CHICAGO — Convention roll call votes can be staid and cheesy, but Democrats turned theirs into the ultimate dance party on Tuesday.
DJ Cassidy stood onstage in what appeared to be a double-breasted satin suit of royal blue, spinning a special song for each state and territory awarding their delegates to Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. What America got was a mashup of an elite karaoke night: Detroit native Eminem's “Lose Yourself” for Michigan, Dropkick Murphys' “I'm Shipping Up to Boston” for Massachusetts and Tupac Shakur's “California Love” for California.
Locally, the District highlighted native son DJ Kool and "Let Me Clear My Throat," and Norfolk, Virginia native Timbaland supplied "The Way I Are" for the Commonwealth's soundtrack.
But Maryland's "walk-up" music had some people scratching their heads on social media. While Gov. Wes Moore cast the delegations vote, Aretha Franklin's "Respect" played behind him. Franklin was born in Detroit and it seems has no real connection to Maryland.
Social media users were vexed by the choice.
"Maryland loves Aretha. Everyone does. And no state deserves more R-E-S-P-E-C-T than Maryland. But I have no idea how we ended up with that song in roll call," user @penwhen said on X.
Others thought it was a missed opportunity to revive Sisquo's "Thong Song." The R&B singer and former member of Dru Hill is from Baltimore.
"UGH DNC, MARYLAND PRODUCED DRU HILL, WE COULD HAVE MADE 'THONG SONG' GREAT AGAIN," said user Greglet on X.
Even if a song praising underwear was considered too risky for a political convention, some were still disappointed by the choice.
"How did Maryland's DNC roll call song be Respect by Aretha? As good as that song is we have some great local musicians and songs that would be better," X user Sarah wrote.
To Sarah's point, here are some other musicians with Maryland roots that could have made the playlist:
Good Charlotte:
Twin brothers Joel and Benji Madden are originally from Waldorf.
All Time Low:
The pop-punk band formed in Towson.
The Go-Go's:
Maybe a stretch, but drummer Gina Schock hails from Baltimore.
Logic:
The rapper was born and raised in Gaithersburg.
Counting Crows:
Lead singer Adam Duritz was born in Baltimore.
Frank Zappa:
Looking for something a little more left-field? The legendary experimental musician called Baltimore home.
Cab Calloway:
Need a classic? The jazz great spent his formative years in Baltimore.
Future Islands:
Lead singer Samuel Herring, also known as Hemlock Ernst, is the lead singer of the Baltimore-based synth-pop band.
Toni Braxton:
The iconic R&B singer-songwriter is a Severn, Maryland native.
With all these potential bangers with Maryland ties, why did the Maryland delegation go with the Queen of Soul? We are working to get answers.
Here's the list of all the songs played for each state:
- Alabama: “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Alaska: “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man
- American Samoa: “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga
- Arizona: “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks
- Arkansas: “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac
- California: “California Love” by Tupac and “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
- Colorado: “September” by Earth, Wind Fire
- Connecticut: “Signed Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder
- Delaware: “Higher Love” by Whitney Houston and Kygo
- Democrats abroad: “Love Train” by The O’Jays
- District of Columbia: “Let Me Clear My Throat” by DJ Kool
- Florida: “Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty
- Georgia: “Turn Down for What” by Lil’ John
- Guam: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
- Hawaii: “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars
- Idaho: “Private Idaho” by The B-52s
- Illinois: “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project
- Indiana: “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson
- Iowa: “Celebrate” by Kool & the Gang
- Kansas: “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas
- Kentucky: “First Class” by Jack Harlow
- Louisiana: “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled
- Maine: “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon
- Maryland: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
- Massachusetts: “I’m Shipping up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys
- Michigan: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
- Minnesota: “Kiss” and “1999” by Prince
- Mississippi: “Twisting the Night Away” by Sam Cooke
- Missouri: “Good Luck, Babe” by Chappell Roan
- Montana: “American Woman” by Lenny Kravitz
- Nebraska: “Firework” by Katy Perry
- Nevada: “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
- New Hampshire: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
- New Jersey: “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen
- New Mexico: “Confident” by Demi Lovato
- New York: “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z and Alicia Keys
- North Carolina: “Raise Up” by Petey Pablo
- North Dakota: “Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys
- Ohio: “Green Light” by John Legend
- Oklahoma: “Ain’t Goin Down” by Garth Brooks
- Oregon: “Float On” by Modest Mouse
- Pennsylvania: “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa and “Motownphilly” by Boyz II Men
- Puerto Rico: “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee
- Rhode Island: “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
- South Carolina: “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
- South Dakota: “What I Like About You” by The Romantics
- Tennessee: “9 To 5” by Dolly Parton
- Texas: “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyonce
- Utah: “Animal” by Neon Trees
- Vermont: “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
- Virginia: “The Way I Are” by Timbaland
- Washington: “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore
- West Virginia: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
- Wisconsin: “Jump Around” by House of Pain
- Wyoming: “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas
- Virgin Islands: “VI to the Bone” by Mic Love