John Jurgensen on Lunch Break has a guide to the theme music of the different Republican presidential candidates: Mitt Romney favors “Born Free” by Kid Rock, while Newt Gingrich sticks with “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.
Like major-league batters stepping up to the plate, presidential candidates blast theme songs at events to energize their fans and reinforce their messages. But the campaign-trail playlist is prone to occasional repeats (ex-candidate Jon Huntsman used U2′s “Beautiful Day,” as did Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign) and pushback from artists (Tom Petty objected to Michele Bachmann’s playing “American Girl”). Here’s a look at the soundtrack of the 2012 Republican presidential primary campaign.
Mitt Romney
‘Born Free’ by Kid Rock
This Bob Seger-ish ode to autonomy (“free like a river raging, strong if the wind I’m facing”) by the rap-rocker from Detroit is the go-to theme song for campaign events. But Mr. Romney mixes things up on occasion, like when his bus rolled into an Iowa rally last month to the ’80s anthem “Eye of the Tiger.”
Newt Gingrich
‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor
Despite Mr. Romney’s recent use of the “Rocky” hit, Mr. Gingrich has been marching into auditoriums to that song since at least 2009. Lyrics such as “just a man and his will to survive” seem apt ahead of Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, where he’s lately been using “Only in America” by country act Brooks & Dunn.
Ron Paul, Rick Santorum
Largely music-free
Ron Paul signaled defiance in New Hampshire by playing Darth Vader’s theme music from the “Star Wars” films, but he typically forgoes music at rallies. So does competitor Rick Santorum, with some exceptions: Stars of the reality TV show “19 Kids and Counting” opened an event Wednesday with a medley of patriotic songs.
Rick Perry
‘Made in America’ by Toby Keith
The stomping country strains of a native Oklahoman weren’t enough to carry the Texas governor through the race; Mr. Perry folded his campaign Thursday. In the song, Mr. Keith calls for U.S. self-sufficiency: “Breaks his heart seeing foreign cars filled with fuel that isn’t ours.”
—John Jurgensen