The inauguration of president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris is scaled down due to the pandemic and the public is highly encouraged to stay home to view the inauguration instead. To keep the celebration going as Biden and Harris are to be sworn in, they have released a curated playlist for the public to listen to.
In keeping with the inauguration’s theme of “America United,” the Biden and Harris Inaugural Committee have released a playlist made up of 46 songs from a wide range of artists. This is in part of the committee’s efforts to keep the public at home due to the ongoing pandemic. The playlist can be accessed on the major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. A special mix of the inaugural playlist could also be accessed on Soundcloud.
“During a tumultuous year that has kept so many loved ones apart, music has been a consistent vehicle that has kept us connected. Whether you are a country soul, a jazz enthusiast, a hip hop head, a classical sort, or just love that old-time rock and roll, music clarifies, inspires, unites, and heals,” said Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Tony Allen. “These songs and artists reflect the relentless spirit and rich diversity of America. They are the score to a new chapter and will help bring people together as the Biden-Harris administration begins its important work to unite our country.”
The committee collaborated with DJ D-Nice and Issa Rae’s record label Raedio to curate the playlist for the public to listen to as the festivities go on. Included in the playlist is the Kygo and Whitney Houston song “Higher Love,” the celebratory song used by the Biden-Harris campaign.
With Harris as vice president, she is also set to vacate her seat at the Senate on Monday. The vice president-elect has already notified California governor Gavin Newsom, who has appointed the Secretary of State Alex Padilla to serve out Harris’ last two years of her first term. It has yet to be determined whether Padilla would be taking his oath of office this week or if Harris would be in charge of swearing him in.