, releasing a list that included artists like Bruce Springsteen, Ricky Martin, and Curtis Mayfield.
Obama’s 2012 opponent, Mitt Romney, released a playlist about a month later.
What Obama and his team set out to do was combine the wonky, government scene of Washington, D.C., with the allure of arts and entertainment. It was the equivalent of Obama, who had a reputation for being “cool,” putting a cap on backwards, hoisting a skateboard over his shoulder, and approaching a circle of high schoolers, saying, “How do you do, fellow kids?”
President Trump bucked the trend, but his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton released a playlist as soon as she announced she was running for the Oval Office in June 2015.
Through the years, every time a well-known public figure puts out a mixtape, observers wonder whether he or she actually listens to and enjoys the music. It strains credulity to think of Obama bopping his head to Martin or Clinton getting hyped to Gym Class Heroes.
At least with Harris, you get the sense that her playlist is authentic and she genuinely enjoys songs by Beyonce, Too $hort, and Salt-N-Pepa.
Likability will separate dozens of Democratic candidates from each other in 2020, and music can be an effective method of engaging voters. But if a pol has to strain for ersatz authenticity, it’s better not to try.
